• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.467-482
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• 2022

One of the major failure modes in composite sandwich structures is the separation between skins and core. In this study, the effect of employing foam filled composite corrugated core on the skin/core debonding (resistance to separation between skin and core) is investigated both experimentally and numerically. To this aim, triangular corrugated core specimens are manufactured and compared with reference specimens only made of PVC foam core in terms of skin/core debonding under bending loading. The corrugated composite laminates are fabricated using the hand layup method. Also, the Vacuumed Infusion Process (VIP) is employed to join the skins to the core with greater quality. Utilizing an End Notched Shear (ENS) fixture, three point bending tests are performed on the manufactured sandwich composite panels. The results reveal that the resistance to separation capacity and flexural stiffness of sandwich composite has been increased about 170% and 76%, respectively by using a triangular corrugated core. The Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) with appropriate cohesive law in ABAQUS finite element software is used to model the progressive face/core interfaces debonding the difference between experimental and numerical results in predicting the maximum born load before the skin/core separation is about 6 % in simple core specimens and 3% in triangular corrugated core specimens.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.89-98
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• 2022

The recent earthquake in Korea caused a lot of damage to reinforced concrete (RC) columns with non-seismic details. The nonlinear analysis enables predicting the hysteresis behavior of RC columns under earthquakes, but the analytical model used for the columns must be accurate and practical. This paper studied the nonlinear analysis models built into a commercial structural analysis program for the existing RC columns. The load-displacement relationships, maximum strength, initial stiffness, and energy dissipation predicted by the three analysis models were compared and analyzed. The results were similar to those tested in the order of the fiber, Pivot, and Takeda models, whereas the fiber model took the most time to build. For columns subjected to axial load, the Pivot model could predict the behavior at a similar level to that of the fiber model. Based on the above, it is expected that the Pivot model can be applied most practically for existing RC columns.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.503-518
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• 2023

In tall constructions, the outriggers are regarded as a structural part capable of effectively resisting lateral loads. This study analyses the efficacy of hybrid outrigger system in high rise RCC building for various structural parameters identified. For variations in α, which is defined as the ratio of the relative flexural stiffness of the core to the axial rigidity of the column, static and dynamic analyses of hybrid outrigger system having a virtual and a conventional outrigger at two distinct levels were conducted in the present study. An investigation on the optimal outrigger position was performed by taking the results from absolute maximum inter storey drift ratio (ISD_max), roof acceleration (acc_roof), roof displacement (disp_roof), and base bending moment under both wind and seismic loads on analytical models having 40, 60 and 80 storeys. An ideal performance index parameter was introduced and was utilized to obtain the optimal position of the hybrid outrigger system considering the combined response of ISD_max, acc_roof, disp_roof and, criteria required for the structure under wind and seismic loads. According to the behavioural study, increasing the column area and outrigger arm length will maximise the performance of the hybrid outrigger system. The analysis results are summarized in a flowchart which provides the optimal positions obtained for each dependent parameter and based on ideal performance index which can be used to make initial suggestions for installing a hybrid outrigger system.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.91-109
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• 2022

This paper presents a closed-form higher-order analysis of interfacial shear stresses in RC continuous beams strengthened with bonded prestressed laminates. For retrofitting reinforced concrete continuous beams is to bond fiber reinforced prestressed composite plates to their tensile faces. An important failure mode of such plated beams is the debonding of the composite plates from the concrete due to high level of stress concentration in the adhesive at the ends of the composite plate. The model is based on equilibrium and deformations compatibility requirements in and all parts of the strengthened beam, where both the shear and normal stresses are assumed to be invariant across the adhesive layer thickness. In the present theoretical analysis, the adherend shear deformations are taken into account by assuming a parabolic shear stress through the thickness of both the RC continuous beams strengthened with bonded prestressed laminates. The theoretical predictions are compared with other existing solutions. A parametric study has been conducted to investigate the sensitivity of interface behavior to parameters such as laminate stiffness and the thickness of the laminate where all were found to have a marked effect on the magnitude of maximum shear and normal stress in the composite member.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.333-346
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• 2023

This paper presents findings from an experimental study that was focused on evaluating the use of Forta-Ferro (FF) and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) fibers on the response of moderate and special ductility beams under load cycles. For this reason, eight full-scale specimens, identical in geometry, were subjected to gradual cyclic loading. The specimens included two plain concrete beams with medium and special ductility, three beams with medium ductility and stirrup spacing of one-quarter the effective depth (d/4) and three beams with special ductility, and stirrup spacing of one-half the effective depth (d/2), strengthened with FF and PVA fibers separately. The use of fibers was aimed at reducing the amount of shear reinforcement in flexural members. Here, the variation of parameters including the maximum strength, ultimate strength, stiffness, ductility, damage index, energy dissipation, and equivalent damping was studied. Utilizing FF and PVA fibers improved the performance in beams with moderate ductility when compared to those beams with special ductility. Therefore, in special ductility beams, fibers can be used instead of crossties and in moderate ductility beams, fibers can be added to reduce the ratio of shear reinforcement. Furthermore, increasing the stirrup spacing in the moderate ductility beams from d/4 to d/2 and adding 0.6% FF or 1.5% PVA fibers resulted in behavior similar to those of the moderate ductility beam.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2022

The paper introduces an experimental program for the newly developed vertical joints between Precast Concrete (PC) walls to improve their in-plane shear capacity. Compared to the existing vertical joints, two types of vertical joints were developed by increasing the transverse reinforcement ratio and improving frictional force at the joint interface. A total of four specimens including the Reinforced Concrete (RC) wall and PC walls with developed vertical joints were designed and constructed. The constructed specimens were experimentally investigated through monotonic shear tests. The observed damage, load-deformation relationship, strain and strength are investigated and compared with the cases of RC wall specimen. Experimental results indicate that the maximum force and initial stiffness of the PC wall with proposed vertical joints were decreased by comparing with those of RC wall. However, the ultimate displacement increased by up to 217.30% compared to the RC wall specimen. In addition, brittle failure did not occurred and relatively few cracks and damages occurred.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a combined functional intervention program on the pain-related questionnaire, the erector spinae contractile properties, and trunk extensor strength of prime-aged females with non-specific chronic low back pain. Method: 16 (female: 16) prime-aged subjects (age: 60.88 ± 6.09 years, height: 158.16 ± 5.58 cm, weight: 59.05 ± 9.44 kg) participated in this study. Results: Except for Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia all pain-related questionnaires revealed a significant decrease after the intervention program (p<.001). Tensiomyography of the erector spinae revealed a significant post-intervention program increase in the maximum radial displacement (p<.05) and velocity of contraction (p<.05), however, there wasn't a significant post-intervention program change in the contraction time. Additionally, Trunk extensor strength showed a significant increase post-intervention program (p<.001). Conclusion: Our results indicated that the combined functional intervention program positively changed pain-related questionnaires and reduced erector spinae muscle stiffness, increasing the velocity of erector spinae contraction. Additionally, improved the trunk extensor strength.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.571-585
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• 2023

The application of relatively low volumes of fibres in normal strength concrete has been shown to be of significant benefit when applied to composite slabs with profiled sheet decking. This paper reports on an experimental study aimed at quantifying further potential benefits that may arise from applying ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete. To assess performance six simply supported beams were tested under hogging and sagging loading configurations along with three two span continuous beams. Fibre contents are varied from 0% to 2% and changes in strength, deformation, crack width and moment redistribution are measured. At the serviceability limit state, it is shown that the addition of high fibre volumes can significantly enhance member stiffness and reduce crack widths in all beams. At the ultimate limit state it is observed that a transition from 0% to 1% fibres significantly increases strength but that there is a maximum fibre volume beyond which no further increases in strength are possible. Conversely, member ductility and moment redistribution are shown to be strongly proportional to fibre volume.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.237-244
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• 2023

This study analyzes the seismic response of traffic light poles, considering soil-foundation effects through nonlinear static and time history analyses. Two poles are investigated, uni-directional and bi-directional, each with 9 m mast arms. Finite element models incorporate the poles, soil, and concrete foundations for analysis. Results show that the initial stiffness of the traffic light poles decreases by approximately 38% due to soil effects, and the drift ratio at which their nonlinear behavior occurs is 77% of scenarios without considering soil effects. The maximum acceleration response increases by about 82% for uni-directional poles and 73% for bi-directional poles, while displacement response increases by approximately 10% for uni-directional and 16% for bi-directional poles when considering soil-foundation effects. Additionally, increasing ground motion intensity reduces soil restraints, making significant rotational displacement the dominant response mechanism over flexural displacement for the traffic light poles. These findings underscore the importance of considering soil-foundation interactions in analyzing the seismic behavior of traffic light poles and provide valuable insights to enhance their seismic resilience and safety.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 2024

In this paper, a closed-form rigorous solution for interfacial stress in continuous steel beam with variable section strengthened with bonded prestressed FRP plates and subjected to a uniformly distributed load is developed using linear elastic theory and including the variation of fiber volume fractions with a longitudinal orientation of the fibers of the FRP plates. The results show that there exists a high concentration of both shear and normal stress at the ends of the laminate, which might result in premature failure of the strengthening scheme at these locations. The theoretical predictions are compared with other existing solutions. Overall, the predictions of the different solutions agree closely with each other. A parametric study has been conducted to investigate the sensitivity of interface behavior to parameters such as laminate and adhesive stiffness, the thickness of the laminate and the fiber volume fractions where all were found to have a marked effect on the magnitude of maximum shear and normal stress in the composite member. This research gives a numerical precision in relating to the others studies which neglect the effect of prestressed plate and the shear lag impact. The physical and geometric properties of materials are taken into account, and that may play an important role in reducing the interfacial stresses magnitude.