• Computers and Concrete
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.41-57
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• 2014

Modern trend in structural design is to use smaller elements in order to ensure several purposes such as economy, functionality and aesthetic in appearance. However, because of decreasing rigidity of the structural elements, the system displacements increases and displacements become an important subject in this kind of structures takes into account both geometrical changes and the carrying capacity of the material after linear-elastic boundary. In this study, a method is proposed to calculate the failure loads and to analyse the reinforced concrete space frame systems. The numerical examples gathered from the literature survey are solved with this method utilising the prepared computer program and the comparable results are presented. The results show that the method is sufficiently accurate.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.79-90
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• 2013

In this study, dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios of RC frame is determined for different construction stages using Operational Modal Analyses method under ambient vibration. Full scaled, one bay and one story RC frames are selected as an application for different construction stages such as plane, brick in-filled and brick in-filled with plaster. The RC frame is vibrated by natural excitations with small impact effects and the response signals are measured using sensitive accelerometers during ambient vibration tests. Measurement time-frequency span and effective mode number are determined by considering similar studies in literature. Sensitive seismic accelerometers are used to collect signals obtained from the experimental tests. To obtain experimental dynamic characteristics, output-only system identification technique is employed namely; Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition technique in the frequency domain. It is demonstrated that the ambient vibration measurements are enough to identify the most significant modes of RC frames.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.91-107
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• 2013

Corrosion of RC bridge decks eventually leads to delamination, severe cracking and spalling of the concrete cover. This is a prevalent deterioration mechanism and demands for the most costly repair interventions during the service life of bridges worldwide. On the other hand, decisions for repairs are usually made whenever the extent of a limit crack width, reported in routine visual inspections, exceeds an acceptable threshold level. In this paper, while random fields are applied to account for spatial variation of governing parameters of the corrosion process, an analytical model is used to simulate the corrosion induced crack width. However when dealing with random fields, the Monte Carlo simulation is apparently an inefficient and time consuming method, hence the utility of neural networks as a surrogate in simulation is investigated and found very promising. The proposed method can be regarded as an invaluable tool in decision making concerning maintenance of bridges.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.65-77
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• 2013

This paper examines the dynamic response of an arch dam subjected to blast loading. A damage model is developed for three dimensional analysis of arch dams. The modified Drucker-Prager criterion is adopted as the failure criteria of the damage evolution in concrete. Then, Xiluodu arch dam serves as an example to simulate the failure behaviors of structures with the proposed model. The results obtained using the proposed model can reveal the reliability degree of the safe operation level of the high arch dam system as well as the degree of potential failure, providing a reliable basis for risk assessment and risk control.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.19-36
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• 2013

In the finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures, discrete representation of the steel reinforcing bars is considered advantageous over smeared representation because of the more realistic modelling of their bond-slip behaviour. However, there is up to now limited research on how to simulate the dowel action of discrete reinforcing bars, which is an important component of shear transfer in cracked concrete structures. Herein, a numerical model for the dowel action of discrete reinforcing bars is developed. It features derivation of the dowel stiffness based on the beam-on-elastic-foundation theory and direct assemblage of the dowel stiffness matrix into the stiffness matrices of adjoining concrete elements. The dowel action model is incorporated in a nonlinear finite element program based on secant stiffness formulation and application to deep beams tested by others demonstrates that the incorporation of dowel action can improve the accuracy of the finite element analysis.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.37-51
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• 2013

The responses of reinforced concrete slabs subject to an impact loading near the ultimate load range are explored. The analysis is carried out on a simply supported rectangular reinforced concrete slab using a nonlinear explicit dynamic procedure and considering three material models: Drucker-Prager, modified Drucker-Prager, and concrete damaged plasticity, available in the commercial finite element software, ABAQUS/Explicit. For comparison purposes, the impact force-time response, steel reinforcement failure, and concrete perforation pattern are verified against the existing experimental results. Also, the effectiveness of mesh density and damage wave propagation are studied independently. It is shown that the presently adopted finite element procedure is able to simulate and predict fairly accurate the behavior of reinforced concrete slab under impact load. More detailed investigations are however demanded for the justification of effects coming from an imperfect projectile orientation as well as the load and structural surface conditions, including the impulsive contacted state, which are inevitable in an actual impact environment.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.375-385
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• 2017

In the present paper experimental and numerical analysis of hook-ended steel fiber reinforced concrete is carried out. The experimental tests are performed on notched beams loaded in 3-point bending using fiber volume fractions up to 1.5%. The numerical analysis of fiber reinforced concrete beams is performed at meso scale. The concrete is discretized with 3D solid finite elements and microplane model is used as a constitutive law. The fibers are modelled by randomly generated 1D truss finite elements, which are connected with concrete matrix by discrete bond-slip relationship. It is demonstrated that the presented approach, which is based on the modelling of concrete matrix using microplane model, able to realistically replicate experimental results. In all investigated cases failure is due to the pull-out of fibers. It is shown that with increase of volume content of fibers the effective bond strength and slip capacity of fibers decreases.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2017

A clear correlation exists between the compressive strength and elastic modulus of concrete. Unfortunately, determining the static elastic modulus requires destructive methods and determining the dynamic elastic modulus is greatly complicated by the shape and size of the specimens. This paper reports on a novel approach to the prediction of compressive strength in concrete cylinders using numerical calculations in conjunction with the impact-echo method. This non-destructive technique involves obtaining the speeds of P-waves and S-waves using correction factors through numerical calculation based on frequencies measured using the impact-echo method. This approach makes it possible to calculate the dynamic elastic modulus with relative ease, thereby enabling the prediction of compressive strength. Experiment results demonstrate the speed, convenience, and efficacy of the proposed method.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2017

A coupled experimental-numerical study on shear fracture in concrete specimens with different geometries is carried out. The crack initiation, propagation and final breakage of concrete specimens are experimentally studied under compression loading. The load-strain and the strength of the specimens are experimentally measured, indicating decreasing effects of the shear behavior on the failure load of the specimen. The effects of specimen geometries on the shear fracturing path in the concrete specimens are also investigate. Numerical models using an indirect boundary element method are made to evaluate the crack propagation paths of concrete specimens. These numerical results are compared with the performed experiments and are validated experimentally.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2017

In this study engineered steel fibres used as reinforcement for concrete were characterized by number of key mechanical and spatial parameters, which are easy to measure and quantify. Such commonly used parameters as length, diameter, fibre intrinsic efficiency ratio (FIER), hook geometry, tensile strength and ductility were considered. Effective classification of various fibres was demonstrated using simple multivariate computations involving principal component analysis (PCA). Contrary to univariate data mining approach, the proposed analysis can be efficiently adapted for fast, robust and direct classification of engineered steel fibres. The results have revealed that in case of particular spatial/geometrical conditions of steel fibres investigated the FIER parameter can be efficiently replaced by a simple aspect ratio. There is also a need of finding new parameters describing properties of steel fibre more precisely.