• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.407-417
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• 2017

RC shear walls are considered one of the main lateral resisting members in buildings. In recent years, FRP has been widely utilized in order to strengthen and retrofit concrete structures. A number of experimental studies used CFRP sheets as an external bracing system for retrofitting of RC shear walls. It has been found that the common mode of failure is the debonding of the CFRP-concrete adhesive material. In this study, behavior of RC shear wall was investigated with three different micro models. The analysis included 2D model using plane stress element, 3D model using shell element and 3D model using solid element. To allow for the debonding mode of failure, the adhesive layer was modeled using cohesive surface-to-surface interaction model at 3D analysis model and node-to-node interaction method using Cartesian elastic-plastic connector element at 2D analysis model. The FE model results are validated comparing the experimental results in the literature. It is shown that the proposed FE model can predict the modes of failure due to debonding of CFRP and behavior of CFRP strengthened RC shear wall reasonably well. Additionally, using 2D plane stress model, many parameters on the behavior of the cohesive surfaces are investigated such as fracture energy, interfacial shear stress, partial bonding, proposed CFRP anchor location and using different bracing of CFRP strips. Using two anchors near end of each diagonal CFRP strips delay the end debonding and increase the ductility for RC shear walls.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.799-823
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• 2016

A finite element model for the non-linear dynamic analysis of a reinforced concrete (RC) containment shell of a nuclear power plant subjected to extreme loads such as impact and earthquake is presented in this work. The impact is modeled by using an uncoupled approach in which a load function is applied at the impact zone. The earthquake load is modeled by prescribing ground accelerations at the base of the structure. The nuclear containment is discretized spatially by using 20-node brick finite elements. The concrete in compression is modeled by using a modified $Dr{\ddot{u}}cker$-Prager elasto-plastic constitutive law where strain rate effects are considered. Cracking of concrete is modeled by using a smeared cracking approach where the tension-stiffening effect is included via a strain-softening rule. A model based on fracture mechanics, using the concept of constant fracture energy release, is used to relate the strain softening effect to the element size in order to guaranty mesh independency in the numerical prediction. The reinforcing bars are represented by incorporated membrane elements with a von Mises elasto-plastic law. Two benchmarks are used to verify the numerical implementation of the present model. Results are presented graphically in terms of displacement histories and cracking patterns. Finally, the influence of the shear transfer model used for cracked concrete as well as the effect due to a base slab incorporation in the numerical modeling are analyzed.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.403-414
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• 1994

Nonlinear analysis of RC containment structure under thermal load and pressure is presented to trace the behaviour after an assumed LOCA. The temperature distribution varying with time through the wall thickness is determined by transient finite element analysis with the two time level scheme in time domain. The layered shell finite elements are used to represent the containment structures in nuclear power plants. Both geometric and material nonlinearities are taken into account in the finite element formulation. The constitutive relation of concrete is modeled according to Drucker-Prager yield criteria in compression. Tension stiffening model is used to represent the tensile behaviour of concrete including bond effect. The reinforcing bars are modeled by smeared layer at the location of reinforcements accounting elasto-plastic axial behaviors. The steel liner model under Von Mises yield criteria is adopted to represent elastic-perfect plastic behaviour. Geometric nonlinearity is formulated to consider the large displacement effect. Thermal stress components are determined by the initial strain concept during each time step. The temperature differential between any two consecutive time steps is considered as a load incremental. The numerical results from this study reveal that nonlinear temperature gradient based on transient thermal analysis will produces excessive large displacement. Nonlinear behavior of containment structures up to ultimate stage can be traced reallistically. The present study allows more realistic analysis of concrete containment structures in nuclear power plants.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.5 s.51
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• pp.73-83
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete pier walls under cyclic out-of-plane loading and to develop improved seismic design criteria. The accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process can be enhanced by using a sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program. A computer program, named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. A 4-node flat shell element with drilling rotational stiffness is used for spatial discretization. The layered approach is used to discretize the behavior of concrete and reinforcement through the thickness. Material nonlinearity is taken into account by comprising tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and a model of reinforcing steel. The method is verified a useful tool to assess the seismic performance of reinforced concrete pier walls subjected to cyclic out-of-plane load through comparing with reliable experimental results.