• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.187-205
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• 2010

The existing CFT columns present the deterioration in confining effect after the yield of steel tube, local buckling and the deterioration in load capacity. If lateral load such as earthquake load is applied to CFT columns, strong shearing force and moment are generated at the lower part of the columns and local buckling appears at the column. In this study, axial compression test and beam-column test were conducted for existing CFT square column specimens and those reinforced with carbon fiber sheets (CFS). The variables for axial compression test were width-thickness ratio and the number of CFS layers and those for beamcolumn test were concrete strength and the number of CFS layers. The results of the compression test showed that local buckling was delayed and maximum load capacity improved slightly as the number of layers increased. The specimens' ductility capacity improved due to the additional confinement by carbon fiber sheets which delayed local buckling. In the beam-column test, maximum load capacity improved slightly as the number of CFS layers increased. However, ductility capacity improved greatly as the increased number of CFS layers delayed the local buckling at the lower part of the columns. It was observed that the CFT structure reinforced with carbon fiber sheets controlled the local buckling at columns and thus improved seismic performance. Consequently, it was deduced that the confinement of CFT columns by carbon fiber sheets suggested in this study would be widely used for reinforcing CFT columns.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.617-627
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• 2018

After earthquakes FRP sheets are often used for the rehabilitation of damaged Reinforced Concrete (RC) beamcolumn connections. Connections with minor to moderate damage are often dealt with by applying FRP sheets after a superficial repair of the cracks using resin paste or high strength mortar but without infusion of thin resin solution under pressure into the cracking system. This technique is usually adopted in these cases due to the fast and easy-to-apply procedure. The experimental investigation reported herein aims at evaluating the effectiveness of repairing the damaged beam-column connections using FRP sheets after a meticulous but superficial repair of their cracking system using resin paste. The investigation comprises experimental results of 10 full scale beam-column joint specimens; five original joints and the corresponding retrofitted ones. The repair technique has been applied to RC joints with different joint reinforcement arrangements with minor to severe damage brought about by cyclic loading for the purposes of this work. Aiming at quantitative concluding remarks about the effectiveness of the repair technique, data concerning response loads, loading stiffness and energy absorption values have been acquired and commented upon. Furthermore, comparisons of damage index values and values of equivalent viscous damping, as obtained during the test of the original specimens, with the corresponding ones observed in the loading of the repaired ones have also been evaluated and commented. Based on these comparisons, it is deduced that the technique under investigation can be considered to be a rather satisfactory repair technique for joints with minor to moderate damage taking into account the rapid, convenient and easy-to-apply character of its application.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-28
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• 2019

This article investigates the response of Integral Abutment Bridges (IAB) when subjected to a sequence of seasonal thermal loading of the deck followed by ground seismic shaking in the longitudinal direction. Particular emphasis is placed on the effect of pre-seismic thermal Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) on the seismic performance of the IAB, as well as on the ability of various backfills configurations, to minimize the unfavorable SSI effects. A series of two-dimensional numerical analyses were performed for this purpose, on a complete backfill-integral bridge-foundation soil system, subjected to seasonal cyclic thermal loading of the deck, followed by ground seismic shaking, employing ABAQUS. Various backfill configurations were investigated, including conventional dense cohesionless backfills, mechanically stabilized backfills and backfills isolated by means of compressive inclusions. The responses of the investigated configurations, in terms of backfill deformations and earth pressures, and bridge resultants and displacements, were compared with each other, as well as with relevant predictions from analyses, where the pre-seismic thermal SSI effects were neglected. The effects of pre-seismic thermal SSI on the seismic response of the coupled IAB-soil system were more evident in cases of conventional backfills, while they were almost negligible in case of IAB with mechanically stabilized backfills and isolated abutments. Along these lines, reasonable assumptions should be made in the seismic analysis of IAB with conventional sand backfills, to account for pre-seismic thermal SSI effects. On the contrary, the analysis of the SSI effects, caused by thermal and seismic loading, can be disaggregated in cases of IAB with isolated backfills.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.206-213
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• 2021

Recently, although the size of the LNG Cargo Containment System (CCS) has been increasing, the secondary barrier is reported to remain unchanged, and the conventional Flexible Secondary Barrier (FSB) used in Mark-III type has been pointed out to be vulnerable to failure owing to thermal and cyclic loads. In this respect, a tensile test was carried out to verify the reinforcing effect of FSB using aramid fiber on weft compared to the conventional FSB. In order to consider the LNG leakage situation, a series of tensile tests were conducted from ambient to cryogenic temperature, and mechanical properties were evaluated for each fiber direction on account of anisotropy. Tensile behavior and fracture analyses were performed to confirm the mechanical properties of each material according to temperature. Tensile test results proved that replacing the aramid fiber instead of E-glass fiber used on weft is effective in enhancing the mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.427-435
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• 2020

Modular structures are relatively lightweight compared to reinforced-concrete or steel structures. However, it is difficult to achieve structural integrity between the columns of unit modules in a modular structure, which causes undesirable effects on the lateral force resistance capacity against wind and earthquake loads. This is more prominent in modular structures whose overall heights are greater. Hence, a post-tensioned modular structural system is proposed herein to improve the lateral force resistance capacity of a typical modular structure. A post-tensioned column-base connection, which is the main component of the proposed modular structural system, is configured with shapes and characteristics that allow inducing self-centering behaviors. Finite element analysis was then performed to investigate the hysteretic behaviors of the post-tensioned column-base connection. The analysis results show that the hysteretic behaviors are significantly affected by the initial tension forces and beam-column connection details at the base.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.613-625
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• 2021

Non-seismically designed eccentric reinforced concrete beam-column joints were extensively used in existing reinforced concrete frame buildings, which were found to be vulnerable to seismic action in many incidences. To provide a fundamental understanding of the seismic performance and failure mechanism of the joints, three 2/3-scale exterior beam-column joints with non-seismically designed details were cast and tested under reversed cyclic loads simulating earthquake excitation. In this investigation, particular emphasis was given on the effects of the eccentricity between the centerlines of the beam and the column. It is shown that the eccentricity had significant effects on the damage characteristics, shear strength, and displacement ductility of the specimens. In addition, shear deformation and the strain of joint hoops were found to concentrate on the eccentric face of the joint. The results demonstrated that the specimen with an eccentricity of 1/4 column width failed in a brittle manner with premature joint shear failure, while the other specimens with less or no eccentricity failed in a ductile manner with joint shear failure after beam flexural yielding. Test results are compared with those predicted by three seismic design codes and two non-seismic design codes. In general, the codes do not accurately predict the shear strength of the eccentric joints with non-seismic details.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.49-54
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• 2021

The display industry is transitioning from traditional rigid products such as flat panel displays to flexible or wearable ones designed to be folded or rolled. Accordingly, colorless and optically transparent polyimide (CPI) films are one of the prime candidates to substitute traditional cover glass as a passivation layer to accommodate product flexibility. However, CPI films subjected to repetitive pure bending loads inevitably entail an accumulation of residual strain that can eventually cause wrinkles or delamination in the underlying component after a certain number of static and cyclic loading. The purpose of this study is to establish an experimental method to systematically evaluate the bending residual strain of CPI films. Films were monotonically and cyclically wrapped on mandrels of various diameters to ensure a constant strain in each. After unwrapping the wound CPI film, the residual radius of curvature remaining on the film was measured and converted into residual strain. The critical radius of curvature at which residual strain does not remain was about 5 mm, and the residual strain decreased in proportion to the log time. It is expected that flexible displays can be reliably designed using the data between the applied bending strain and the residual strain.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.473-491
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• 2022

The research investigates experimentally the effect of confinement on structural behavior at the ends of beam-column in reinforced concrete (RC) frames. In the experimental study, five specimens consisting of 1/3-scaled RC frames having single-bay, representing the traditional deficiencies of existing buildings constructed without receiving proper engineering service is investigated. The RC frame specimens were produced to represent most of the existing buildings in Turkey that have damage potential. To decrease the probable damage to the existing buildings exposed to earthquakes, the carbon Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) strengthening technique (fully wrapping) was used on the ends of the RC frame elements to increase the energy dissipation and deformation capacity. The specimens were tested under reversed cyclic lateral loading with constant axial loads. They were constructed satisfying the weak column-strong beam condition and consisting of low-strength concrete, such as compressive strength of 15 MPa. The test results were compared and evaluated considering stiffness, strength, energy dissipation capacity, structural damping, ductility, and damage propagation in detail. Comprehensive investigations of these experimental results reveal that the strengthening of a brittle frame with fully-TRM wrapping with non-anchored was effective in increasing the stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation capacities of RC bare frames. It was also observed that the frame-only-retrofitting with an infill wall is not enough to increase the ductility capacity. In this case, both the frame and infill wall must be retrofitted with TRM composite to increase the stiffness, lateral load carrying, ductility and energy dissipation capacities of RC frames. The presented strengthening method can be an alternative strengthening technique to enhance the seismic performance of existing or moderately damaged RC buildings.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.101-116
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• 2008

The use of reinforced earth walls id permanent structures is getting its popularity. Despite a number of advantages of reinforced earth walls over conventional concrete retaining walls, there exists concerns over long-term residual deformations when subjected to repeated and/or cyclic loads, during their service period. In this investigation, the effects of pre-loading in reducing long term residual deformation of reinforced soil structures under sustained and/or repeated loading environment are investigated using a series of reduced-scale model tests. A model pier and a back-to-back (BTB) reinforced soil structures were constructed and tested under various loading and backfilling conditions. The results indicate that the pre-loading technique can be an effective means of controlling residual deformations of reinforced soils under various loading conditions.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2023

In the present work, a new global damage index is proposed for the seismic performance and failure analysis of concrete gravity dams. Unlike the existing indices of concrete structures, this index doesn't need scaling with an ultimate or an upper value. For this purpose, the Beni-Haroun dam in north-eastern Algeria, is considered as a case study, for which an average seismic capacity curve is first evaluated by performing several incremental dynamic analyses. The seismic performance point of the dam is then determined using the N2 method, considering multiple modes and taking into account the stiffness degradation. The seismic demand is obtained from the design spectrum of the Algerian seismic regulations. A series of recorded and artificial accelerograms are used as dynamic loads to evaluate the nonlinear responses of the dam. The nonlinear behaviour of the concrete mass is modelled by using continuum damage mechanics, where material damage is represented by a scalar field damage variable. This modelling, which is suitable for cyclic loading, uses only a single damage parameter to describe the stiffness degradation of the concrete. The hydrodynamic and the sediment pressures are included in the analyses. The obtained results show that the proposed damage index faithfully describes the successive brittle failures of the dam which increase with increasing applied ground accelerations. It is found that minor damage can occur for ground accelerations less than 0.3 g, and complete failure can be caused by accelerations greater than 0.45 g.