• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2019

In recent years, multiple experimental studies have been performed on using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars in reinforced concrete (RC) structural members. FRP bars provide a new type of reinforcement that avoids the corrosion of traditional steel reinforcement. In this study, predicting the shear strength of RC beams with FRP longitudinal bars using artificial neural networks (ANNs) is investigated as a different approach from the current specific codes. An ANN model was developed using the experimental data of 104 FRP-RC specimens from an existing database in the literature. Seven different input parameters affecting the shear strength of FRP bar reinforced RC beams were selected to create the ANN structure. The most convenient ANN algorithm was determined as traingdx. The results from current codes (ACI440.1R-15 and JSCE) and existing literature in predicting the shear strength of FRP-RC beams were investigated using the identical test data. The study shows that the ANN model produces acceptable predictions for the ultimate shear strength of FRP-RC beams (maximum $R^2{\approx}0.97$). Additionally, the ANN model provides more accurate predictions for the shear capacity than the other computed methods in the ACI440.1R-15, JSCE codes and existing literature for considering different performance parameters.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-136
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• 2024

In recent times, there has been a growing need to retrofit and strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) structures that have been damaged. Numerous studies have explored various methods for strengthening RC beams. However, there is a significant dearth of research investigating the utilization of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) for retrofitting damaged RC beams within a concrete frame. This study aims to develop a finite element (FE) model capable of accurately simulating the nonlinear behavior of RC beams and subsequently implementing it in an RC concrete frame. The RC frame is subjected to loading until failure at two distinct degrees, followed by retrofitting and strengthening using Ultra high performance shotcrete (UHPS) through two different methods. The results indicate the successful simulation of the load-displacement curve and crack patterns by the FE model, aligning well with experimental observations. Novel techniques for reinforcing deteriorated concrete frame structures through ABAQUS are introduced. The second strengthening method notably improves both the load-carrying capacity and initial stiffness of the load-displacement curve. By incorporating embedded rebars in the frame's columns, the beam's load-carrying capacity is enhanced by up to 31% compared to cases without embedding. These findings indicate the potential for improving the design of strengthening methods for damaged RC beams and utilizing the FE model to predict the strengthening capacity of UHPS for damaged concrete structures.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.3745-3765
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• 2022

The concrete structures related to nuclear safety are threatened by accidental impact loadings, mainly including the low-velocity drop-weight impact (e.g., spent fuel cask and assembly, etc. with the velocity less than 20 m/s) and high-speed projectile impact (e.g., steel pipe, valve, turbine bucket, etc. with the velocity higher than 20 m/s), while the existing studies are still limited in the impact resistant design of nuclear power plant (NPP), especially the primary RC slab. This paper aims to propose the numerical simulation and theoretical approaches to assist the impact-resistant design of RC slab in NPP. Firstly, the continuous surface cap (CSC) model parameters for concrete with the compressive strength of 20-70 MPa are fully calibrated and verified, and the refined numerical simulation approach is proposed. Secondly, the two-degree freedom (TDOF) model with considering the mutual effect of flexural and shear resistance of RC slab are developed. Furthermore, based on the low-velocity drop hammer tests and high-speed soft/hard projectile impact tests on RC slabs, the adopted numerical simulation and TDOF model approaches are fully validated by the flexural and punching shear damage, deflection, and impact force time-histories of RC slabs. Finally, as for the two low-velocity impact scenarios, the design procedure of RC slab based on TDOF model is validated and recommended. Meanwhile, as for the four actual high-speed impact scenarios, the impact-resistant design specification in Chinese code NB/T 20012-2019 is evaluated, the over conservation of which is found, and the proposed numerical approach is recommended. The present work could beneficially guide the impact-resistant design and safety assessment of NPPs against the accidental impact loadings.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.189-204
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• 2018

This paper examines the seismic responses of a reinforced concrete (RC) frame core-tube building with pre-pressed spring self-centering energy dissipation (PS-SCED) braces. The PS-SCED brace system consists of friction devices for energy dissipation, pre-pressed combination disc springs for self-centering and tube members as guiding elements. A constitutive model of self-centering flag-shaped hysteresis for PS-SCED brace is developed to better simulate the seismic responses of the RC frame core-tube building with PS-SCED braces, which is also verified by the tests of two braces under low cyclic reversed loading. Results indicate that the self-centering and energy dissipation capabilities are well predicted by the proposed constitutive model of the PS-SCED brace. The structure with PS-SCED braces presents similar peak story drift ratio, smaller peak acceleration, smaller base shear force and much smaller residual deformations as compared to the RC frame core-tube building with bucking-restrained braces (BRBs).

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.543-548
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• 2003

In this study, a numerical model is developed using axial deformation link elements that can effectively predict the failure behavior of RC type structures. Using this mod 1, numerical analysis was performed to investigate the strengthening effect and failure behavior of structures repaired with a new material. High-Performance Cementitious Composites, which is characterized by its ductility with 5% strain-capacity is used as a repair material. To investigate the validity of developed numerical model, simulations of direct tension specimen and flexural specimen are performed and the results are compared with published ones. The similar analysis is performed for RC beam. Through this study, it is seen that predicted response has a good agreement with the experimental results. Using this verified numerical model, the strengthening effect of repaired with HPCC structure is analyzed through load-displacement curve and failure modes. Also, the same numerical analysis is performed in RC beam repaired with HPCC. The effect of HPCC ductility is estimated for the overall behavior of structures. Based on the results, the fundamental data are suggested for repaired structures with HPCC.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.157-174
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• 2020

The in-situ pushover test differs from the shake-table test because it is performed outdoors and thus its size is not restricted by space, which allows us to test a full-size building. However, to build a new full-size building for the test is not economical, consequently scholars around the world usually make scale structures or full-scale component units to be tested in the laboratory. However, if in-situ pushover tests can be performed on full-size structures, then the seismic behaviors of buildings during earthquakes can be grasped. In view of this, this study conducts two in-situ pushover tests of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. One is a masonry-infilled RC building with openings (the openings ratio of masonry infill wall is between 24% and 51%) and the other is an RC building without masonry infill. These two in-situ pushover tests adopt obsolescent RC buildings, which will be demolished, to conduct experiment and successfully obtain seismic capacity curves of the buildings. The test results are available for the development or verification of a seismic evaluation model. This paper uses ASCE 41-17 as the main evaluation model and is accompanied by a simplified pushover analysis, which can predict the seismic capacity curves of low-rise buildings in Taiwan. The predicted maximum base shear values for masonry-infilled RC buildings with openings and for RC buildings without masonry infill are, respectively, 69.69% and 87.33% of the test values. The predicted initial stiffness values are 41.04% and 100.49% of the test values, respectively. It can be seen that the ASCE 41-17 evaluation model is reasonable for the RC building without masonry infill walls. In contrast, the analysis result for the masonry infilled RC building with openings is more conservative than the test value because the ASCE 41-17 evaluation model is limited to masonry infill walls with an openings ratio not exceeding 40%. This study suggests using ASCE 41-17's unreinforced masonry wall evaluation model to simulate a masonry infill wall with an openings ratio greater than 40%. After correction, the predicted maximum base shear values of the masonry infilled RC building with openings is 82.60% of the test values and the predicted initial stiffness value is 67.13% of the test value. Therefore, the proposed method in this study can predict the seismic behavior of a masonry infilled RC frame with large openings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.665-682
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• 2022

In the current study, punching behavior of Reinforced concrete (RC) isolated footings was experimentally and numerically investigated. The experimental program consisted of four half-scale RC isolated footing specimens. The test matrix was proposed to show effect of footing area, reinforcement mesh ratio, adding internal longitudinal reinforcement bars and stirrups on the punching response of RC isolated footings. Footings area varied from 1200×1200 mm2 to 1500×1500 mm2 while the mesh reinforcement ratio was in the range from 0.36 to 0.45%. On the other hand, a 3D non-linear finite element model was constructed using ABAQUS/standard program and verified against the experimental program. The numerical results agreed well with the experimental records. The validated numerical model was used to study effect of concrete compressive strength; longitudinal reinforcement bars ratio and stirrups concentration along one or two directions on the ultimate load, deflection, stiffness and failure patterns of RC isolated footings. Results concluded that adding longitudinal reinforcement bars did not significantly affect the punching response of RC isolated footings even high steel ratios were used. On the contrary, as the stirrups ratio increased, the ultimate load of RC isolated footings increased. Footing with stirrups ratio of 1.5% had ultimate load equal to 1331 kN, 19.6% higher than the bare footing. Moreover, adding stirrups along two directions with lower ratio (0.5 and 0.7%) significantly enhanced the ultimate load of RC isolated footings compared to their counterparts with higher stirrups ratio (1.0 and 1.5%).

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-51
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• 2016

Tension-stiffening is the contribution of concrete between the cracks to carry tensile stresses after cracking in Reinforced Concrete (RC) members. In this paper, a tension-stiffening model has been proposed for computationally efficient nonlinear analysis of RC flexural members subjected to service load. The proposed model has been embedded in a typical cracked span length beam element. The element is visualized to consist of at the most five zones (cracked or uncracked). Closed form expressions for flexibility and stiffness coefficients and end displacements have been obtained for the cracked span length beam element. Further, for use in everyday design, a hybrid analytical-numerical procedure has been developed for nonlinear analysis of RC flexural members using the proposed tension-stiffening model. The procedure yields deflections as well as redistributed bending moments. The proposed model (and developed procedure) has been validated by the comparison with experimental results reported elsewhere and also by comparison with the Finite Element Method (FEM) results. The procedure would lead to drastic reduction in computational time in case of large RC structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.1039-1061
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• 2016

Based on Vlasov's torsional theory of open thin-walled members and the nonlinear constitutive relations of materials, a nonlinear analysis model to predict response of open thin-walled RC members subjected to pure torsion is proposed in the current study. The variation of the circulatory torsional stiffness and warping torsional stiffness over the entire loading process and the impact of warping shear deformation on the torsion-induced rotation of the member are considered in the formulation. The torque equilibrium differential equation is then solved by Runge-Kutta method. The proposed nonlinear model is then applied to predict the behavior of five U-shaped thin-walled RC members under pure torsion. Four of them were tested in an earlier experimental study by the authors and the testing data of the fifth one were reported in an existing literature. Results show that the analytical predictions based on the proposed model agree well with the experimental data of all five specimens. This clearly shows the validity of the proposed nonlinear model analyzing behavior of U-shaped thin-walled RC members under pure torsion.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.393-396
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• 1999

This paper presents a truss model for RC columns subjected to axial load and lateral load. The presented model is based on a stress field for the flexural-shear failure of short columns, which represent shear failure and bond splitting failure. Using this model, failure strength and related deformation of RC columns are investigated. Particular emphasis is placed on models capable of representing the interaction between deformation and shear strength.