• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1129-1144
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• 2015

Based on the experiment, this paper focuses on studying flexural behavior of splicing concrete-filled glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubular composite members connected with steel bars. The test results indicated the confinement effects of GFRP tubes on the concrete core in compression zone began to produce, when the load reached about $50%P_u$ ($P_u$-ultimate load), but the confinement effects in tensile zone was unobvious. In addition, the failure modes of composite members were influenced by the steel ratio of the joint. For splicing unreinforced composite members, the steel ratio more than 1.96% could satisfy the splicing requirements and the steel ratio 2.94% was ideal comparatively. For splicing reinforced specimen, the bearing capacity of specimen with 3.92% steel ratio was higher 21.4% than specimen with 2.94% steel ratio and the latter was higher 21.2% than the contrast non-splicing specimen, which indicated that the steel ratio more than 2.94% could satisfy the splicing requirements and both splicing ways used in the experiment were feasible. So, the optimal steel ratio 2.94% was suggested economically. The experimental results also indicated that the carrying capacity and ductility of splicing concrete-filled GFRP tubular composite members could be improved by setting internal longitudinal rebars.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.503-539
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• 2015

A new constitutive model for the representation of the seismic behaviour of steel bars including hardening phenomena is presented. The model takes into account relative slip between bars and concrete, necessary for the estimation of the structural behaviour of r.c. elements and of the level of strain induced by earthquakes on bars. The present work provides the analytical formulation of the post-yielding behaviour of reinforcements, resulting in a continuous axial stress-slip relationship to be implemented in engineering software. The efficacy of the model is proved through the application to a cantilever column, for whose bars the constitutive law is derived.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.253-267
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• 2015

Corrosion has significant adverse effects on the durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, especially those exposed to a marine environment and subjected to mechanical stress, such as bridges, jetties, piers and wharfs. Previous studies have been carried out to investigate the corrosion behaviour of steel rebar in various concrete structures, however, few studies have focused on the corrosion monitoring of RC structures that are subjected to both mechanical stress and environmental effects. This paper presents an exploratory study on the development of corrosion monitoring and detection techniques for RC structures under the combined effects of external loadings and corrosive media. Four RC beams were tested in 3% NaCl solutions under different levels of point loads. Corrosion processes occurring on steel bars under different loads and under alternative wetting - drying cycle conditions were monitored. Electrochemical and microscopic methods were utilised to measure corrosion potentials of steel bars; to monitor galvanic currents flowing between different steel bars in each beam; and to observe corrosion patterns, respectively. The results indicated that steel corrosion in RC beams was affected by local stress. The point load caused the increase of galvanic currents, corrosion rates and corrosion areas. Pitting corrosion was found to be the main form of corrosion on the surface of the steel bars for most of the beams, probably due to the local concentration of chloride ions. In addition, visual observation of the samples confirmed that the localities of corrosion were related to the locations of steel bars in beams. It was also demonstrated that electrochemical devices are useful for the detection of RC beam corrosion.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2022

In this article, the flexural and shear capacity of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete beams (UHPFRC) using two kinds of rebars, including GFRP and steel rebars, are experimentally investigated. For this purpose, six UHPFRC beams (250 × 300 × 1650 mm) with three reinforcement ratios (ρ) of 0.64, 1.05, and 1.45 were constructed using 2% steel fibers by volume. Half of the specimens were made of UHPFRC reinforced with GFRP rebars, while the other half were reinforced with conventional steel rebars. All specimens were tested to failure in four-point bending. Both the load-deformation at mid-span and the failure pattern were studied. The results showed that utilizing GFRP bars increases the flexural strength of UHPFRC beams in comparison to those made of steel bars, but at the same time, it reduces the post-cracking strain hardening. Furthermore, by increasing the percentage of longitudinal bars, both the post-cracking strain hardening and load-bearing capacity increase. Comparing the experiment results with some of the available equations and provisions cited in the valid design codes reveals that some of the equations to predict the flexural strength of UHPFRC beams reinforced with conventional steel and GFRP bars are reasonably conservative, while Khalil and Tayfur model is un-conservative. This issue makes it essential to modify the presented equations in this research for predicting the flexural strength of UHPFRC beams using GFRP bars.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.623-636
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• 2012

The aim of the current work is to describe the flexural behaviour of simply supported concrete beams with tension reinforcement spliced at mid-span. The parameters included in the study were the type of the concrete, the splice length and the configuration of the hooked splice. Fifteen beams were cast using an ordinary concrete mix and two fiber reinforced concrete mixes incorporating steel and polypropylene fibers. Each concrete mix was used to cast five beams with continuous, spliced and hooked spliced tension steel bars. A test beam was reinforced on the tension side with two 12 mm bars and the splice length was 20 and 40 times the bar diameter. The hooked bars were spliced along 20 times the bar diameter and provided with 45-degree and 90-degree hooks. The test results in terms of cracking and ultimate loads, cracking patterns, ductility, and failure modes are reported. The results demonstrated the consequences due to short splices and the improvement in the structural behaviour due to the use of hooks and the confinement provided by the steel and polypropylene fibers.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2017

This paper experimentally investigates the effect of yield strength of reinforcing bars and stirrups on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) circular piers. Reversed cyclic loading tests of nine-large scale specimens with longitudinal and transverse reinforcement of different yield strengths (varying between HRB335, HRB500E and HRB600 rebars) were conducted. The test parameters include the yield strength and amount of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement. The results indicate that the adoption of high-strength steel (HSS) reinforcement HRB500E and HRB600 (to replace HRB335) as longitudinal bars without reducing the steel area (i.e., equal volume replacement) is found to increase the moment resistance (as expected) and the total deformation capacity while reducing the residual displacement, ductility and energy dissipation capacity to some extent. Higher strength stirrups enhance the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of RC bridge piers. While the product of steel yield strength and reinforcement ratio ($f_y{\rho}_s$) is kept constant (i.e., equal strength replacement), the piers with higher yield strength longitudinal bars are found to achieve as good seismic performance as when lower strength bars are used. When higher yield strength transverse reinforcement is to be used to maintain equal strength, reducing bar diameter is found to be a better approach than increasing the tie spacing.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.283-293
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• 2023

With the steady increase in the annual number of earthquakes in South Korea, the need to apply seismic reinforcement on public facilities has recently increased. To reinforce seismic capacity, spaced full-column-height steel bars are attached to column faces. In this study, nonlinear finite element analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of external reinforcement steel bars on the seismic capacity of RC columns with a square or rectangular cross-section. For verification, the analysis results were compared with test results. Results showed that the finite element analysis reasonably predicted the actual structural behavior of RC columns with steel bars. In addition, both the analysis and the test results showed that the failure mode was converted from brittle failure to ductile fracture, owing to the external reinforcement steel bars. Both loading capacity and ductility were increased as well. Therefore, the external reinforcement steel bar can effectively enhance the seismic capacity of existing RC columns. This study is expected to contribute to relevant research areas such as the development of design methods.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.18 no.1E
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• pp.3-9
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• 2006

Five slab specimens with predefined cracks are examined to evaluate the corrosion behavior of epoxy-coated bars in chloride contaminated concrete, using linear polarization method. The test specimens were subjected to alternating weekly cycles of ponding in a salt solution and drying for 48 weeks. Test results show that the current density of the specimen of normal steel bars becomes 0.715 ${\mu}A/cm^2$ indicating that the steel bars are in moderate or high corrosion condition. However, the corrosion rates of the specimens with damaged epoxy-coated bars are significantly below 0.1 ${\mu}A/cm^2$ and the bars appears to be in passive condition. The damaged epoxy-coated bars with a corrosion inhibitor of calcium nitrite showed a corrosion rate of 0.110 ${\mu}m/year$ or 56 percents of the corrosion rate of damaged epoxy-coated specimen without such an inhibitor, 0.195 ${\mu}m/year$. However, the corrosion rates of specimens containing the other two corrosion inhibitors, a combination of amines and esters or mixtures of organic alkenyl dicarboxyl acid salts are quite equivalent to the control specimen. The research technique of linear polarization resistance method has proven itself to be useful in measuring corrosion rates of reinforcement in concrete.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2011

The use of headed bars as opposed to standard 90- or 180-degree hooked bars in beam ends, beam-column joints or other steel congested areas for anchorage and bond has become more favorable due to the fact that steel congestion is often created by large bend diameters or crossties. This research mainly focuses on evaluating the code provisions regarding the use of headed bars. Nine simply supported rectangular concrete beams with headed longitudinal reinforcement were tested under a four-point monotonic loading system. The design clear spacing, which varies from 1.5 to 4.25 times the bar diameter, was the only parameter for the experimental investigation. The test results showed that the closely-spaced headed bars were capable of developing to full yield strength without any severe brittle concrete breakout cone or pullout failure. Bond along the bar was not sufficient due to the early loss of concrete integrity. However, the headed bars were effective for anchorage with no excessive moment capacity reduction. This implies that the clear spacing of about 2 times the bar diameter for headed bars may be reasonable to ensure the development of specified yield strength of headed bars and corresponding member design strength.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.591-601
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• 2019

This research study investigates experimentally and analytically the axial compressive behaviour of Concrete Filled Fiber Reinforced Polymer Tube (CFFT) columns with and without Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars. The experimental program comprises five circular columns of 204-206 mm outer diameter and 800-812 mm height. All columns were tested under concentric axial compressive loads. It was found that CFFT columns with and without FRP bars achieved higher peak axial compressive loads and corresponding axial deformations than conventional steel reinforced concrete (RC) column. The contribution of FRP bars was about 12.1% of the axial compressive loads carried by CFFT columns reinforced with FRP bars. Axial load-axial deformation ($P-{\delta}$) curves of CFFT columns were analytically constructed, which mapped well with the experimental $P-{\delta}$ curves. Also, an equation was proposed to predict the axial compressive load capacity of CFFT columns with and without FRP bars, which adequately considers the contributions of the circumferential confinement provided by FRP tubes and lower ultimate strength of FRP bars in compression than in tension.