• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.415-433
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• 2015

Tendon failures in bonded post-tensioned bridges over the last two decades have motivated ongoing investigations on various aspects of unbonded tendons and their monitoring methods. Recent research shows that change of strain distribution in anchor heads can be useful in detecting wire breakage in unbonded construction. Based on this strain variation, this paper develops a damage detection model that enables an automated tendon monitoring system to identify and locate wire breaks. The first part of this paper presents an experimental program conducted to study the strain variation in anchor heads by generating wire breaks using a mechanical device. The program comprised three sets of tests with fully populated 19-strand anchor head and evaluated the levels of strain variation with number of wire breaks in different strands. The sensitivity of strain variation with wire breaks in circumferential and radial directions of anchor head in addition to the axial direction (parallel to the strand) were investigated and the measured axial strains were found to be the most sensitive. The second part of the paper focuses on formulating the wire breakage detection framework. A finite element model of the anchorage assembly was created to demonstrate the algorithm as well as to investigate the asymmetric strain distribution observed in experimental results. In addition, as almost inevitably encountered during tendon stressing, the effects of differential wedge seating on the proposed model have been analyzed. A sensitivity analysis has been performed at the end to assess the robustness of the model with random measurement errors.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4A
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• pp.439-445
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• 2008

This paper suggests a modified bond reduction coefficient considering the average CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) strain concept for the unbonded prestressed CFRP plate strengthening system. The strengthened length and the pure bending length were seen to influence the variation of the strain of unbonded CFRP plate. Therefore, a new bond reduction coefficient considering such effect was suggested. Comparison with the experimental data revealed that the analytic results obtained by considering the proposed bond reduction coefficient were effective in estimating the strain of the unbonded CFRP plate in the CFRP plate prestressing system.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2A
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• pp.247-260
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• 2006

In this paper, an analytical method which can describe the structural behavior of prestressed concrete (PSC) bridges reinforced with the unbonded external tendon is developed. Since the unbonded external tendon is directly installed to the deviators while maintaining a straight configuration, it has a different deformation field from that of concrete and accompanies the secondary effect caused by the change of the primary eccentricity between concrete and external tendon. In advance, the friction slip at the deviators is also taken into consideration on the basis of the force equilibrium between the friction force and the driving force. Through correlation studies between experimental data and analytical results, it is verified that the proposed numerical model can effectively predict the structural behavior of PSC beam bridges with comparative precision.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 1999

In the previous study in relation to the current study, a test program for the verification of the proposed design equation was carried with fourteen prestressed concrete beams with unbonded tendons. Experimental results were compared with the computed results by the proposed design equations. The previous design equations are ACI code, AASHTO LRFD code, the analysis equation with the strain compatibility, Harajli/Kanj' design equation, Chakrabarti' design equation. As a result of comparative studies, it turned out that the proposed design equation could predict the ultimate tendon stress with comparatively high accuracy.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.595-606
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• 2017

During their life span, post-tensioned concrete structures may be exposed to thermal loads. Therefore, there has been a growing interest in research on the advanced analysis and design of post-tensioned concrete slabs subjected to thermal loads. This paper investigates the structural behaviour of post-tensioned one-way spanning concrete slabs. A nonlinear finite element model for the analysis of post- tensioned unbonded and bonded concrete slabs at elevated temperatures was developed. The interface between the tendon and surrounding concrete was also modelled, allowing the tendon to retain its profile shape during the deformation of the slab. The load-deflection behaviour, load-force behaviour in the tendon, and the failure modes are presented. The numerical analysis was conducted by the finite element ANSYS software and was carried out on two different one-way concrete slabs chosen from literature. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of several selected parameters on the overall behavior of post-tensioned one-way concrete slab. These parameters include the effect of tendon bonding, the effect of thermal loading and the effect of tendon profile. Comparison between uniform thermal loading and nonuniform thermal loading showed that restrained post tensioned slab with bottom surface hotter has smaller failure load capacity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.395-410
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• 2014

Fiber Reinforced Elastomeric Bearings (FREBs) are a relatively new type of laminated bearings that can be used as seismic/vibration isolators or bridge bearings. In an unbonded (U)-FREB, the bearing is placed between the top and bottom supports with no bonding or fastening provided at its contact surfaces. Under shear loads the top and bottom faces of a U-FREB roll off the contact supports and the bearing exhibits rollover deformation. As a result of rollover deformation, the horizontal response characteristics of U-FREBs are significantly different than conventional elastomeric bearings that are employed in bonded application. Current literature lacks an efficient analytical horizontal stiffness solution for this type of bearings. This paper presents two simplified analytical models for horizontal stiffness evaluation of U-FREBs. Both models assume that the resistance to shear loads is only provided by an effective region of the bearing that sustains significant shear strains. The presented models are different in the way they relate this effective region to the horizontal bearing displacements. In comparison with experimental results and finite element analyses, the analytical models that are presented in this paper are found to be sufficiently accurate to be used in the preliminary design of U-FREBs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.43-64
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• 2006

A tendon model that can effectively be used in finite element analyses of prestressed concrete (PSC) structures with bonded tendons is proposed on the basis of the bond characteristics between a tendon and its surrounding concrete. Since tensile forces between adjacent cracks are transmitted from a tendon to concrete by bond forces, the constitutive law of a bonded tendon stiffened by grouting is different from that of a bare tendon. Accordingly, the apparent yield stress of an embedded tendon is determined from the bond-slip relationship. The definition of the multi-linear average stress-strain relationship is then obtained through a linear interpolation of the stress difference at the post-yielding stage. Unlike in the case of a bonded tendon, on the other hand, a stress increase beyond the effective prestress in an unbonded tendon is not section-dependent but member-dependent. The tendon stress unequivocally represents a uniform distribution along the length when the friction loss is excluded. Thus, using a strain reduction factor, the modified stress-strain curve of an unbonded tendon is derived by successive iterations. The validity of the proposed two tendon models is verified through correlation studies between analytical and experimental results for PSC beams and slabs.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.197-207
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• 2002

Energy dissipation capacity and earthquake responses of steel structures installed with unbonded braces(UB) were investigated. Parametric studies were performed for a single-degree-of-freedom structure under harmonic loads, and optimum yield strength of unbonded braces were derived. Nonlinear dynamic time history analyses were carried out to investigate the seismic response of multi-story model structures with UB having various size and strength. Various techniques were applied to determine proper story-wise distribution of UB in multi-story structures. The analysis results show that the maximum displacements of structures generally decrease as the stiffness of UB increases. However for some natural frequencies and seismic loads the maximum displacement and accumulated damage increases as the stiffness of UB increases.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.401-413
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• 2015

In this study the progressive collapse resisting capacity of a RC beam-column subassemblage with and without strengthening was investigated. Total of five specimens were tested; two unreinforced specimens, the one designed as gravity load-resisting system and the other as seismic load-resisting system, and three specimens reinforced with: (i) bonded strand, (ii) unbonded strand, and (iii) side steel plates with stud bolts. The two-span subassemblages were designed as part of an eight-story RC building. Monotonically increasing load was applied at the middle column of the specimens and the force-displacement relationships were plotted. It was observed that the gravity load-resisting specimen failed by fractures of re-bars in the beams. In the other specimens no failure was observed until the maximum displacement capacity of the actuator was reached. Highest strength was observed in the structure with unbonded strand. The test result of the specimen with side steel plates in beam-column joints showed that the force-displacement curve increased without fracture of re-bars. Based on the test results it was concluded that the progressive collapse resisting capacity of a RC frame could be significantly enhanced using unbonded strands or side plates with stud bolts.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1083-1104
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• 2015

This paper provides the results of an experimental investigation into the flexural behavior of continuous two-span unbonded post-tensioned high strength concrete (HSC) beams, strengthened by end-anchored CFRP laminates of different configurations in the hogging region. Implementing two different configurations of end-anchorage systems consisting of steel plates and bolts and carefully monitoring the development of strains throughout the load history using sufficiently large number of strain gauges, the response of beams including the observed crack propagations, beam deflection, modes of failure, capacity enhancement at service and ultimate and the amount of moment redistribution are measured, presented and discussed. The study is appropriate in the sense that it covers the more commonly occurring two span beams instead of the simply supported beams investigated by others. The experiments reconfirmed the finding of others that proper installation of composite strengthening system is most important in the quality of the bond which is essential for the internal transfer of forces. It was also found that for the tested two span continuous beams, the capacity enhancement is more pronounced at the serviceability level than the ultimate. This is an important finding as the design of these beams is mostly governed by the serviceability limit state signifying the appropriateness of the suggested strengthening method. The paper provides quantitative data on the amount of this capacity enhancement.