• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.501-520
• /
• 2015

Presence of torsional loadings can significantly affect the flow of internal forces and deformation capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) columns. It increases the possibility of brittle shear failure leading to catastrophic collapse of structural members. This necessitates accurate prediction of the torsional behaviour of RC members for their safe design. However, a review of previously published studies indicates that the torsional behaviour of RC members has not been studied in as much depth as the behaviour under flexure and shear in spite of its frequent occurrence in bridge columns. Very few analytical models are available to predict the response of RC members under torsional loads. Softened truss model (STM) developed in the University of Houston is one of them, which is widely used for this purpose. The present study shows that STM prediction is not sufficiently accurate particularly in the post cracking region when compared to test results. An improved analytical model for RC square columns subjected to torsion with and without axial compression is developed. Since concrete is weak in tension, its contribution to torsional capacity of RC members was neglected in the original STM. The present investigation revealed that, disregard to tensile strength of concrete is the main reason behind the discrepancies in the STM predictions. The existing STM is extended in this paper to include the effect of tension stiffening for better prediction of behaviour of square RC columns under torsion. Three different tension stiffening models comprising a linear, a quadratic and an exponential relationship have been considered in this study. The predictions of these models are validated through comparison with test data on local and global behaviour. It was observed that tension stiffening has significant influence on torsional behaviour of square RC members. The exponential and parabolic tension stiffening models were found to yield the most accurate predictions.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.709-733
• /
• 2015

This work deals with a damage model formulation taking into account the unilateral effect of the mechanical behaviour of brittle materials such as concrete. The material is assumed as an initial elastic isotropic medium presenting anisotropy, permanent strains and bimodularity induced by damage evolution. Two damage tensors governing the stiffness in tension or compression regimes are introduced. A new damage tensor in tension regimes is proposed in order to model the diffuse damage originated in prevails compression regimes. Accordingly with micromechanical theory, the constitutive model is validate when dealing with unilateral effect of brittle materials, Finally, the proposed model is applied in the analyses of reinforced concrete framed structures submitted to reversal loading. The numerical results have shown the good performance of the modelling and its potentialities to simulate practical problems in structural engineering.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.337-353
• /
• 2018

The present study focuses on examining the structural behaviour of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams under high rates of loading largely associated with impact problems. Fibres are added to the concrete mix to enhance ductility and energy absorption, which is important for impact-resistant design. A simple, yet practical non-linear finite-element analysis (NLFEA) model was used in the present study. Experimental static and impact tests were also carried out on beams spanning 1.3 meter with weights dropped from heights of 1.5 m and 2.5 m, respectively. The numerical model realistically describes the fully-brittle tensile behaviour of plain concrete as well as the contribution of steel fibres to the post-cracking response (the latter was allowed for by conveniently adjusting the constitutive relations for plain concrete, mainly in uniaxial tension). Suitable material relations (describing compression, tension and shear) were selected for SFRC and incorporated into ABAQUS software Brittle Cracking concrete model. A more complex model (i.e., the Damaged Plasticity concrete model in ABAQUS) was also considered and it was found that the seemingly simple (but fundamental) Brittle Cracking model yielded reliable results. Published data obtained from drop-weight experimental tests on RC and SFRC beams indicates that there is an increase in the maximum load recorded (compared to the corresponding static one) and a reduction in the portion of the beam span reacting to the impact load. However, there is considerable scatter and the specimens were often tested to complete destruction and thus yielding post-failure characteristics of little design value and making it difficult to pinpoint the actual load-carrying capacity and identify the associated true ultimate limit state (ULS). To address this, dynamic NLFEA was employed and the impact load applied was reduced gradually and applied in pulses to pinpoint the actual failure point. Different case studies were considered covering impact loading responses at both the material and structural levels as well as comparisons between RC and SFRC specimens. Steel fibres were found to increase the load-carrying capacity and deformability by offering better control over the cracking process concrete undergoes and allowing the impact energy to be absorbed more effectively compared to conventional RC members. This is useful for impact-resistant design of SFRC beams.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.57-75
• /
• 2014

This paper presents an analysis of the results of an experimental program on the performance of a novel configuration of a hybrid FRP-concrete beam. The beam section consists of a GFRP pultruded profile, a CFRP laminate, and a concrete block all wrapped up using filament winding. It was found that the thickness of the concrete block and the confinement by the filament-wound wrapping had a profound effect on the energy dissipation behaviour of the beam. Using a shear punching model, and comparing the predicted results with the experimental ones, it was found that beyond a given value of the concrete block thickness, the deformational behaviour of the beam shifts from brittle to ductile. It was also found that the filament-wound wrap had many benefits such as providing a composite action between the concrete block and the GFRP box, improving the stiffness of the beam, and most importantly, enhancing the load carrying ability through induced confinement of the concrete.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.345-365
• /
• 2003

The adoption of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars (whose behaviour is elastic-brittle) in reinforced concrete (RC) cross sections requires the assessment of the influence of time-dependent behaviour of concrete on the load-carrying capacity of these sections. This paper presents a method of computing the load-carrying capacity of sections that are at first submitted to a constant long-term service load and then overloaded up to ultimate load. The method solves first a non-linear visco-elastic problem, and then a non-linear instantaneous analysis up to ultimate load that takes into account the self-equilibrated stress distribution previously computed. This method is then adopted to perform a parametric analysis that shows that creep and shrinkage of concrete increase the load-carrying capacity of the cross section reinforced with FRP and allows for the suggestion of simple design rules.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.238-243
• /
• 2000

The effect of the temperature, the fatigue and the test speed on DEN(double edged notch) specimen which was made by the pp-rubber composites during fracture was stuied. DEN specimen was made on PP-rubber composites through the injection molding. With increasing temperature the fracture strength is linearly decrease and the fracture energy is first increase by $0^{\circ}C$ and after that decrease. In the same temperature the fracture strength during increasing the notch radius is hardly increase. The fracture behaviour at low and high test speed is different entirely. At high test speed plastic region is small and fracture behaviour was seen to brittle fracture tendency. The deformation mechanism of polypropylene-rubber composites during fracture was studied by SEM fractography. A strong plastic deformation of the matrix material ahead of the notch/crack occured. The deformation seem to be enhanced by a thermal blunting of the notch/crack.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.185-200
• /
• 1998

Space truss design usually involves two main assumptions: that truss members are pin-ended, and compression members possess brittle post-buckling characteristics. The validity of these assumptions in the design of a new group of space trusses with continuous chords and eccentric joints is questionable. With chord member continuity and the consequent improvement in compression member behaviour, current design practice might be too conservative. In this paper, it is shown that substantial improvements in overall truss strength have resulted when the true member end conditions are considered, thus indicating potential savings in truss weight with considerable magnitudes.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2003

The rheological behaviour of anatase $TiO_2$ with organic coating has been investigated extensively in this study. The yield stress was measured over a wide range of solids concentration and pH using stress-controlled and speed-controlled rheometers. The organic treatment leads to a shift of the isoelectric point (IEP) from around pH 5.5 to pH 2.4. A maximum yield stress occurs in the vicinity of the isoelectric point determined by electrokinetic measurements. The transition of rheological behaviour between elastic solid and viscous liquid is represented by a stress plateau in a plot of stress against strain. It is hypothesised that the slope of the stress plateau reflects the uniformity of the structure, and hence the distribution of bond strength. Altering the concentration and the surface chemistry can vary the bond strength and its distribution. therefore, resulting in different type of failure: "ductile-type" or "brittle-type". pH and volume fraction dependence of yield stress could be described quantitatively using existing models with reasonable agreement.easonable agreement.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.215-226
• /
• 2020

A self-centering wall (SCW) is a lateral resistant rocking system that incorporates posttensioned (PT) tendons to provide a self-centering capacity along with dampers to dissipate energy. This paper investigates the rocking responses of a SCW with base viscous dampers under a sinusoidal-type pulse considering yielding and fracture behaviour of the PT tendon. The differences in the overturning acceleration caused by different initial forces in the PT tendon are computed by the theoretical method. The exact analytical solution to the linear approximate equation of motion is also provided for slender SCWs. Finally, the effects of the ductile behaviour of PT tendons on the rocking response of a SCW are analysed. The results demonstrate that SCWs exhibit two overturning modes under pulse excitation. The overturning region with Mode 1 in the PT force cases separates the safe region of the wall into two parts: region S1 with an elastic tendon and region S2 with a fractured tendon. The minimum overturning acceleration of a SCW with an elastic-brittle tendon becomes insensitive to excitation frequency as the PT force increases. After the plastic behaviour of the PT tendon is considered, the minimum overturning acceleration of a SCW is increased significantly in the whole range of the studied w_g/p.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.57-60
• /
• 2005

The objective of this paper is to investigate and analyze the behaviour of prestressed I section structural members constructed with ultra high perfomance steel fiber reinforced cementitious concrete (SFR-UHPC). This material is known as reactive powder concrete (RPC) mixed with domestic materials and its compressive strength is over 150MP. The parameters of test specimens were span to depth ratio, prestressing force, prestressing wire placement and web width. Most influential parameter to determine the failure mode between shear and flexural action was proved to be shear span ratio. The characteristics of ultra high-strength concrete is basically brittle, but due to the steel fiber reinforcement behaviour of this structure member became ductile after the peak load. As a result of the test, the stress block of compressive zone should be redefined. The proposed analytical calculation of internal force capacity based by plastic analysis gave a good prediction for the shear and flexural strength of specimens. The numerical verification of the finite element model which constitutive law developed for Mode I fracture of fiber reinforced concrete correctly captured the overall behaviour of the specimens tested.