• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2013

There is an abundance of research on the strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structural elements such as beams, columns and slabs with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Less research by comparison has been conducted on the strengthening of RC beam-column connections and the majority of such research has been predominantly experimental to date. Few existing experimental studies have reported extensive instrumentation of test specimens which in turn makes understanding the behavior of the connections and especially the contributions made by the FRP difficult to ascertain. In addition, there has been even more limited research on the analytical and numerical modelling of FRP-strengthened connections. In this paper, detailed descriptions of key strategies to model FRP-strengthened RC connections with finite elements are provided. An extensively instrumented and comprehensively documented set of experiments on FRP-strengthened connections is firstly presented and finite element models are then constructed using ANSYS. The study shows that the finite element approach is able to capture the overall behavior of the test specimens including the failure mode as well as the behavior of the FRP which will most importantly lead to a detailed understanding of the FRP and the future development of rational analytical models. The finite element models are, however, unable to model the stiffness of the connections with accuracy in the ultimate load range of response.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.17 no.3_4
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• pp.357-378
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• 2004

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of a reinforced concrete (RC) frame under earthquake loading is performed in this paper on the basis of a hysteretic moment-curvature relation. Unlike previous analytical moment-curvature relations which take into account the flexural deformation only with the perfect-bond assumption, by introducing an equivalent flexural stiffness, the proposed relation considers the rigid-body-motion due to anchorage slip at the fixed end, which accounts for more than 50% of the total deformation. The advantage of the proposed relation, compared with both the layered section approach and the multi-component model, may be the ease of its application to a complex structure composed of many elements and on the reduction in calculation time and memory space. Describing the structural response more exactly becomes possible through the use of curved unloading and reloading branches inferred from the stress-strain relation of steel and consideration of the pinching effect caused by axial force. Finally, the applicability of the proposed model to the nonlinear dynamic analysis of RC structures is established through correlation studies between analytical and experimental results.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.617-622
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• 2000

In this study, effective compressive strength and nodal zone of Strut-and-Tie Model are studied to propose a new design method for RC T-type pier coping for prevention of sudden brittle failure. The coping which transmits loads of bridge to pier should be properly designed to retain ductile behavior. In order to carry out this proper design using STM, tie must yield before concrete fails, and a stress at strut should not exceed a certain effective stress. Therefore, reasonable determination of the effective compressive strength of strut by considering stress states at the nodal zone exactly is very important. Since conventional STM is applied under assumption that all nodes are under hydrostatic stress state, actual non-hydrostatic stress state in nodal zone caused by geometrical characteristics, loading conditions, support conditions of structures can not be considered properly. In order to apply STM for design of RC T-type pier coping, the non-hydrostatic stress state of nodal zone is considered and effective compressive strength is proposed. Then, a new design method of RC T-type pier coping which applies the principle of superposition to obtain optimum ductile behavior is rationally designed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.703-722
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• 2015

This study investigates the performance of advanced hollow reinforced concrete (RC) bridge column sections with triangular reinforcement details. Hollow column sections are based on economic considerations of cost savings associated with reduced material and design moments, as against increased construction complexity, and hence increased labor costs. The proposed innovative reinforcement details are economically feasible and rational, and facilitate shorter construction periods. We tested a model of advanced hollow column sections under quasi-static monotonic loading. The results showed that the proposed triangular reinforcement details were equal to the existing reinforcement details, in terms of the required performance. We used a computer program, Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology (RCAHEST), for analysis of the RC structures; and adopted a modified lateral confining effect model for the advanced hollow bridge column sections. Our study documents the testing of hollow RC bridge column sections with innovative reinforcement details, and presents conclusions based on the experimental and analytical findings. Additional full-scale experimental research is needed to refine and confirm the design details, especially for the actual detailing employed in the field.

• The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2000

All learners can selection of their work through hypermedia technology in the area provided by usual WBI. Also, it provides learner with individual teaching-learning environment and estimation. RC2 System has the fundamental client/server model, and provides the learning, evaluation algorithms based on the LCPG(Learning Contents Problem Graph) model, the dynamic re-learning mechanism in according to the property of individual. Moreover, it support learning editor to provide interface, which is convenient for teacher, Courseware writer, on the Web

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.515-537
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• 2014

Current seismic codes (e.g. the NTC08 Italian code and the EC8 European code) adopt a performance-based approach for both the design of new buildings and the assessment of existing ones. Different limit states are considered by verifying structural members as well as non structural elements and facilities which have generally been neglected in practice. The key role of non structural elements on building performance has been shown by recent earthquakes (e.g. L'Aquila 2009) where, due to the extensive damage suffered by infills, partitions and ceilings, a lot of private and public buildings became unusable with consequent significant socio-economic effects. Furthermore, the collapse of infill panels, particularly in the case of out-of-plane failure, represented a serious source of risk to life safety. This paper puts forward an infill model capable of accounting for the effects arising from prior in-plane damage on the out-of-plane capacity of infill panels. It permits an assessment of the seismic performance of existing RC buildings with reference to both structural and non structural elements, as well as of their mutual interaction. The model is applied to a building type with RC framed structure designed only to vertical loads and representative of typical Italian buildings. The influence of infill on building performance and the role of the out-of-plane response on structural response are also discussed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.561-570
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• 2019

Understanding the realistic behavior of concrete up to failure under different loading conditions within the framework of damage mechanics and plasticity would lead to an enhanced design of concrete structures. In the present investigation, QR (Quick Response) code based random speckle pattern is used as a non-contact sensor, which is an innovative approach in the field of digital image correlation (DIC). A four-point bending test was performed on RC beams of size 1800 mm × 150 mm × 200 mm. Image processing was done using an open source Ncorr algorithm for the results obtained using random speckle pattern and QR code based random speckle pattern. Load-deflection curves of RC beams were plotted for the results obtained using both contact and non-contact (DIC) sensors, and further, Moment (M)-Curvature (κ) relationship of RC beams was developed. The loading curves obtained were used as input data for material model parameters in finite element analysis. In finite element method (FEM) based software, concrete damage plasticity (CDP) constitutive model is used to predict the realistic nonlinear quasi-static flexural behavior of RC beams for monotonic loading condition. The results obtained using QR code based DIC are observed to be on par with conventional results and FEM results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.217-230
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• 2019

One of the most important design criteria in underground structure is to design lightweight protective layers to resist significant blast loads. Sandwich blast resistant panels are commonly used to protect underground structures. The front face of the sandwich panel is designed to resist the blast load and the core is designed to mitigate the blast energy from reaching the back panel. The design is to allow the sandwich panel to be repaired efficiently. Hence, the underground structure can be used under repeated blast loads. In this study, a novel sandwich panel, named RC panel - Helical springs- RC panel (RHR) sandwich panel, which consists of normal strength reinforced concrete (RC) panels at the front and the back and steel compression helical springs in the middle, is proposed. In this study, a detailed 3D nonlinear numerical analysis is proposed using the nonlinear finite element software, AUTODYN. The accuracy of the blast load and RHR Sandwich panel modelling are validated using available experimental results. The results show that the proposed finite element model can be used efficiently and effectively to simulate the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of the newly proposed RHR sandwich panels under different ranges of free air blast loads. Detailed parameter study is then conducted using the validated finite element model. The results show that the newly proposed RHR sandwich panel can be used as a reliable and effective lightweight protective layer for underground structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2019

In this study, the shear behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) beams that were retrofitted using precast panels of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) is presented. The precast UHPFRC panels were glued to the side surfaces of RC beams using epoxy adhesive in two different configurations: (i) retrofitting two sides, and (ii) retrofitting three sides. Experimental tests on the adhesive bond were conducted to estimate the bond capacity between the UHPFRC and normal concrete. All the specimens were tested in shear under varying levels of shear span-to-depth ratio (a/d=1.0; 1.5). For both types of configuration, the retrofitted specimens exhibited a significant improvement in terms of stiffness, load carrying capacity and failure mode. In addition, the UHPFRC retrofitting panels glued in three-sides shifted the failure from brittle shear to a more ductile flexural failure with enhancing the shear capacity up to 70%. This was more noticeable in beams that were tested with a/d=1.5. An approach for the approximation of the failure capacity of the retrofitted RC beams was evolved using a multi-level regression of the data obtained from the experimental work. The predicted values of strength have been validated by comparing them with the available test data. In addition, a 3-D finite element model (FEM) was developed to estimate the failure load and overall behaviour of the retrofitted beams. The FEM of the retrofitted beams was conducted using the non-linear finite element software ABAQUS.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.4
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• pp.417-432
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• 2019

Seismic performance analysis of steel-brace reinforced concrete (RC) frame using topology optimization in highly seismic region was discussed in this research. Topology optimization based on truss-like material model was used, which was to minimum volume in full-stress method. Optimized bracing systems of low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise RC frames were established, and optimized bracing systems of substructure were also gained under different constraint conditions. Thereafter, different structure models based on optimized bracing systems were proposed and applied. Last, structural strength, structural stiffness, structural ductility, collapse resistant capacity, collapse probability and demolition probability were studied. Moreover, the brace buckling was discussed. The results show that bracing system of RC frame could be derived using topology optimization, and bracing system based on truss-like model could help to resolve numerical instabilities. Bracing system of topology optimization was more effective to enhance structural stiffness and strength, especially in mid-rise and high-rise frames. Moreover, bracing system of topology optimization contributes to increase collapse resistant capacity, as well as reduces collapse probability and accumulated demolition probability. However, brace buckling might weaken beneficial effects.