• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2018

This study systematically examines the changes in the compressive and tensile strength of soil cement reinforced by natural hair fiber, which is regularly produced from human. Extensive experimental tests of various test specimens have been carried out in a laboratory. Several factors are considered, including the soil type, amount of cement, amount of fiber, fiber length, loading type, and curing age. The test results indicate that both the compressive and tensile strengths are significantly affected by the fiber, either increasing or decreasing depending on the conditions. The increase in tensile strength is significant in the sand-based soil cement due to the tensile resistance of the fiber which is interlocked with the surrounding soil or cement particles. The natural fiber provides a larger strain to failure due to its extensibility, which allows greater deformation. Based on the test results, natural hair fibers can be an effective and environmentally friendly way to improve soil ground subjected to tensile loading, such as an embankment slope, road subgrade, or landfill, thus reducing the cost for cement and waste treatment. The study results provide a useful information of better understanding the mechanical behavior of natural hair fiber in soil cement and the practical use of waste materials in civil engineering. The findings can be practically applied for improving earth structures under tensile loading.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.361-373
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the engineering properties and mechanical behaviors of polymer-fibers treated sand. Para rubber (PR), natural fiber (NF), and geosynthetic fiber (GF) were used to reinforce poorly graded sand. A series of unconfined compressive and splitting tensile strength tests were performed to analyze the engineering behaviors and strength enhancement mechanism. The experiment results indicated that the PR-fibers mixture could firmly enhance the strength properties of sand. The stress-strain characteristics and failure patterns have been changed due to the increase of PR and fibers content. The presence of PR and fibers strengthened the sand and enhanced the stiffness and ductility behavior of the mixture. The stiffness of reinforced sand reaches an optimum state when both NF and GF are 0.5%, while the optimum PR contents are 20% and 22.5% for the mixture with NF and GF, respectively. An addition of PR and fiber into sand contributed to increasing interlocking zone and bonding of PR-sand interfacial.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.357-380
• /
• 2015

In this study, a simple indeterminate strut-tie model which reflects complicated characteristics of the ultimate structural behavior of continuous reinforced concrete deep beams was proposed. In addition, the load distribution ratio, defined as the fraction of applied load transferred by a vertical tie of truss load transfer mechanism, was proposed to help structural designers perform the analysis and design of continuous reinforced concrete deep beams by using the strut-tie model approaches of current design codes. In the determination of the load distribution ratio, a concept of balanced shear reinforcement ratio requiring a simultaneous failure of inclined concrete strut and vertical steel tie was introduced to ensure the ductile shear failure of reinforced concrete deep beams, and the primary design variables including the shear span-to-effective depth ratio, flexural reinforcement ratio, and compressive strength of concrete were reflected upon. To verify the appropriateness of the present study, the ultimate strength of 58 continuous reinforced concrete deep beams tested to shear failure was evaluated by the ACI 318M-11's strut-tie model approach associated with the presented indeterminate strut-tie model and load distribution ratio. The ultimate strength of the continuous deep beams was also estimated by the experimental shear equations, conventional design codes that were based on experimental and theoretical shear strength models, and current strut-tie model design codes. The validity of the proposed strut-tie model and load distribution ratio was examined through the comparison of the strength analysis results classified according to the primary design variables. The present study associated with the indeterminate strut-tie model and load distribution ratio evaluated the ultimate strength of the continuous deep beams fairly well compared with those by other approaches. In addition, the present approach reflected the effects of the primary design variables on the ultimate strength of the continuous deep beams consistently and reasonably. The present study may provide an opportunity to help structural designers conduct the rational and practical strut-tie model design of continuous deep beams.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.403-413
• /
• 2014

For the reliable design of the structural concrete by the strut-tie model approaches of current design codes, the effective strengths of concrete struts must be determined with sufficient accuracy. Many values and equations for the effective strengths have been suggested until now. As those are for the two-dimensional concrete struts, however, it is inappropriate to employ them in the strut-tie model designs of three-dimensional structural concretes. In this study, an approach, that determines the effective strengths of three-dimensional concrete struts consistently and accurately by reflecting the state of 3-dimensional stresses, the 3-dimensional failure criteria of concrete, the degree of cracks (or tensile strains of reinforcing bars crossing the struts), the strut's longitudinal length, the deviation angle between strut orientation and compressive principal stress flow, compressive strength of concrete, and the degree of concrete confinement by reinforcing bars, is proposed. To examine the validity of the proposed approach, the ultimate strength analyses of 115 reinforced concrete pile caps tested to failure by previous investigators were conducted by the ACI 318-11's strut-tie model approach with the existing and proposed effective strengths of concrete struts.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.541-557
• /
• 2015

This research aims to analyze the fracture coalescence characteristics of brittle sandstone specimen ($80{\times}160{\times}30mm$ in size) containing various flaws (a single fissure, double squares and combined flaws). Using a rock mechanics servo-controlled testing system, the strength and deformation behaviours of sandstone specimen containing various flaws are experimentally investigated. The results show that the crack initiation stress, uniaxial compressive strength and peak axial strain of specimen containing a single fissure are all higher than those containing double squares, while which are higher than those containing combined flaws. For sandstone specimen containing combined flaws, the uniaxial compressive strength of sandstone increase as fissure angle (${\alpha}$) increases from $30^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$, which indicates that the specimens with steeper fissure angles can support higher axial capacity for ${\alpha}$ greater than $30^{\circ}$. In the entire deformation process of flawed sandstone specimen, crack evolution process is discussed detailed using photographic monitoring technique. For the specimen containing a single fissure, tensile wing cracks are first initiated at the upper and under tips of fissure, and anti-tensile cracks and far-field cracks are also observed in the deformation process; moreover anti-tensile cracks usually accompanies with tensile wing cracks. For the specimen containing double squares, tensile cracks are usually initiated from the top and bottom edge of two squares along the direction of axial stress, and in the process of final unstable failure, more vertical splitting failures are observed in the ligament region. When a single fissure and double squares are formed together into combined flaws, the crack coalescence between the fissure tips and double squares plays a significant role for ultimate failure of the specimen containing combined flaws.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.565-576
• /
• 2020

Experimental and discrete element methods were used to investigate the effects of angle of Y shape non-persistent joint on the tensile behaviour of joint's bridge area under brazilian test. concrete samples with diameter of 100 mm and thikness of 40 mm were prepared. Within the specimen, two Y shape non-persistent notches were provided. The large notch lengths were 6 cm, 4 cm and 2 cm. the small notch lengths were 3 cm, 2 cm and 1 cm. The angle of larger notch related to horizontal axis was 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°. Totally, 12 different configuration systems were prepared for Y shape non-persistent joints. Also, 18 models with different Y shape non-persistent notch angle and notch length were prepared in numerical model. The large notch lengths were 6 cm, 4 cm and 2 cm. the small notch lengths were 3 cm, 2 cm and 1 cm. The angle of larger notch related to horizontal axis was 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150. Tensile strength of model materil was 1 MPa. The axial load was applied to the model by rate of 0.02 mm/sec. This testing showed that the failure process was mostly governed by the Y shape non-persistent joint angle and joint length. The tensile strengths of the specimens were related to the fracture pattern and failure mechanism of the discontinuities. It was shown that the tensile behaviour of discontinuities is related to the number of the induced tensile cracks which are increased by increasing the joint length and joint angle. The minimum tensile strength occurs when the angle of larger joint related to horizontal axis was 60°. Also, the maximum compressive strength occurs when the angle of larger joint related to horizontal axis was 90°. The tensile strength was decreased by increasing the notch length. The failure pattern and failure strength are similar in both methods i.e. the experimental testing and the numerical simulation methods.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.299-314
• /
• 2017

The aim of this paper is to investigate the performance of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Filled Steel Tube (LWCFST) columns experimentally and compare to the behavior of Self-Compacted Concrete Filled Steel Tube (SCCFST) columns under axial loading. Four different L/D ratios and three D/t ratios were used in the experimental program to delve into the compression behaviours. Compressive strength of the LWC and SCC are 33.47 MPa and 39.71 MPa, respectively. Compressive loading versus end shortening curves and the failure mode of sixteen specimens were compared and discussed. The design specification formulations of AIJ 2001, AISC 360-16, and EC4 were also assessed against test results to underline the performance of specification methods in predicting the compression capacity of LWCFST and SCCFST columns. Based on the behaviour of the SCCFST columns, LWCFST columns exhibited different performances, especially in ductility and failure mode. The nature of the utilized lightweight aggregate led to local buckling mode to be dominant in LWCFST columns, even the long LWCFST specimens suffered from this behaviour. While with the SCCFST specimens the global buckling governed the failure mode of long specimens without any loss in capacity. Considering a wide range of column geometries (short, medium and long columns), this paper extends the current knowledge in composite construction by examining the potential of two promising and innovative structural concrete types in CFST applications.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2003

Recently, the steel parts used at the aerospace and automobile industries are required to be used light weight parts. Therefore, used material, steel have to be a high stress, which is an indispensable condition in this field. At the consideration of parts design, high hardness of the lightweight parts have an benefit of saving fuel and material. A high stress of metal has a point of difference according to the shape of design, external cyclic load and condition of vibration. A crack generates on the surface of metal or under yield stress by defect of inner metal defect or surface defect and slowly, this crack grow stable growth. Finally, rapidity failure phenomena is happen. Fatigue failure_phenomena, which happen in metal, bring on danger in human life and property therefor, anti-fatigue failure technology take an important part of current industries Currently, the shot peening is used for removing the defect from the surface of steel and improving the fatigue strength on surface. Therefore, this paper investigated the effect on frcature toughness using shot peening which is improve the resistance of crack growth and crack expansion rate by fatigue that make a compressive residual stress on surface.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.659-670
• /
• 2024

The mechanical behaviour of layered concrete samples containing an internal crack was numerically studied by modelling the geo-mechanical specimens in the particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC2D). The numerical modelling software was calibrated with the experimental results of the Brazilian tensile strengths gained from the laboratory disc-type specimens. Then, the samples with the bedding layers and internal notch were numerically simulated with PFC2D under uniaxial compressive loading. In each specimen, the layers' thickness was 10 mm but the layer's inclination angle was changed to 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 150°. Of course, the layers'interfaces are considered to have very low strengths. The internal notch was kept at 3 cm in length however, its inclination angle was changed to 0°, 40°, 60° and 90°. Therefore, a total, of 24 numerical models were made to study the failure mechanism of the layered concrete samples. Considering these results, it has been concluded that the inclination angles of both internal crack and bedding layers affect the failure mechanism and uniaxial compressive strength of the concrete.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.519-529
• /
• 2022

Sandwich structures with the superior mechanical properties such as high stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio, good thermal insulation, and high energy absorption capacity are used today in aerospace, automotive, marine, and civil engineering industries. These structures are composed of moderately stiff, thin face sheets that withstand the majority of transverse and in-plane loads, separated by a thick, lightweight core that resists shear forces. In this research, the finite element technique is used to simulate a sandwich panel with a truss core under axial compressive stress using ABAQUS software. A review of past experimental studies shows that the bondline between the core and face sheets plays a vital role in the critical failure load. Therefore, this modeling analyzes the damage initiation modes and debonding between face sheet and core by cohesive surface contact with traction-separation model. According to the results obtained from the modeling, it can be observed that the adhesive stiffness has a significant influence on the critical failure load of the specimens. To achieve the full strength of the structure as a continuum, a lower limit is obtained for the adhesive stiffness. By providing this limit stiffness between the core and the panel face sheets, sudden failure of the structure can be prevented.