• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2020

Strength anisotropy is a typical feature of thin-bedded rock masses and their strength will be degraded subjected to water immersion effect. Such effect is crucial for the operation of hydropower plant because the impoundment lifts the water level of upstream reservoir and causes the rock mass of nearby slopes saturated. So far, researches regarding mechanical property of natural thin-bedded rock masses and their strength variation under water immersion based on field test method are rarely reported. This paper focuses on a thin-bedded stratified rock mass and carries out field test to investigate the mechanical property and strength variation characteristics. The field test is highlighted by samples which have a large shear dimension of 0.5 m*0.5 m, representing a more realistic in-situ situation than small size specimen. The test results confirm the anisotropic nature of the concerned rock mass, whose shear strength of host rocks is significantly larger than that of bedding planes. Further, the comparison of shear strength parameters of the thin-bedded rock mass under natural and saturated conditions show that for both host rocks and bedding planes, the decreasing extent of cohesion values are larger than friction values. The quantitative results are then adopted to analyze the influence of reservoir impoundment of a hydropower plant on the surrounding rock mass stability of diversion tunnels which are located in the nearby slope bank. It is evaluated that after reservoir impoundment, the strength degradation induced incremental deformations of surrounding rock mass of diversion tunnels are small and the stresses in lining structure are acceptable. It is therefore concluded that the influences of impoundment are small and the stability of diversion tunnels can be still achieved. The finings regarding field test method and its results, as well as the numerical evaluation conclusions are hoped to provide references for rock projects with similar concerns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.245-259
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• 2019

The present study aims to investigate the ultimate strength and geometric nonlinear behavior of composite plates containing initial imperfection subjected to combined end-shortening strain and lateral pressure loading by using a semi-analytical method. In this study, the first order shear deformation plate theory is considered with the assumption of large deflections. Regarding in-plane boundary conditions, two adjacent edges of the laminates are completely held while the two others can move straightly. The formulations are based on the concept of the principle of minimum potential energy and Newton-Raphson technique is employed to solve the nonlinear set of algebraic equations. In addition, Hashin failure criteria are selected to predict the failures. Further, two distinct models are assumed to reduce the mechanical properties of the failure location, complete ply degradation model, and ply region degradation model. Degrading the material properties is assumed to be instantaneous. Finally, laminates having a wide range of thicknesses and initial geometric imperfections with different intensities of pressure load are analyzed and discuss how the ultimate strength of the plates changes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.565-582
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• 2023

The present research reports the application of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) as an alternative to conventional concrete to improve the seismic behavior of short columns. Experimental and finite element investigation was conducted by testing five reinforced engineered cementitious composite (RECC) concrete columns (half-scale specimens) and one control reinforced concrete (RC) specimen for different shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios under cyclic lateral loads. RECC specimens with higher shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios demonstrated a significant effect on the column lateral load behavior by improving ductility (>5), energy dissipation capacity (1.2 to 4.1 times RC specimen), gradual strength degradation (ultimate drift >3.4%), and altering the failure mode. The self-confinement effect of ECC fibers maintained the integrity in the post-peak region and reserved the transmission of stress through fibers without noticeable degradation in strength. Finite element modeling of RECC specimens under monotonic incremental loads was carried out by adopting simplified constitutive material models. It was apprehended that the model simulated the global response (strength and stiffness) and damage crack patterns reasonably well.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.231-250
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• 2007

The influence of masonry infills with eccentric openings on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (r/c) frames that were designed in accordance with current code provisions are investigated. Eight 1/3-scale, single-story, single-bay frame specimens were tested under cyclic horizontal loading up to a drift level of 4%. In all examined cases the shear strength of columns was higher than the cracking shear strength of solid infill. The parameters investigated include the shape and the location of the opening. Assessment of the behavior of the frames is also attempted, based on the observed failure modes, strength, stiffness, ductility, energy dissipation capacity and degradation from cycling loading. Based on these results there can be deduced that masonry infills with eccentrically located openings has been proven to be beneficial to the seismic capacity of the bare r/c frames in terms of strength, stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation. The location of the opening must be as near to the edge of the infill as possible in order to provide an improvement in the performance of the infilled frame.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.529-536
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• 2005

Based on an estimating method for post-cyclic strength and stiffness with cyclic triaxial tests, Direct Simple Shear (DSS) tests were carried out to confirm whether the method can be adapted to DSS test on fine-grained soils: silty clay, plastic silt, and non-plastic silt. Results from post-cyclic DSS tests were interpreted by a modified method as adopted for post-cyclic triaxial tests. In particular, influence of plasticity index for fine-grained soils was emphasised. Findings obtained from the present study are: (i) the higher the plasticity index of fine-grained soils is, the less not stiffness ratio but strength ratio decreases with increment of a normalised excess pore water pressure; and (ii) post-cyclic strength and stiffness results from DSS tests agree well with those predicted by the method modified from a procedure used for triaxial test results.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.677-689
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• 2020

A building structural system of moment resisting frame (MRF) with concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) columns and wide flange H beams, is one of the most conveniently constructed structural systems. However, there were few studies on evaluating seismic performance of full-scale CFST columns under high axial compression. In addition, some existing famous design codes propose various limits of width-to-thickness ratio (B/t) for steel tubes of the ductile CFST composite members. This study was intended to investigate the seismic behavior of CFST columns under high axial load compression. Four full-scale square CFST column specimens with a B/t of 42 were carried out that were subjected to horizontal cyclic-reversal loads combined with constantly light, medium and high axial loads and with a linearly varied axial load, respectively. Test results revealed that shear strength and deformation capacity of the columns significantly decreased when the axial compression exceeded 0.35 times the nominal compression strength of a CFST column, P₀. It was obvious that the higher the axial compression, the lower both the shear strength and deformation capacities were, and the earlier and faster the shear strength degradation occurred. It was found as well that higher axial compressions resulted in larger initial lateral stiffness and faster degradation of post-yield lateral stiffness. Meanwhile, the lower axial compressions led to better energy dissipation capacities with larger cumulative energy. Moreover, the study implied that under axial compressions greater than 0.35P₀, the CFST column specimens with B/t limits recommended by AISC 360 (2016), ACI 318 (2014), AIJ (2008) and EC4 (2004) codes do not provide ultimate interstory drift ratio of more than 3% radian, and only the limit in ACI 318 (2014) code satisfies this requirement when axial compression does not exceed 0.35P₀.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.101-118
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• 2022

The seismic performance of the reinforced concrete (RC) special-shaped column to steel beam connections with steel jacket used in the RC column to steel beam fabricated frame structures was investigated in this study. The three full-scale specimens were subjected to cyclic loading. The failure mode, ultimate bearing capacity, shear strength capacity, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and strain distribution of the specimens were studied by varying the steel jacket thickness parameters. Test results indicate that the RC special-shaped column to steel beam connection with steel jacket is reliable and has excellent seismic performance. The hysteresis curve is full and has excellent energy dissipation capacity. The thickness of the steel jacket is an important parameter affecting the seismic performance of the proposed connections, and the shear strength capacity, ductility, and initial stiffness of the specimens improve with the increase in the thickness of the steel jacket. The calculation formula for the shear strength capacity of RC special-shaped column to steel beam connections with steel jacket is proposed on the basis of the experimental results and numerical simulation analysis. The theoretical values of the formula are in good agreement with the experimental values.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.22-23
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• 2016

This study aims to derive the optimal condition that ensures the monolithicity of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), through the evaluation of bonding shear performance with respect to the time of cold joint occurrence during the placement. From the direct shear test, while the normalized bonding shear strength reduction of UHPC with the delay time of 15 minutes was the lowest at around 8%, a dramatic degradation of bonding shear performance was observed after 15 minutes. XRD analysis of the middle and surface sections was performed in order to analyze the composition of the thin film formed at the surface of UHPC, and as a result, the main ingredient appeared to be SiO₂ from the XRD pattern of middle and surface sections, which is believed to be the result of the rising of SiO₂-based filler, used as anadmixture in this study, toward the surface, due to its low specific gravity.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.47-52
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• 2001

Short reinforced concrete bridge piers are particularly susceptible to shear failure as a consequence of the high shear/moment ratio and conservatism in the flexural strength design of existing RC bridge pier, which were constructed before 1992. In addition, shear failure is brittle and involves rapid strength degradation. Inelastic shear deformation is thus unsuitable fur ductile seismic response. It is, however, believed that there are not many experimental research works fur shear failure of the existing RC bridge pier in Korean peninsula subjected to earthquake motions. The object of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of existing circular RC bridge piers by the quasi-static test. Existing RC bridge piers were moderate seismically designed in accordance with the conventional provisions of Korea Highway Design Specification. This study has been performed to verify the effect of aspect ratio (column height-diameter ratio). Quasi-static test has been done to investigate the physical seismic performance of RC bridge piers, such as lateral force-displacement hysteric curve, envelope curve etc.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.941-946
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• 2002

Short reinforced concrete bridge piers are particularly susceptible to shear failure as a consequence of the high shear/moment ratio and conservatism in the flexural strength design of existing RC bridge pier, which were constructed before 1992. In addition, shear failure is brittle and involves rapid strength degradation. Inelastic shear deformation is thus unsuitable for ductile seismic response. It is, however, believed that there are not many experimental research works for shear failure of the existing RC bridge pier in Korean peninsula subjected to earthquake motions. The object of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of existing circular RC bridge piers by the quasi-static test. Existing RC bridge piers were moderate seismically designed in accordance with the conventional provisions of Korea Highway Design Specification. This study has been performed to verify the effect of aspect ratio (column height-diameter ratio). Quasi-static test has been done to investigate the physical seismic performance of RC bridge piers, such as lateral force-displacement hysteric curve, envelope curve etc.