• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.329-338
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• 2017

A new simple and practical strut-and-tie model (STM) for predicting the shear strength of RC pile caps is proposed in this paper. Two approaches are adopted to take into account the concrete softening effect. In the first approach, a concrete efficiency factor based on compression field theory is employed to determine the effective strength of a concrete strut, assumed to control the shear strength of the whole member. The second adopted Kupfer and Gerstle's biaxial failure criterion of concrete to derive the simple nominal shear strength of pile caps containing the interaction between strut and tie capacity. The validation of these two methods is investigated using 110 RC pile cap test results and other STMs available in the literature. It was found that the failure criterion approach appears to provide more accurate and consistent predictions, and hence is chosen to be the proposed STM. Finally, the predictions of the proposed STM are also compared with those obtained by using seven other STMs from codes of practice and the literature, and were found to give better accuracy and consistency.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-206
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• 2011

Accurate estimations of pre-failure deformations and post-failure responses of geostructures require that the simulation tool possesses at least three main ingredients: 1) a constitutive model that is able to describe the macroscopic stress-strain-strength behavior of soils subjected to complex stress/strain paths over a wide range of confining pressures and densities, 2) an embedded length scale that accounts for the intricate physical phenomena that occur at the grain size scale in the soil, and 3) a computational platform that allows the analysis to be carried out beyond the development of an initially "contained" failure zone in the soil. In this paper, a two-scale micropolar plasticity model will be used to incorporate all these ingredients. The model is implemented in a finite element platform that is based on the mechanics of micropolar continua. Appropriate finite elements are developed to couple displacement, micro-rotations, and pore-water pressure in form of $u_n-{\phi}_m$ and $u_n-p_m-{\phi}_m$ (n > m) elements for analysis of dry and saturated soils. Performance of the model is assessed in a biaxial compression test on a slightly heterogeneous specimen of sand. The role of micropolar component of the model on capturing the post-failure response of the soil is demonstrated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.313-328
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• 2002

Based on the orthotropic hypoelasticity formulation, a triaxial constitutive model of concrete is proposed. To account for increasing ductility in high confinement of concrete, the ductility enhancement is considered using so called the strain enhancement factor. It is also developed a three-dimensional finite element model for reinforced concrete structural members based on the proposed constitutive law of concrete with the smeared crack approach. The concrete confinement effects due to the beam-column joint are investigated through numerical examples for simple beam and structural beam member. Concrete at compression fibers in the vicinity of beam-column joint behaves dominant not only by the uniaxial compressive state but also by the biaxial and triaxial compressive states. For the reason of the severe confinement of concrete in the beam-column joint, the flexural critical cross-section is observed at a small distance away from the beam-column joint. These observations should be utilized for the economic design when the concrete structural members are subjected to high confinement due to the influence of beam-column joint.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.195-205
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• 2001

An analytical finite element approach to nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete shear walls with opening under monotonic loading was presented in this paper. In order to achieve the objectives of present paper, the orthogonal anisotropic models for cracked reinforced concrete element based on smeared crack concept were used as the nonlinear material models of biaxial state of stress. The stiffness of cracked concrete was evaluated through the combined use of tension and compression stiffness models in and parallel directions of crack, respectively and shear transfer effect due to the aggregate interlocking at crack surface. The stress and strain of reinforcement in concrete was evaluated using the average stress and average strain relation with bond effect. based on smeared crack concept. The diagonal reinforcing bar was modeled using truss element with bond effect. A special significance of diagonal reinforcement near opening was given to the shear wall with opening and an effective distribution of diagonal reinforcement was presented in order to give an ultimate strength increment as well as a crack control.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.627-638
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• 2019

Estimation of representative elementary volume (REV) of jointed rock masses is critical to predict the mechanical behavior of field-scale rock masses. The REV of jointed rock masses at site is strongly influenced by stress state. The paper proposed a method to systematically studied the influence of confining stress on the REV of jointed rock masses with various strengths (weak, medium and strong), which were sourced from the water inlet slope of Xiaowan Hydropower Station, China. A finite element method considering material heterogeneity was employed, a series of two-dimensional (2D) models was established based on the Monte-Carlo method and a lot of biaxial compressive tests were conducted. Numerical results showed that the REV of jointed rock masses presented a step-like reduction as the normalized confining stress increased. Confining stress weakened the size effect of jointed rock masses, indicating that the REV determined under uniaxial compression test can be reasonably taken as the REV of jointed rock masses under complexed in-situ stress environment.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2006

The seismic safety of reinforced concrete containment building can be evaluated by probabilistic analysis considering randomness of earthquake, which is more rational than deterministic analysis. In the safety assessment of earthquake-resistant structures by the deterministic theory, it is not easy to consider the effects of random variables but the reliability theory and random vibration theory are useful to assess the seismic safety with considering random effects. The reliability assessment of reinforced concrete containment building subjected to earthquake load includes the structural analysis considering random variables such as load, resistance and analysis method, the definition of limit states and the reliability analysis. The reliability analysis procedure requires much time and labor and also needs to get the high confidence in results. In this study, random vibration analysis of containment building is performed with random variables as earthquake load, concrete compressive strength, modal damping ratio. The seismic responses of critical elements of structure are approximated at the most probable failure point by the response surface method. The response surface method helps to figure out the quantitative characteristics of structural response variability. And the limit state is defined as the failure surface of concrete under multi-axial stress, finally the limit state probability of failure can be obtained simply by first-order second moment method. The reliability analysis for the multiaxial strength limit state and the uniaxial strength limit state is performed and the results are compared with each other. This study concludes that the multiaxial failure criterion is a likely limit state to predict concrete failure strength under combined state of stresses and the reliability analysis results are compatible with the fact that the maximum compressive strength of concrete under biaxial compression state increases.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.425-438
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• 2019

A scaled model test was performed to evaluate the stability of subway twin tunnels excavated in the sedimentary rocks with subhorizontal bedding planes. The size of studied tunnel was 6.2 m×6.8 m and pillar width was 4 m. The anisotropic model test specimen was manufactured with the modeling materials suitable for in-situ rocks by way of dimensional analysis. Fracture and deformation behaviors of tunnels according to applied loads were investigated through the biaxial compression test. As the load was increased on the model specimen, the first crack occurred in the middle part of the pillar across twin tunnels and the gradual fractures progressed at crown and floor of twin tunnels. All the cracks in pillar were generated along the existing bedding planes so that they were found to be the main cause of the pillar failure. In addition, the test results were verified by numerical analysis on the experimental conditions using FLAC ubiquitous joint model. The distribution of plastic regions obtained from numerical analysis were in general agreement with test results, confirming the reliability of the scaled model test conducted in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2003

Wing and secondary cracks are unique types of cracks observed in rock masses subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compressive loading conditions. In this study, morphological features of wing and secondary cracks developed in gypsum specimens are investigated in the macro and micro scales. Along the path of wing crack, microtensile cracks are observed. Microtensile cracks coalesce with pores and show branch phenomenon. From the onset of the wing crack, multiple initiations of microtensile cracks are observed. Microtensile cracks show tortuous propagation paths and relatively constant aperture of the cracks during the propagation. It is shown that microtensile cracks propagate by splitting failure. At the micro scale, microfsults are observed in the path of the secondary cracks. Along the path of the secondary cracks, separation of grains and conglomerate grains, oblique microfaults, and irregular aperture of microfault are observed. These features show that the secondary cracks are produced in shear mode. The measured sizes of fracture process zone across the propagation direction near the tip of wing and secondary cracks range from 10$\mu{m}$ to 20$\mu{m}$ far wing cracks and from 100$\mu{m}$ to 200$\mu{m}$ for secondary cracks, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.175-181
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• 2010

The three truss models(equilibrium truss model, Mohr compatibility truss model, and the soften truss model) based on a rotating angle is called the rotating-angle model. The three rotating-angle models have a common weakness: they are incapable of predicting the so-called "contribution of concrete". To take into account this "contribution of concrete", the modern truss model(MCFT, STM) treats a cracked reinforced concrete element as a continuous material. By combining the equilibrium, compatibility, and the softened stress-strain relationship of concrete in biaxial state, MTM is capable of producing the nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures composed of membrane element. In this paper, an efficient algorithm is proposed for the solution of proposed model incorporated with failure criteria. This algorithm is used to analyze the behavior of reinforced membrane element using the results of Hsu test.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.10-28
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• 2023

Long-term shear behavior of the rock discontinuities should be analyzed and its stability should be evaluated to ensure the long-term stability of a high-level radioactive waste disposal repository. The long-term shear behavior of the discontinuities can be modeled with creep and RSF models. The shear creep test, velocity step test, and slide-hold-slide test can be performed to determine their model parameters or analyze the shear behavior by experiments under various conditions. Testing apparatuses for direct shear, triaxial compression, and biaxial shear were mainly used and improved to reproduce the thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions of local bedrock, and it was confirmed that the shear behavior could vary. In order to design a high-level radioactive waste disposal site in Korea, the long-term behavior of rock discontinuities should be investigated in consideration of rock types, thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions, metamorphism, and restoration of shear resistance.