• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.241-252
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• 2021

An experimental program was conducted to investigate the fresh properties, mechanical properties and durability characteristics of the self-compacting mortars (SCM) produced with pumice powder and Artificial Lightweight Fine Aggregate (aLWFA). aLWFA was produced by using fly ash. A total of 16 different mixtures were designed with a constant water-binder ratio of 0.37, in which natural sands were partially replaced with aLWFA and pumice powder at different volume fractions of 5%, 10% and 15%. The artificial lightweight aggregates used in this study were manufactured through cold bonding pelletisation of 90% of class-F fly ash and 10% of Portland cement in a tilted pan with an ambient temperature and moisture content. Flowability tests were conducted on the fresh mortar mixtures beforehand, to determine the self-compacting characteristics on the basis of EFNARC. To determine the conformity of the fresh mortar characteristics with the standards, mini-slump and mini-V-funnel tests were carried out. Hardened state tests were conducted after 7, 28 and 56 days to determine the flexural strength and axial compressive strength respectively. Durability, sorptivity, permeability and density tests were conducted at the end of 28 days of curing time. The test results showed that the pumice powder replacement improved both the fresh state and the hardened state characteristics of the mortar and the optimum mixture ratio was determined as 15%, considering other studies in the literature. In the aLWFA mixtures used, the mechanical and durability characteristics of the modified compositions were very close to the control mixture. It is concluded in this study that mixtures with pumice powder replacement eliminated the negative effects of the aLWFA in the mortars and made a positive contribution.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.309-324
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• 2022

The post-fire elastic stiffness and performance of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns containing recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) has rarely been addressed, particularly in terms of material properties. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the modulus of elasticity of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (RACFST) stub columns following thermal loading. The test data were employed to model and assess the elastic modulus of circular RACFST stub columns subjected to axial loading after exposure to elevated temperatures. The length/diameter ratio of the specimens was less than three to prevent the sensitivity of overall buckling for the stub columns. The gene expression programming (GEP) method was employed for the model development. The GEP model was derived based on a comprehensive experimental database of heated and non-heated RACFST stub columns that have been properly gathered from the open literature. In this study, by using specifications of 149 specimens, the variables were the steel section ratio, applied temperature, yielding strength of steel, compressive strength of plain concrete, and elastic modulus of steel tube and concrete core (RAC). Moreover, parametric and sensitivity analyses were also performed to determine the contribution of different effective parameters to the post-fire elastic modulus. Additionally, comparisons and verification of the effectiveness of the proposed model were made between the values obtained from the GEP model and the formulas proposed by different researchers. Through the analyses and comparisons of the developed model against formulas available in the literature, the acceptable accuracy of the model for predicting the post-fire modulus of elasticity of circular RACFST stub columns was seen.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.473-491
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• 2022

The research investigates experimentally the effect of confinement on structural behavior at the ends of beam-column in reinforced concrete (RC) frames. In the experimental study, five specimens consisting of 1/3-scaled RC frames having single-bay, representing the traditional deficiencies of existing buildings constructed without receiving proper engineering service is investigated. The RC frame specimens were produced to represent most of the existing buildings in Turkey that have damage potential. To decrease the probable damage to the existing buildings exposed to earthquakes, the carbon Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) strengthening technique (fully wrapping) was used on the ends of the RC frame elements to increase the energy dissipation and deformation capacity. The specimens were tested under reversed cyclic lateral loading with constant axial loads. They were constructed satisfying the weak column-strong beam condition and consisting of low-strength concrete, such as compressive strength of 15 MPa. The test results were compared and evaluated considering stiffness, strength, energy dissipation capacity, structural damping, ductility, and damage propagation in detail. Comprehensive investigations of these experimental results reveal that the strengthening of a brittle frame with fully-TRM wrapping with non-anchored was effective in increasing the stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation capacities of RC bare frames. It was also observed that the frame-only-retrofitting with an infill wall is not enough to increase the ductility capacity. In this case, both the frame and infill wall must be retrofitted with TRM composite to increase the stiffness, lateral load carrying, ductility and energy dissipation capacities of RC frames. The presented strengthening method can be an alternative strengthening technique to enhance the seismic performance of existing or moderately damaged RC buildings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.441-456
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• 2024

This paper aims to develop Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to predict the buckling resistance of cold-formed steel (CFS) channels with restrained flanges, widely used in typical CFS sheathed wall panels, and provide practical design tools for engineers. The effects of cross-sectional restraints were first evaluated on the elastic buckling behaviour of CFS channels subjected to pure axial compressive load or bending moment. Feedforward multi-layer Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were then trained on different datasets comprising CFS channels with various dimensions and properties, plate thicknesses, and restraining conditions on one or two flanges, while the elastic distortional buckling resistance of the elements were determined according to the Finite Strip Method (FSM). To develop less biased networks and ensure that every observation from the original dataset has the chance of appearing in the training and test set, a K-fold cross-validation technique was implemented. In addition, the hyperparameters of the ANNs were tuned using a grid search technique to provide ANNs with optimum performances. The results demonstrated that the trained ANNs were able to predict the elastic distortional buckling resistance of CFS flange-restrained elements with an average accuracy of 99% in terms of coefficient of determination. The developed models were then used to propose a simple ANN-based design formula for the prediction of the elastic distortional buckling stress of CFS flange-restrained elements. Finally, the proposed formula was further evaluated on a separate set of unseen data to ensure its accuracy for practical applications.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2009

An equation for calculating confining reinforcement amount of RC bridge columns, specified in the current bridge design codes, has been made to provide additional load-carrying strength for concentrically loaded columns. The additional load-carrying strength will be equal to or slightly greater than the resistant strength of a column against axial load, which is lost because the cover concrete spalls off. The equation considers concrete compressive strength, yield strength of transverse reinforcement, and the section area ratio as major variables. Among those variables, the section area ratio between the gross section and the core section, varying by cover thickness, is a variable which considers the strength in the compression-controlled region. Therefore, the cross section ratio does not have a large effect in the aspect of ductile behavior of the tension-controlled region, which is governed by bending moment rather than axial force. However, the equation of the design codes for calculating confining reinforcement amount does not directly consider ductile behavior, which is an important factor for the seismic behavior of bridge columns. Consequently, if the size of section is relatively small or if the section area ratio becomes excessively large due to the cover thickness increased for durability, too large an amount of confining reinforcement will be required possibly deteriorating the constructability and economy. Against this backdrop, in this study, comparison and analysis were performed to understand how the cover thickness influences the equation for calculating the amount of confining reinforcement. An equation for calculating the amount of confining reinforcement was also modified for reasonable seismic design and the safety. In addition, appropriateness of the modified equation was examined based on the results of various test results performed at home and abroad.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 2010

In this study, new moment-resisting precast concrete beam-column joint made up of hybrid steel concrete was developed and tested. This beam-column joint is proposed for use in moderate seismic regions. It has square hollow tubular section in concrete column and connecting plate in precast U-beam. The steel elements in column and beam members were connected using bolt. Furthermore, in order to prevent the premature failure of concrete in hybrid steel-concrete connection, ECC(engineered cementitious composite) was used. An experimental study was carried out investigating the joint behavior subjected to reversed cyclic loading and constant axial compressive load. Two precast beam-column joint specimens and monolithic reinforced concrete joint specimen were tested. The variables for interior joints were cast-in-situ concrete area and transverse reinforcement within the joint. Tests were carried out under displacement controlled reverse cyclic load with a constant axial load. Joint performance is evaluated on the basis of connection strength, stiffness, energy dissipation, and displacement capacity. The test results showed that significant differences in structural behavior between the two types of connection because of different bonding characteristics between steel and concrete; steel and ECC. The proposed joint detail can induce to move the plastic hinge out of the ECC and steel plate. And proposed precast connection showed better performance than the monolithic connection by providing sufficient moment-resisting behavior suitable for applications in moderate seismic regions.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.1 s.91
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• pp.83-90
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• 2006

This paper investigates experimentally the fire resistance performance and spatting resistance of high performance reinforced concrete column member subjected to fire containing polypropylene fiber(PP fiber) and cellulose fiber(CL fiber). An increase in PP fiber and CL fiber contents, respectively resulted in a reduction of fluidity due to fiber ball effect. Air content is constant with m increase in fiber content. Compressive strength reached beyond 50 MPa. Based on fire resistance test, severe failure occurred with control concrete specimen, which caused exposure of reinforcing bar. No spall occurred with specimen containing PP fiber. This is due to the discharge of internal vapour pressure. Use of CL fiber superior to control concrete in the side of spatting resistance, localized failure at comer of specimen was observed. Corner of specimen had deeper neutralization than surface of specimen. Specimen containing PP fiber had the least damaged area due to spatting. Neutralization depth ranged between 6 and 8 mm Residual compressive strength of specimen containing PP fiber maintained 40%, which is larger than control concrete with 20% of residual strength. Specimen containing CL fiber had 25% or residual strength.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4C
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• pp.205-212
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• 2008

In this research, the effect of rock mass weathering on the side shear resistance of drilled shaft socketed into igneous-metamorphic rock was investigated. For that, 23 cast-in-place concrete piles with diameters varying from 400mm to 1,500mm were constructed at four different sites, and the static axial load tests were performed to examine the resistant behavior of the piles. A comprehensive field/laboratory testing program at the field test site was also performed to describe the in situ rock mass conditions quantitatively. The side shear resistance of rock socketed piles was found to have no intimate correlation with the compressive strength of the intact rock. However, the global rock mass strength, which was calculated by the Hoek and Brown criteria, was found to closely correlate to the side shear resistance. The ground investigation data regarding the rock mass conditions (e.g. $E_m$, $E_{ur}$, $p_{lm}$, RMR, RQD, j) were also found to be highly correlated with the side shear resistance, showing the coefficients of correlation greater than 0.75 in most cases. Additionally, the applicability of existing methods for the side shear resistance of weathered granite-gneiss was verified by comparison with the field test data. The existing methods which consider the effect of rock mass condition were modified and/or extended for weathered rock mass where mass factor j is lower than 0.15, and RQD is below 50%.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.54-67
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• 1991

In geological media with anisotropic properties, the strength anisotropy in intact rock is the most important issue in engineering aspects. Point-ioad(P/L) strength test designed to estimate the uniaxial compressive strength(${\sigma}_c$) can be used to evaluate the anisotropic strength characteristics of rocks. The relationship between ${\sigma}_c$ and P/L strength indices(I$_s$), obtained from the banded gneisses distributed in the Cheongyang area, varies depend mainly on the dip angle($\beta$) of foliation. The axial P/L strength indicies(I$_{sa}$) decreases with the increment of $\beta$, whereas diametral P/L strength indices(I$_{sa}$) increase with it. However, the ${\sigma}_c$ decreases with the increments of $\beta$ below about 40$^{\circ}$, but it increases with the increments of $\beta$ over about 40$^{\circ}$ in general. The correlation between ${\sigma}_c$ and I$_s$ suggests that ${\sigma}_c$ is related to the Isa withing low angle($\beta$<40$^{\circ}$) and the I$_{sd}$ within high angle ($\beta$>40$^{\circ}$), respectively. The ratios of I$_s$ to ${\sigma}_c$ are obtained as 11 to 14 in the the gneisses in the study area. The ratio of 24, which is generally adopted value, cannot always be truthworth to the gneisses in the study area. The ratio for the dykes, however, show a good correlation as 21 to 24.5 and, the value of 24 can be used for a homogeneous and isotropic materials such as dykes.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.1 s.85
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• pp.27-34
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural behavior of RC Piers using high strength concrete and high strength rebars. The high strength concrete offers many advantages such as enhanced mechanical performance and durability, in addition to member size reduction. The high strength rebars are used here to reduce the amount of rebars, which facilitates the placement of concrete and labor works. Five RC piers were tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. The seismic design of piers were implemented, according to the current Korean Bridge Design Code. The test variables include concrete compressive strength, steel strength, and steel ratio. The test results indicate that RC piers using the high strength concrete and high strength rebars exhibit ductile behavior and appropriate seismic performance, in compliance with the design code. The present study allows more realistic application of high strength rebars and concrete to RC piers, which will provide enhanced durability as well as more economy.