• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.125-139
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• 2016

For seismic retrofitting of masonry walls, the use of fibre reinforced cement-based mortar for bonding the fibre grids can eliminate some of the shortcomings related to the use of resin as bonding material. The results of an experimental testing program on masonry walls retrofitted with fibre reinforced mortar and fibre grids are presented in this paper. Seven squat masonry walls were tested under unidirectional lateral displacement reversals and constant axial load. Steel anchors were used to increase the effectiveness of the bond between the fibre grids and the masonry walls. Application of fibre grids on both lateral faces of the walls effectively improved the hysteretic behaviour and specimens could be loaded until slip occurred in the horizontal joint between the masonry and the bottom concrete stub. Application of the fibre grids on a single face did not effectively improve the hysteretic behaviour. Retrofitting with fibre reinforced mortar only prevented the early damage but did not effectively increase deformation capacity. When the boundaries of the cross sections were not properly confined, midplane splitting of the masonry walls occurred. Steel anchors embedded in the walls in the corners area effectively prevented this type of failure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.617-633
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• 2014

Because the elevated temperature degrades the mechanical properties of materials used in containments, the global behavior of containments subjected to the internal pressure under high temperature is remarkably different from that subjected to the internal pressure only. This paper concentrates on the nonlinear finite element analyses of the nuclear power plant containment structures, and the importance for the consideration of the elevated temperature effect has been emphasized because severe accident usually accompanies internal high pressure together with a high temperature increase. In addition to the consideration of nonlinear effects in the containment structure such as the tension stiffening and bond-slip effects, the change in material properties under elevated temperature is also taken into account. This paper, accordingly, focuses on the three-dimensional nonlinear analyses with thermal effects. Upon the comparison of experiment data with numerical results for the SNL 1/4 PCCV tested by internal pressure only, three-dimensional analyses for the same structure have been performed by considering internal pressure and temperature loadings designed for two kinds of severe accidents of Saturated Station Condition (SSC) and Station Black-out Scenario (SBO). Through the difference in the structural behavior of containment structures according to the addition of temperature loading, the importance of elevated temperature effect on the ultimate resisting capacity of PCCV has been emphasized.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.3
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• pp.367-382
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• 2019

This paper presents experimental and analytical investigations on additional fixed-end rotations resulting from the strain penetration of high-strength reinforcement in reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column connections under monotonic loading. The experimental part included the test of 18 interior beam-column connections with straight long steel bars and 24 exterior beam-column connections with hooked and headed steel bars. Rebar strains along the anchorage length were recorded at the yielding and ultimate states. Furthermore, a numerical program was developed to study the effect of strain penetration in beam-column connections. The numerical results showed good agreement with the test results. Finally, 87 simulated specimens were designed with various parameters based on the test specimens. The effect of concrete compressive strength ($f_c$), yield strength ($f_y$), diameter ($d_b$), and anchorage length ($l_{ah}$) of the reinforcement in the beam-column connection was examined through a parametric study. The results indicated that additional fixed-end rotations increased with a decrease in $f_c$ and an increase in $f_y$, $d_b$ and $l_{ah}$. Moreover, the growth rate of additional fixed-end rotations at the yielding state was faster than that at the ultimate state when high-strength steel bars were used.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2019

The understanding of tool-rock interaction mechanism is of high essence for improving the rock breaking efficiency and optimizing the drilling parameters in mechanical rock breaking. In this study, the tool-rock interaction models of indentation and cutting are carried out by employing the discrete element method (DEM) to examine the rock failure modes of various brittleness rocks and critical indentation and cutting depths of the ductile to brittle failure mode transition. The results show that the cluster size and inter-cluster to intra-cluster bond strength ratio are the key factors which influence the UCS magnitude and the UCS to BTS ratio. The UCS to BTS strength ratio can be increased to a more realistic value using clustered rock model so that the characteristics of real rocks can be better represented. The critical indentation and cutting depth decrease with the brittleness of rock increases and the decreasing rate reduces dramatically against the brittleness value. This effort may lead to a better understanding of rock breaking mechanisms in mechanical excavation, and may contribute to the improvement in the design of rock excavation machines and the related parameters determination.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2024

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have a proven strength enhancement capability when installed into Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. The brittle failure of traditional FRP strengthening systems has attracted researchers to develop novel materials with improved strength and ductility properties. One such material is that known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study presents a numerical investigation of the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP systems. This material is distinguished by its large rupture strain, leading to an improvement in the ductility of the strengthened structural members compared to conventional FRPs. A three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model is developed in this study to predict the load-deflection response of a series of experimentally tested beams published in the literature. The numerical model incorporates constitutive material laws and bond-slip behavior between concrete and the strengthening system. Moreover, the validated model was applied in a parametric study to inspect the effect of concrete compressive strength, PET-FRP sheet length, and reinforcing steel bar diameter on the overall performance of concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2003

Microwave dielectric properties of (P $b_{0.4}$C $a_{0.6}$)[($Fe_{\frac{1}{2}}$N $b_{\frac{1}{2}}$)$_{1-x}$ (M $g_{1}$ 3/N $b_{2}$ 3/)x] $O_3$ (PCFMN) ceramics were investigated as a function of (M $g_{1}$ 3/N $b_{2}$ 3/)$^{4+}$ content (0.1$\leq$x$\leq$0.8). A single perovskite phase with the cubic structure was obtained through the given composition range. The unit cell volume was increased with (M $g_{1}$ 3/N $b_{2}$ 3/)$^{4+}$, due to the larger average ionic size of (M $g_{1}$ 3/N $b_{2}$ 3/)$^{4+}$ than that of ($Fe_{\frac{1}{2}}$N $b_{\frac{1}{2}}$)$^{4+}$ for B-site ion. Dielectric constant (K) and Temperature Coefficient of Resonant Frequency(TCF) of PCFMN ceramics were dependent on (M $g_{1}$ 3/N $b_{2}$ 3/)$^{4+}$ content due to the decrease of ionic polarizability and B-site bond valence, respectively. Qf value was decreased with (M $g_{1}$ 3/N $b_{2}$ 3/)$^{4+}$ content due to the decrease of grain size. Typically, K of 73.56, Qf of 5,074 GHz and TCF of -6.45 ppm/$^{\circ}C$ were obtained for the specimens with x=0.4 sintered at 125$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 h.125$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 h.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.6 no.1 s.19
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• pp.47-56
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• 2004

To determine the pure bond strength between substrate and its overlayed concrete material, a direct pull-off test method was introduced by using a bi-material cylinder with which a penny-shaped crack was mountained at its interface. First, to evaluate the stress magnification or concentration at the interface, the energy release rates of a penny-shaped interface crack in remote tension loading on a bi-material cylinder were determined in terms of different modulus ratios and undonded area ratios(crack ratios) using a commercial finite element program. Then the energy release rates were calibrated as non-dimensional values in consideration of structural dimensions and applied forces. And to evaluate whether this new pull-off test method gives sound test results, three different sizes of unbended area ratios were incorporated along their interface in bi-material cylinders(sulphur polymer concrete + old concrete). Test results showed that all specimens were broken off at their interfaces as intended. Also the FEM analyses and test results indicated that a bi-material specimen with unbended area ratio of 0.4$\sim$0.6 is suitable for best accurate testing.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.713-732
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• 2008

Serviceability and durability of the concrete members can be seriously affected by the corrosion of steel rebar. Carbonation front and or chloride ingress can destroy the passive film on rebar and may set the corrosion (oxidation process). Depending on the level of oxidation (expansive corrosion products/rust) damage to the cover concrete takes place in the form of expansion, cracking and spalling or delamination. This makes the concrete unable to develop forces through bond and also become unprotected against further degradation from corrosion; and thus marks the end of service life for corrosion-affected structures. This paper presents an analytical model that predicts the weight loss of steel rebar and the corresponding time from onset of corrosion for the known corrosion rate and thus can be used for the determination of time to cover cracking in corrosion affected RC member. This model uses fully the thick-walled cylinder approach. The gradual crack propagation in radial directions (from inside) is considered when the circumferential tensile stresses at the inner surface of intact concrete have reached the tensile strength of concrete. The analysis is done separately with and without considering the stiffness of reinforcing steel and rust combine along with the assumption of zero residual strength of cracked concrete. The model accounts for the time required for corrosion products to fill a porous zone before they start inducing expansive pressure on the concrete surrounding the steel rebar. The capability of the model to produce the experimental trends is demonstrated by comparing the model's predictions with the results of experimental data published in the literature. The effect of considering the corroded reinforcing steel bar stiffness is demonstrated. A sensitivity analysis has also been carried out to show the influence of the various parameters. It has been found that material properties and their inter-relations significantly influence weight loss of rebar. Time to cover cracking from onset of corrosion for the same weight loss is influenced by corrosion rate and state of oxidation of corrosion product formed. Time to cover cracking from onset of corrosion is useful in making certain decisions pertaining to inspection, repair, rehabilitation, replacement and demolition of RC member/structure in corrosive environment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.577-596
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• 2016

FRP-concrete interfacial mechanical properties determine the strengthening effect of RC beams strengthened with FRP. In this paper, the model experiments were carried out with eight specimens to study the failure modes and the strengthening effect of RC beams strengthened with FRP. Then a theoretical model based on interfacial performances was proposed and interfacial mechanical behaviors were studied. Finite element analysis confirmed the theoretical results. The results showed that RC beams strengthened with FRP had three loading stages and that the FRP strengthening effects were mainly exerted in the Stage III after the yielding of steel bars, including the improvement of the bearing capacity, the decreased ultimate deformation due to the sudden failure of FRP and the improvement of stiffness in this stage. The mechanical formulae of the interfacial shear stress and FRP stress were established and the key influence factors included FRP length, interfacial bond-slip parameter, FRP thickness, etc. According to the theoretical analysis and experimental data, the calculation methods of interfacial shear stress at FRP end and FRP strain at midspan were proposed. When FRP bonding length was shorter, interfacial shear stress at FRP end was larger that led to concrete cover peeling failure. When FRP was longer, FRP reached the ultimate strain and the fracture failure of FRP occurred. The theoretical results were well consistent with the experimental data.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2003

The structures to be demolished have become diverse in types from reinforced concrete to steel. The demand for demolition of steel structures is recently increasing in Korea. Most of flexible linear-shaped charges for steel demolition are now imported from foreign countries. To determine the optimum parameters of design far domestic development of flexible linear-shaped charges, some basic experiments have been carried out and their results are summarized as follows; Copper is shown to be superior to aluminium and lead as a liner material. It is also proved that the optimum apex angle of liner is 90$^{\circ}$ in comparision with 45$^{\circ}$, 60$^{\circ}$ and 120$^{\circ}$ Adequate thickness of liners, standoff distance in terms of quantity of explosives are also examined. Explosives and liners are required to be plasticized in order to improve the bond between explosives and various shapes of steel structures.