• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.8-16
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• 2007

Bending collapse of light-weight square tubes used for vehicle structure components is a dominant failure mode in oblique collision and rollover of vehicles. In this paper bending performances of aluminum-GFRP hybrid tube beams were evaluated in relation with bending deformation behavior and energy absorption characteristics. Aluminum/GFRP hybrid tube beams fabricated by inserting adhesive film between prepreg and metal layer were used in the bending test. Failure mechanisms of hybrid tubes under a bending load were experimentally investigated to analyze the bending performance as a function of ply orientation and composite layer thickness. Ultimate bending moments and energy absorption capacity of hybrid tube beams were obtained from the measured load-displacement corves. It was found that aluminum/GFRP hybrid tubes could be converted to rather stable collapse mode showing excellent energy absorption capacity in comparison to the pure aluminum tube beams. In particular, the hybrid tube beam with $[0^{\circ}/90^{\circ}]s$ composite layer showed a large improvement by about 78% in energy absorption capacity and by 29% in specific energy absorption.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2A
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• pp.169-176
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• 2010

Generally, poly-urea is widely used as waterproof coating material due to its superior adhesiveness, elongation capacity, and permeability resistance. In addition, it can be quickly and easily applied on structure surfaces using spray application. Since it hardens in about 30 seconds after application, its construction efficiency is very high and its usage as a special functional material is also excellent. However, currently, poly-urea is mostly used as waterproof coating material and the researches on its usage as a retrofitting material is lacking at best. Therefore, basic studies on the use of poly-urea as a general structural retrofitting material are needed urgently. The objective of this study is to develop most optimum poly-urea composition for structure retrofitting purpose. Moreover, the structural strengthening capacity of the developed poly-urea is evaluated through flexural capacity experiments on RC beams and RC slabs. From the results of the flexural test of poly-urea strengthened RC beam and slab specimens, the poly-urea and concrete specimen showed monolithic behavior where ductility and ultimate strength of the poly-urea strengthened specimen showed slight increase. However, the doubly reinforced specimens with FRP sheet and poly-urea showed lower capacity than that of the specimen reinforced only with FRP sheet.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.121-130
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• 2007

To investigate the enhancement in strength and deformation capacities of concrete confined by FRP composites, tests under axial loads were carried out on three groups of thirty six short columns in circular section with diverse GFRP confining reinforcement. The major test variables considered include fiber content or orientation, wrap or tube type by varying the end loading condition, and continuous or discontinuous confinement depending on the presence of vortical spices between its two halves. The circumferential FRP strains at failure for different types of confinements were also investigated with emphasis. Various analytical models capable of predicting the ultimate strength and strain of the confined concrete were examined by comparing to observed results. Tests results showed that FRP wraps or tubes provide the substantial increase in strength and deformation, while partial wraps comprising the vertical discontinuities fail in an explosive manner with less increase in strength, particularly in deformation. A bilinear stress-strain response was observed throughout all tests with some variations of strain hardening. The failure hoop strains measured on the FRP surface were less than those obtained from the tensile coupons in all tests with a high degree of variation. In overall, existing predictive equations overestimated ultimate strengths and strains observed in present tests, with a much larger scatter related to the latter. For more accuracy, two simple design- oriented equations correlated with present tests are proposed. The strength equation was derived using the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, whereas the strain equation was based on entirely fitting of test data including the unconfined concrete strength as one of governing factors.