• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.877-889
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• 2020

This work features the outcomes of an empirical investigation into the characteristics of steel reinforced grout (SRG) composite - concrete interfaces. The parameters varied were loading rate, densities of steel fibres and types of load displacement responses or measurements (slip and machine grips). The following observations and results were derived from standard single-lap shear tests. Interfacial debonding of SRG - concrete joints is a function of both fracture of matrix along the bond interface and slippage of fibre. A change in the loading rate results in a variation in peak load (P_max) and the correlative stress (σ_max), slip and machine grips readings at measured peak load. Further analysis of load responses revealed that the behaviour of load responses is shaped by loading rate, fibre density as well as load response measurement variable. Notably, the out-of-plane displacement at peak load increased with increments in load rates and were independent of specimen fibre densities.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.419-444
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• 2014

In this study experimental result of a total of eight SCC and FRSCC slabs with the same cross-section were monitored for up to 240 days to measure the time-dependent development of cracking and deformations under service loads are presented. For this purpose, four SCC mixes are considered in the test program. This study aimed to compare SCC and FRSCC experimental results with conventional concrete experimental results. The steel strains within the high moment regions, the concrete surface strains at the tensile steel level, deflection at the mid-span, crack widths and crack spacing were recorded throughout the testing period. Experimental results show that hybrid fibre reinforced SCC slabs demonstrated minimum instantaneous and time-dependent crack widths and steel fibre reinforced SCC slabs presented minimum final deflection.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.227-244
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• 2012

A theoretical model for shear strength evaluation of fibrous concrete beams reinforced with stirrups is proposed. The formulation is founded on the theory of plasticity and the stress field concepts, generalizing a known plastic model for calculating the bearing capacity of reinforced concrete beams, to the case of fibrous concrete. The beneficial effect of steel fibres is estimated taking into account the residual tensile strength of fibrous concrete, by modifying an analytical constitutive law which presents a plastic plateau as a post-peak branch. Around fifty results of experimental tests carried out on steel fibrous concrete beams available in the literature were collected, and a comparison of shear strength estimation provided by other semi-empirical models is performed, proving that the numerical values obtained with the proposed model are in very good agreement with the experimental results.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.437-459
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• 2015

An experimental investigation on the behaviour of geopolymer composite concrete beams reinforced with conventional steel bars and various types of fibres namely steel, polypropylene and glass in different volume fractions under flexural loading is presented in this paper. The cross sectional dimensions and the span of the beams were same for all the beams. The first crack load, ultimate load and the loaddeflection response at various stages of loading were evaluated experimentally. The details of the finite element analysis using "ANSYS 10.0" program to predict the load-deflection behavior of geopolymer composite reinforced concrete beams on significant stages of loading are also presented. Nonlinear finite element analysis has been performed and a comparison between the results obtained from finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments were made. Analytical results obtained using ANSYS were also compared with the calculations based on theory and presented.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.465-472
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• 2017

This paper presents an experimental study, investigating the compressive behavior of glass-fibre reinforced and unreinforced cementitious material-filled square steel tubular (GFCMFST and CMFST) columns. The specimens were manufactured by using high performance cementitious materials without using coarse aggregate. The influence of adding glass-fibres to the mix on the behavior of both axially and eccentrically loaded columns is considered. It was found that adding glass fibre improvesthe confinement behavior, the axial compressive strength, the stiffness and the toughness of both axially and eccentrically loaded columns. The compressive strength of axially loaded columns is compared with strength predictions according to EC4 and the AISC specification. It was found that the design predictions according to EC4 and the AISC codes provide conservative results for CMFST and GFCMFST columns. Alternatively, the axial load-bending moment interaction diagrams specified in theEC4 are conservative for the eccentrically tubular CMFST and GFCMFST tested columns.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.415-426
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• 2015

Researches have been done to discover ways to strengthen peat soil deposits. In this model study, fibrous peat that is the most compressible types of peat has been reinforced with precast peat columns stabilized with ordinary Portland cement and polypropylene fibres. Rowe cell consolidation tests as well as plate load tests (PLTs) were conducted on various types of test samples to evaluate the strength and deformation of untreated peat and peat reinforced by various types of columns. PLTs were conducted in a specially designed and fabricated circular steel test tank. The compression index ($C_c$) and recompression index ($C_r$) of fibrous peat samples reduced considerably upon use of precast columns. Also, PLT results confirmed the results obtained from Rowe cell tests. Use of polypropylene fibres added to cement further decreased ($C_c$) and ($C_r$) and increased load bearing capacity of untreated peat. Finite element method (FEM) using Plaxis 3D was carried out to evaluate the stress distributions along various types of tested samples and also, to compare the deformations obtained from FEM analysis with the actual maximum deformations found from PLTs. FEM results indicate that most of the induced stresses are taken on the upper portion of tested samples and reach their maximum values below the loading plate. Also, a close agreement was found between actual deformation values obtained from PLTs and values resulted from FEM analysis for various types of tested samples.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.173-181
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• 2020

Fracture properties of concrete depend on the mix proportions of the ingredients, specimen shape and size, type of testing method used for the evaluation of fracture properties. Aggregates play a key role for changes in the fracture behaviour of concrete as they constitute about 60-75 % of the total volume of the concrete. The present study deals with the effect of size and quantity of coarse aggregate on the fracture behaviour of steel fibre reinforced self compacting concrete (SFRSCC). Lower coarse aggregate and higher fine aggregate content in SCC results in the stronger interfacial transition zone and a weaker stiffness of concrete compared to vibrated concrete. As the fracture properties depend on the aggregates quantity and size particularly in SCC, three nominal sizes (20 mm, 16 mm and 12.5 mm) and three coarse to fine aggregate proportions (50-50, 45-55, 40-60) were chosen as parameters. Wedge Split Test (WST), a stable test method was adopted to arrive the requisite properties. Specimens without and with guide notch were investigated. The results are indicative of increase in fracture energy with increase in coarse aggregate size and quantity. The splitting force was maximum for specimens with 12.5 mm size which is associated with a brittle failure in the pre-ultimate stage followed by a ductile failure due to the presence of steel fibres in the post-peak stage.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.299-307
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• 2022

Cement-based matrixes have low tensile strength and negligible ductility. Adding fibres to these matrixes will improve their mechanical properties and make these composites suitable for structural applications. Post-cracking tensile strength of steel fibers-reinforced cementitious composite materials is directly related to the number of transverse fibers passing through the crack width and the pulling-out behavior of each of the fibers. Therefore, the exact recognition of the pullout behavior of single fibers is necessary to understand the uniaxial tensile and bending behavior of steel fiber-reinforced concrete. In this paper, an experimental study has been carried out on the pullout behavior of 3D (steel fibers with totally two hooks at both ends), 4D (steel fibers with a total of four hooks at both ends), and 5D (steel fibers with totally six hooks at both ends) in which the fibers have been located either perpendicular to the crack width or in an inclined manner. The pullout behavior of the mentioned steel fibers at an inclination angle of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees and with embedded lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 millimetres is studied in order to explore the simultaneous effect of the inclination angle of the fibers relative to the alongside loading and the embedded length of fibers on the pullout response in each case, including the maximal pullout force, the slip of the maximum point of pullout force, pullout energy, fiber rupture, and concrete matrix spalling. The results showed that the maximum pullout energy in 3D, 4D, and 5D steel fibers with different embedded lengths occurs at 0 to 30° inclination angles. In 5D fibers, maximum pullout energy occurs at a 30° angle with a 25 mm embedded length.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.143-150
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• 2019

This study presents the fracture properties of nano modified medium strength concrete (MSC). The nano particle used in this study is nano silica which replaces cement about 1 and 2% by weight, and the micro steel fibers are added about 0.4% volume of concrete. In addition to fracture properties, mechanical properties, namely, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength of nano modified MSC are studied. To ensure the durability of the MSC, durability studies such as rapid chloride penetration test, sorptivity test, and water absorption test have been carried out for the nano modified MSC. From the study, it is observed that significant performance improvement in nano modified MSC in terms of strength and durability which could be attributed due to the addition pozzolanic reaction and the filler effect of nano silica. The incorporation of nano silica increases the fracture energy about 30% for mix without nano silica. Also, size independent fracture energy is arrived using two popular methods, namely, RILEM work of fracture method with $P-{\delta}$ tail correction and boundary effect method. Both the methods resulted in nearly the same size-independent $G_F$ irrespective of the notch to depth ratio of the same specimen. This shows evidence that either of the two procedures could be used in practice for analysis of cracked concrete structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

This paper summarizes the experimental study of the shear behaviour of Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Concrete (HFRC) beams retrofitted by using externally bonded Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) laminates. To attain the set-out objectives of the present investigation, steel fibre of 1% and polypropylene fibre of 0.30% was used for hybrid steel-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete: whereas for hybrid glass-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete, glass fibre by 0.03% and polypropylene fibre of 0.03% by volume of concrete was used. In this study, 9 numbers of beams were cast and tested into three groups (Group I, II & III). Each group containing 3 numbers of beams, out of which one serve as a control beam or a hybrid steel-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete beam or a hybrid glass - polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete beam and the remaining two beams were preloaded until shear cracks appeared up to 75% of ultimate load and then preloaded beams (damaged beams) were retrofitted with GFRP laminates at shear zone in the form of strips, as one beam in vertical position and another beam in inclined position to restrict the shear cracks. Finally, the retrofitted beams were loaded until failure and test results were compared. The experimental tests have been conducted to investigate various parameters of structural performance, such as load carrying capacity, crack pattern and failure modes, load-deflection responses and ductility relations. The test results revealed that beams retrofitted using GFRP laminates considerably increased the load carrying capacity. In addition, it was found that beams retrofitted with inclined strip offers superior performance than vertical one. Comparing the test results, it was observed that hybrid steel-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete beam retrofitted with GFRP laminates showed enhanced behaviour as compared to other tested beams.