• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.559-569
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the residual bearing capacity of steel-concrete composite beams under high-cycle fatigue loading through experiments and theoretical analysis. Six test beams with stud connectors were designed and fabricated for static, complete fatigue, and partial fatigue tests. The failure modes and the degradation of several mechanical performance indicators of the composite beams under high-cycle fatigue loading were analyzed. A calculation method for the residual bearing capacity of the composite beams after certain quantities of cyclic loading cycles was established by introducing nonlinear fatigue damage models for concrete, steel beam, and shear connectors beginning with the material residual strength attenuation process. The results show that the failure mode of the composite beams under the given fatigue load appears to be primarily affected by the number of cycles. As the number of fatigue loadings increases, the failure mode transforms from mid-span concrete crushing to stud cutting. The bearing capacity of a 3.0-m span composite beam after two million fatigue cycles is degraded by 30.7% due to premature failure of the stud. The calculated values of the residual bearing capacity method of the composite beam established in this paper agree well with the test values, which indicates that the model is feasibly applicable.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2020

A reliability analysis of the axial compressive load bearing capacity of postfire reinforced concrete (RC) columns strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets was presented. A 3D finite element (FE) model was built for heat transfer analysis using software ABAQUS. Based on the temperature distribution obtained from the FE analysis, the residual axial compressive load bearing capacity of RC columns was worked out using the section method. Formulas for calculating the residual axial compressive load bearing capacity of the columns after fire exposure and the axial compressive load bearing capacity of postfire columns retrofitted with CFRP sheets were developed. Then the Monte Carlo method was used to analyze the reliability of the axial compressive load bearing capacity of the RC columns retrofitted with CFRP sheets using a code developed in MATLAB. The effects of fire exposure time, load ratio, number of CFRP layers, concrete cover thickness, and longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the reliability of the axial compressive load bearing capacity of the columns after fire were investigated. The results show that within 60 minutes of fire exposure time, the reliability index of the RC columns after retrofitting with two layers of CFRPs can meet the requirements of Chinese code GB 50068 (GB 2001) for safety level II. This method is effective and accurate for the reliability analysis of the axial load bearing capacity of postfire reinforced concrete columns retrofitted with CFRP.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.731-746
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• 2021

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the axial bearing capacity and residual properties of steel reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (SRC) column after elevated temperature. A total of 48 SRC columns were designed for the static loading test after elevated temperature. The variables include replacement ratios, designed temperature, target duration, thicknesses of cover concrete, steel ratios and stirrup spacing. From this test, the mass loss ratio and stress load-deformation curve were obtained, and the influence of various parameters on residual bearing capacity were analyzed. ABAQUS was used to calculate the temperature field of specimens, and then got temperature damage distribution on the cross-section concrete. It was shown that increasing of the elevated temperatures leaded to the change of concrete color from smoky-gray to grayish brown and results in reducing the bearing capacity of SRC columns. The axial damage and mechanism of SRC columns were similar to those of reinforced natural aggregate concrete columns at the same temperatures. Finally, the calculation method of axial compressive residual bearing capacity of SRC columns recycled concrete columns after high temperature was reported based on the test results and finite element analysis.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.4
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• pp.513-528
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• 2020

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the residual behavior of reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (RRAC) beam-columns after exposure to elevated temperatures. Two parameters were considered in this test: (a) recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement percentages (i.e. 0, 30, 50, 70 and 100%); (b) high temperatures (i.e. 20, 200, 400, 600, and 800℃). A total of 25 RRAC short columns and 32 RRAC beams were conducted and subjected to different high temperatures for 1 h. After cooling down to ambient temperature, the following basic physical and mechanical properties were then tested and discussed: (a) surface change and mass loss ratio; (b) strength of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) and steel subjected to elevated temperatures; (c) bearing capacity of beam-columns; (d) load-deformation curve. According to the test results, the law of performance degradation of RRAC beam-columns after exposure to high temperatures is analyzed. Finally, introducing the influence coefficient of RCA replacement percentage and high temperatures, respectively, to correct the calculation formulas of bearing capacity of beam-columns in Chinese Standard, and then the residual bearing capacity of RRAC beam-columns subjected elevated temperatures is calculated according to the modified formulas, the calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.369-388
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• 2022

Composite effect between steel and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) in steel reinforced-RAC (SRRAC) structures can effectively improve RAC's adverse mechanical properties due to the natural defects of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA). However, the performance of SRRAC after thermal exposure will have a great impact on the safety of the structure. In this paper, firstly, the mechanical properties of SRRAC structures after high temperatures exposure were tested, including 24 SRRAC columns and 32 SRRAC beams. Then, the change rules of beams and columns performance with the maximum temperature and replacement percentage were compared. Finally, the formulas to evaluate the residual bearing capacity of SRRAC beams and columns after exposure to high temperatures were established. The experimental results show that the maximum exposure temperature can be judged by the apparent phenomenon and mass loss ratio of RAC. After high temperatures exposure, the mechanical properties of SRRAC beams and columns change significantly, where the degradation of bearing capacity and stiffness is the most obvious. Moreover, it is found that the degradation degree of compression member is more serious than that of flexural member. The formulas of residual bearing capacity established by introducing influence coefficient of material strength agree well with the experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.87-102
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• 2021

To investigate the failure form, bending stiffness, and residual bearing capacity of monolithic composite beams with laminated slab throughout the fire process, fire tests of four monolithic composite beams with laminated slab were performed under constant load and temperature increase. Different factors such as post-pouring layer thickness, lap length of the prefabricated bottom slab, and stud spacing were considered in the fire test. The test results demonstrate that, under the same fire time and external load, the post-pouring layer thickness and stud spacing are important parameters that affect the fire resistance of monolithic composite beams with laminated slab. Similarly, the post-pouring layer thickness and stud spacing are the predominant factors affecting the bending stiffness of monolithic composite beams with laminated slab after fire exposure. The failure forms of monolithic composite beams with laminated slab after the fire are approximately the same as those at room temperature. In both cases, the beams underwent bending failure. However, after exposure to the high-temperature fire, cracks appeared earlier in the monolithic composite beams with laminated slab, and both the residual bearing capacity and bending stiffness were reduced by varying degrees. In this test, the bending bearing capacity and ductility of monolithic composite beams with laminated slab after fire exposure were reduced by 23.3% and 55.4%, respectively, compared with those tested at room temperature. Calculation methods for the residual bearing capacity and bending stiffness of monolithic composite beams with laminated slab in and after the fire are proposed, which demonstrated good accuracy.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.819-830
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• 2021

To evaluate the performance of concrete load bearing walls in a structure under horizontal loads after being exposed to real fire, two steps were followed. In the first step, an experimental study was performed on the thermo-mechanical properties of concrete after heating to temperatures of 200-1000℃ with the purpose of determining the residual mechanical properties after cooling. The temperature was increased in line with natural fire curve in an electric furnace. The peak temperature was maintained for a period of 1.5 hour and then allowed to cool gradually in air at room temperature. All specimens were made from calcareous aggregate to be used for determining the residual properties: compressive strength, static and dynamic elasticity modulus by means of UPV test, including the mass loss. The concrete residual compressive strength and elastic modulus values were compared with those calculated from Eurocode and other analytical models from other studies, and were found to be satisfactory. In the second step, experimental analysis results were then implemented into structural numerical analysis to predict the post-fire load-bearing capacity response of the walls under vertical and horizontal loads. The parameters considered in this analysis were the effective height, the thickness of the wall, various support conditions and the residual strength of concrete. The results indicate that fire damage does not significantly affect the lateral capacity and stiffness of reinforced walls for temperature fires up to 400℃.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.383-401
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• 2024

The research comprehensively studies the axial compression performance of T-shaped concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular (CTST) long columns after fire exposure. Initially, a series of tests investigate the effects of heating time, load eccentricity, and stiffeners on the column's performance. Furthermore, Finite Element (FE) analysis is employed to establish temperature and mechanical field models for the T-shaped CTST long column with stiffeners after fire exposure, using carefully determined key parameters such as thermal parameters, constitutive relations, and contact models. In addition, a parametric analysis based on the numerical models is conducted to explore the effects of heating time, section diameter, material strength, and steel ratio on the axial compressive bearing capacity, bending bearing capacity under normal temperature, as well as residual bearing capacity after fire exposure. The results reveal that the maximum lateral deformation occurs near the middle of the span, with bending increasing as heating time and eccentricity rise. Despite a decrease in axial compressive load and bending capacity after fire exposure, the columns still exhibit desirable bearing capacity and deformability. Moreover, the obtained FE results align closely with experimental findings, validating the reliability of the developed numerical models. Additionally, this study proposes a simplified design method to calculate these mechanical property parameters, satisfying the ISO-834 standard. The relative errors between the proposed simplified formulas and FE models remain within 10%, indicating their capability to provide a theoretical reference for practical engineering applications.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.4
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• pp.455-464
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• 2020

Reinforcement corrosion is one of the major problems in the durability of reinforced concrete structures exposed to aggressive environments. Deterioration caused by reinforcement corrosion reduces the durability and the safety margin of concrete structures, causing excessive costs in managing these structures safely. This paper aims to investigate the effects of reinforcement corrosion on the load bearing capacity deterioration of the corroded reinforced concrete structures. A new analytical method is proposed to predict the crack growth of cover concrete and evaluate the residual strength of concrete structures with corroded reinforcement failing in bond. The structural performance indicators, such as concrete crack growth and flexural strength deterioration rate, are assumed to be a stochastic process for lifetime distribution modelling of structural performance deterioration over time during the life cycle. The Weibull life evolution model is employed for analysing lifetime reliability and estimating remaining useful life of the corroded concrete structures. The results for the worked example show that the proposed approach can provide a reliable method for lifetime performance assessment of the corroded reinforced concrete structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.597-608
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• 2022

One of the most important parameters affecting nonlinearsoil-structure interaction, especially rocking foundation, is the vertical factor of safety (F.S_v). In this research, the effect of F.S_v on the behavior of rocking foundations was experimentally investigated. A set of slow, cyclic, horizontal loading tests was conducted on elastic SDOF structures with different shallow foundations. Vertical bearing capacity tests also were conducted to determine the F.S_v more precisely. Furthermore, 10% silt was mixed with the dry sand at a 5% moisture content to reach the minimum apparent cohesion. The results of the vertical bearing capacity tests showed that the bearing capacity coefficients (N_c and N_γ) were influenced by the scaling effect. The results of horizontal cyclic loading tests showed that the trend of increase in capacity was substantially related to the source of nonlinearity and it varied by changing F.S_v. Stiffness degradation was found to occur in the final cycles of loading. The results indicated that the moment capacity and damping ratio of the system in models with lower F.S_v values depended on soil specifications such cohesiveness or non-cohesiveness and were not just a function of F.S_v.