• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2019

Building on/with expansive soils with no treatment brings complications. Compacted expansive soils specifically fall short in satisfying the minimum requirements for transport embankment infrastructures, requiring the adoption of hauled virgin mineral aggregates or a sustainable alternative. Use of hauled aggregates comes at a high carbon and economical cost. On average, every 9m high embankment built with quarried/hauled soils cost $12600MJ.m^{-2}$ Embodied Energy (EE). A prospect of using mixed cutting-arising expansive soils with industrial/domestic wastes can reduce the carbon cost and ease the pressure on landfills. The widespread use of recycled materials has been extensively limited due to concerns over their long-term performance, generally low shear strength and stiffness. In this contribution, hydromechanical properties of a waste tyre sand-sized rubber (a mixture of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, elastomers, and styrene-butadiene) and expansive silt is studied, allowing the short- and long-term behaviour of optimum compacted composites to be better established. The inclusion of tyre shred substantially decreased the swelling potential/pressure and modestly lowered the compression index. Silt-Tyre powder replacement lowered the bulk density, allowing construction of lighter reinforced earth structures. The shear strength and stiffness decreased on addition of tyre powder, yet the contribution of matric suction to the shear strength remained constant for tyre shred contents up to 20%. Reinforced soils adopted a ductile post-peak plastic behaviour with enhanced failure strain, offering the opportunity to build more flexible subgrades as recommended for expansive soils. Residual water content and tyre shred content are directly correlated; tyre-reinforced silt showed a greater capacity of water storage (than natural silts) and hence a sustainable solution to waterlogging and surficial flooding particularly in urban settings. Crushed fine tyre shred mixed with expansive silts/sands at 15 to 20 wt% appear to offer the maximum reduction in swelling-shrinking properties at minimum cracking, strength loss and enhanced compressibility expenses.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.649-668
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• 2018

In this paper, we present a numerical model for fluid-structure interaction between structure built of porous media and acoustic fluid, which provides both pore pressure inside porous media and hydrodynamic pressures and hydrodynamic forces exerted on the upstream face of the structure in an unified manner and simplifies fluid-structure interaction problems. The first original feature of the proposed model concerns the structure built of saturated porous medium whose response is obtained with coupled discrete beam lattice model, which is based on Voronoi cell representation with cohesive links as linear elastic Timoshenko beam finite elements. The motion of the pore fluid is governed by Darcy's law, and the coupling between the solid phase and the pore fluid is introduced in the model through Biot's porous media theory. The pore pressure field is discretized with CST (Constant Strain Triangle) finite elements, which coincide with Delaunay triangles. By exploiting Hammer quadrature rule for numerical integration on CST elements, and duality property between Voronoi diagram and Delaunay triangulation, the numerical implementation of the coupling results with an additional pore pressure degree of freedom placed at each node of a Timoshenko beam finite element. The second original point of the model concerns the motion of the outside fluid which is modeled with mixed displacement/pressure based formulation. The chosen finite element representations of the structure response and the outside fluid motion ensures for the structure and fluid finite elements to be connected directly at the common nodes at the fluid-structure interface, because they share both the displacement and the pressure degrees of freedom. Numerical simulations presented in this paper show an excellent agreement between the numerically obtained results and the analytical solutions.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2022

In this study, to examine the effect of the transverse thermal expansion behavior of FRP reinforcing bars and concrete on the concrete cover thickness, based on 20℃, when the temperature changes from -70℃ to 80℃, the behavior of concrete was studied theoretically and numerically. Theoretical elastic analysis and nonlinear finite element analysis were performed on FRP reinforced concrete with different diameters and cover thicknesses of FRP reinforcement. As a result, at a negative temperature difference, concrete was compressed, and the theoretical strain result and the finite element result were similar, but at a positive temperature difference, tensile stress and further cracks occurred in the concrete, which was 1.2 to 1.4 times larger than the theoretical result. The ratio of the diameter of the FRP reinforcing bar to the thickness of the concrete cover (c/db) is closely related to the occurrence of cracks. Since the transverse thermal expansion coefficient of FRP reinforcing bars is three times greater than that of concrete, it is necessary to consider this in design.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.93-105
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• 2022

With the exploitation of natural resources in China, underground resource extraction and underground space development, as well as other engineering activities are increasing, resulting in the creation of many defective rocks. In this paper, uniaxial compression tests were performed on rocks with double holes and fractures at different angles using particle flow code (PFC2D) numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. The failure behavior and mechanical properties of rock samples with holes and fractures at different angles were analyzed. The failure modes of rock with defects at different angles were identified. The fracture propagation and stress evolution characteristics of rock with fractures at different angles were determined. The results reveal that compared to intact rocks, the peak stress, elastic modulus, peak strain, initiation stress, and damage stress of fractured rocks with different fracture angles around holes are lower. As the fracture angle increases, the gap in mechanical properties between the defective rock and the intact rock gradually decreased. In the force chain diagram, the compressive stress concentration range of the combined defect of cracks and holes starts to decrease, and the model is gradually destroyed as the tensile stress range gradually increases. When the peak stress is reached, the acoustic emission energy is highest and the rock undergoes brittle damage. Through a comparative study using laboratory tests, the results of laboratory real rocks and numerical simulation experiments were verified and the macroscopic failure characteristics of the real and simulated rocks were determined to be similar. This study can help us correctly understand the mechanical properties of rocks with defects and provide theoretical guidance for practical rock engineering.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.697-706
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• 2022

In order to explore the stable anchoring conditions of coal side under the mining disturbance of soft section coal pillar in Wangcun Coal Mine of Chenghe Mining Area, the distribution model of the anchoring support pressure at the coal pillar side was established, using the strain-softening characteristics of the coal to study the distribution law of anchoring coal side support pressure. The analytical solution for the reinforcement anchorage stress in the coal pillar side was derived with the inelastic state mechanical model. The results show that the deformation angle of the roadway side and roof increases with the roof subsidence due to the mining influence at the adjacent working face, the plastic deformation zone extends to the depth of the coal side, and the increase of anchorage stress can effectively control the roof subsidence and further deterioration of plastic zone. The roadway height and the peak support pressure have a certain influence on the anchorage stress, the required anchorage stress of the coal side rises with the roadway height and the peak support pressure. The required anchorage stress of the coal pillar side decreases as the cohesion between the coal seam and the roof and floor and the anchor length increases. Then, applied the research result to Wangcun coal mine in Chenghe mining area, the design of anchor cable reinforcement support was proposed for the section of coal pillars side that has been anchored and deformed, which achieved great results and effectively controlled the convergence and deformation of the side, providing a safety guarantee for the roadway excavation and mining.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2022

In mountainous areas of China, concrete poles with connectors are widely employed in power transmission due to its convenience of manufacture and transportation. The bearing capacity of the poles must have degenerated over time, and most of the steel connectors have been corroded. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) offers a durable, light-weight alternative in strengthening those poles that have served for many years. In this paper, the bearing capacity and failure mechanism of CFRP sheet strengthened existing reinforced concrete poles with corrosion steel connectors were investigated. Four poles were selected to conduct flexural capacity test. Two poles were strengthened by single-layer longitudinal CFRP sheet, one pole was strengthened by double-layer longitudinal CFRP sheets and the last specimen was not strengthened. Results indicate that the failure is mainly bond failure between concrete and the external CFRP sheet, and the specimens fail in a brittle pattern. The cross-sectional strains of specimens approximately follow the plane section assumption in the early stage of loading, but the strain in the tensile zone no longer conforms to this assumption when the load approaches the failure load. Also, bearing capacity and stiffness of the strengthened specimens are much larger than those without CFRP sheet. The bearing capacity, initial stiffness and elastic-plastic stiffness of specimen strengthened by double-layer CFRP are larger than those strengthened by single-layer CFRP. Weighting the cost-effective effect, it is more economical and reasonable to strengthen with single-layer CFRP sheet. The results can provide a reference to the same type of poles for strengthening design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.761-773
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• 2021

This study presents a 3D non-linear finite element (FE) assessment of dynamic soil-structure interaction (SSI). The numerical investigation has been performed on the time domain through a Finite Element (FE) system, while considering the nonlinear behavior of soil and the multi-directional nature of genuine seismic events. Later, the FE outcomes are analyzed to the recorded in-situ free-field and structural movements, emphasizing the numerical model's great result in duplicating the observed response. In this work, the soil response is simulated using an isotropic hardening elastic-plastic hysteretic model utilizing HSsmall. It is feasible to define the non-linear cycle response from small to large strain amplitudes through this model as well as for the shift in beginning stiffness with depth that happens during cyclic loading. One of the most difficult and unexpected tasks in resolving soil-structure interaction concerns is picking an appropriate ground motion predicted across an earthquake or assessing the geometrical abnormalities in the soil waves. Furthermore, an artificial neural network (ANN) has been utilized to properly forecast the non-linear behavior of soil and its multi-directional character, which demonstrated the accuracy of the ANN based on the RMSE and R² values. The total result of this research demonstrates that complicated dynamic soil-structure interaction processes may be addressed directly by passing the significant simplifications of well-established substructure techniques.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2023

Through qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis, the contradictory conclusions about the stability of the settled goaf with two-layer coal seams subject to building load were obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to combine the additional stress method and numerical simulation to further analyze the foundation stability. Through borehole analysis and empirical formula analogy, the height of water-conducting fracture zone in No.4 coal and No.9 coal were obtained, providing the calculation range of water-conducting fracture zone for numerical simulation. To ensure the accuracy of the elastic modulus of broken gangue, the stress-strain curve were obtained by broken gangue compression test in dried state of No.4 coal seam and in soaking state of No.9 coal seam. To ensure the rationality of the numerical simulation results, the actual measured subsidence data were retrieved by numerical simulation. FISH language was used to analyze the maximum building load on the surface and determine the influence depth of building load on the foundation. The critical building load was 0.16 MPa of No.4 settled goaf and was 1.6 MPa of No.9 settled goaf. The additional stress affected the water-conducting fracture zone obviously, resulted in the subsidence of water-conducting fracture zone was greater than that of bending subsidence zone. In this paper, the additional stress method was analyzed by numerical simulation method, which can provide a new analysis method for the treatment and utilization of the settled goaf.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4A
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• pp.573-580
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• 2008

In this paper, we estimated the effect of the siliceous filler's particle size on the performance of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC). Filler's particle diameters considered in this paper were about 2, 4, 8, 14, $26{\mu}m$ and the performance was evaluated by testing fluidity in fresh concrete, compressive strength, ultimate strain, elastic modulus and flexural strength in hardened concrete. We also carried out XRD and MIP tests to analyze the relationship between the mechanical properties and microstructure. Test results showed that the smaller filler's particle size improves flowability and strength properties. MIP results revealed that the smaller size of filler decreased the porosity and thus increased the strength of UHPC. From XRD analysis, we could find out there were little influence of filler's particle size on chemical reactivity in UHPC.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.839-856
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• 2023

This work presents a simple four-unknown refined integral plate theory for mechanical and thermal buckling behaviors of functionally graded (FG) plates resting on Visco-Pasternak foundations. The proposed refined high order shear deformation theory has a new displacement field which includes indeterminate integral variables and contains only four unknowns in which any shear correction factor not used, with even less than the conventional theory of first shear strain (FSDT). Governing equations are deduced from the principle of minimum total potential energy and a Navier type analytical solution is adopted for simply supported FG plates. The Visco-Pasternak foundations is considered by adding the impact of damping to the usual foundation model which characterized by the linear Winkler's modulus and Pasternak's foundation modulus. The accuracy of the present model is demonstrated by comparing the computed results with those available in the literature. Some numerical results are presented to show the impact of material index, elastic foundation type, and damping coefficient of the foundation, on the mechanical and thermal buckling behaviors of FG plates.