• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2017

During the last two decades, CFRP have been extensively used for repair and rehabilitation of existing structures as well as in new construction applications. For rehabilitation purposes CFRP are currently used to increase the load and the energy absorption capacities and also the shear strength of concrete columns. Thus, the effect of CFRP confinement on the strength and deformation capacity of concrete columns has been extensively studied. However, the majority of such studies consider empirical relationships based on correlation analysis due to the fact that until today there is no general law describing such a hugely complex phenomenon. Moreover, these studies have been focused on the performance of circular cross section columns and the data available for square or rectangular cross sections are still scarce. Therefore, the existing relationships may not be sufficiently accurate to provide satisfactory results. That is why intelligent models with the ability to learn from examples can and must be tested, trying to evaluate their accuracy for composite compressive strength prediction. In this study the forecasting of wrapped CFRP confined concrete strength was carried out using different Data Mining techniques to predict CFRP confined concrete compressive strength taking into account the specimens' cross section: circular or rectangular. Based on the results obtained, CFRP confined concrete compressive strength can be accurately predicted for circular cross sections using SVM with five and six input parameters without spending too much time. The results for rectangular sections were not as good as those obtained for circular sections. It seems that the prediction can only be obtained with reasonable accuracy for certain values of the lateral confinement coefficient due to less efficiency of lateral confinement for rectangular cross sections.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.155-168
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• 2019

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the compressive strength of small scale concentrically axially loaded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) confined plain concrete columns, with cylinder concrete strength 19 MPa. For columns with circular (150-mm diameter) and square (150-mm side) cross sections wrapped with glass- and carbon-FRP sheets (GFRP and CFRP, respectively) applied with dry lay-up the effect of different jacket schemes and different overlap configurations on the confined characteristics is investigated. Test results indicate that the most cost effective jacket configuration among those tested is for one layer of CFRP, for both types of sections. In square sections the location of the lap length, either in the corner or along the side, does not seem to affect the confined performance. Furthermore, in circular sections, the presence of an extra wrap with FRP fibers parallel to the column's axis enhances the concrete strength proportionally to the axial rigidity of the FRP jacket. The recorded strains and the distributions of lateral confining pressures are discussed. Existing design equations are used to assess the lateral confining stresses and the confined concrete strength making use of the measured hoop strains.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.93-122
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• 2024

One well-known reason for using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites is to improve concrete strength and strain capacity via external confinement. Hence, various studies have been undertaken to offer a good illustration of the response of FRP-wrapped concrete for practical design intents. However, in such studies, the strength and strain of the confined concrete were predicted using regression analysis based on a limited number of test data. This study presents an approach based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) to develop models to predict the strength and strain at maximum stress enhancement of circular concrete cross-sections confined with different FRP types (Carbone, Glass, Aramid). To achieve this goal, a large test database comprising 493 axial compression experiments on FRP-confined concrete samples was compiled based on an extensive review of the published literature and used to validate the predicted artificial intelligence techniques. The ANN approach is currently thought to be the preferred learning technique because of its strong prediction effectiveness, interpretability, adaptability, and generalization. The accuracy of the developed ANN model for predicting the behavior of FRP-confined concrete is commensurate with the experimental database compiled from published literature. Statistical measures values, which indicate a better fit, were observed in all of the ANN models. Therefore, compared to existing models, it should be highlighted that the newly developed models based on FRP type are remarkably accurate.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.109-128
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• 2010

The expediency of using tubular composite steel and concrete columns of annular cross-sections in construction is discussed. The new type space framework with tubular composite columns of multi-storey buildings and its rigid beam-column joints are demonstrated. The features of interaction between the circular steel tube and spun concrete stress-strain states during the concentrical and eccentrical loading of tubular composite members are considered. The modeling of the bearing capacity of beam-columns of composite annular cross-sections is based on the concepts of bending with a concentrical force and compression with a bending moment. The comparison of modeling results for the composite cross-sections of beam-columns is analysed. The expediency of using these concepts for the limit state verification of beam-columns in the methods of the partial safety factors design (PSFD) legitimated in Europe and the load and resistance factors design (LRFD) used in other countries is presented and illustrated by a numerical example.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.327-348
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• 2015

A numerical procedure is presented that provides ultimate curvature and moment domains for composite rectangular and circular cross-sections of reinforced concrete columns with or without an embedded steel section subjected to combined axial loading and biaxial bending. The stress resultants for the concrete and reinforcement bars are calculated using fiber analysis and the stress resultants for the encased structural steel are evaluated using an exact integration of the stress-strain curve over the area of the steel section. A dimensionless formula is proposed that can be used for any section with similar normalized geometric and mechanical parameters. The contribution of each material to the bearing capacity of a section (resistance load and moments) is calculated separately so that the influence of each geometric or mechanical parameter on the bearing capacity can be investigated separately.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2018

Fly ash can significantly improve concrete workability and performance, and recycling fly ash in concrete can contribute to a cleaner environment. Since fly ash influences pozzolanic reactions in concrete, mechanical behaviors of concrete containing fly ash differ from traditional concrete. Creep behaviors of fly ash concrete filled steel tube arch were experimentally investigated for 10% and 30% fly ash replacement. The axes of two arches are designed as circular arc with 2.1 m computed span, 0.24 m arch rise, and their cross-sections are all in circular section. Time dependent deflection and strain of loading and mid-span steel tube were measured, and long term deflection of the model arch with 10% fly ash replacement was significantly larger than with 30% replacement. Considering the steel tube strain, compressive zone height, cross section curvature, and internal force borne by the steel tube, the compressive zone height and structural internal forces increased gradually over time due to concrete creep. Increased fly ash content resulted in more significant neutral axis shift. Mechanisms for internal force effects on neutral axis height were analyzed and verified experimentally.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.477-490
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• 2013

This paper presents results of calculations performed according to our own semi-empirical mathematical model of critical vortex excitation. All calculations are carried out using own computer program, which allows the simulation of both the across-wind action caused by vortices and the lateral response of analysed structures. Vortex excitation simulations were performed in real time taking into account wind-structure interaction. Several structures of circular cross-sections were modelled using a FEM program and calculated under the action of critical vortex excitation. Six steel chimneys, six concrete chimneys and two concrete towers were considered. The method of selection and estimation of the experimental parameters describing the model are also presented. Finally, the results concerning maximum lateral top displacements of the structures are compared with available full-scale data for steel and concrete chimneys.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.571-585
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• 2013

Asymmetrical reinforcement for circular sections in wall piles is an efficient construction component with reduced embodied energy. It has been proven that asymmetrical reinforced wall piles may save more than 50% of the reinforcement than the traditional symmetrically reinforced circular sections. The use of this new type of structural member increases the number of variables in the design problem, which makes its use by engineers more complicated. In order to facilitate the use of the asymmetrically reinforced piles, this paper presents a criterion for the design of this type of structural member. The chosen criterion has been analyzed with the help of flexural capacity-cost curves. The new criterion is similar to the design procedure traditionally used for RC beams.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2018

The seismic vulnerability analysis of multi-span bridges can be based on the response of the piers, provided that deck, bearings and foundations remain elastic. The lateral response of an RC bridge pier can be affected by different mechanisms (i.e., flexure, shear, lap-splice or buckling of the longitudinal reinforcement bars, second order effects). In the literature, simplified formulations are available for mechanisms different from the flexure. On the other hand, the flexural response is usually calculated with a numerically-based Moment-Curvature diagram of the base section and equivalent plastic hinge length. The goal of this paper is to propose a simplified analytical solution to obtain the Moment-Curvature relationship for hollow circular RC sections. This based on calibrated polynomials, fitted against a database comprising 720 numerical Moment-Curvature analyses. The section capacity curve is defined through the position of 6 characteristic points and they are based on four input parameters: void ratio of the hollow section, axial force ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, transversal reinforcement ratio. A case study RC bridge pier is assessed with the proposed solution and the results are compared to a refined numerical FEM analysis, showing good match.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 2014

The paper is concerned with the analytical description of a resistance mechanism, not considered in previous models, by which the hoops contribute to the shear capacity of RC columns with circular cross sections. The difference from previous approaches consists in observing that, because of deformation, the hoops change their original shape and, as a consequence, their slope does not match anymore the original one in the neighborhood of a crack. The model involves two parameters only, namely the crack inclination and the hoop strain in the neighborhood of a crack. A closed-form analytical formulation to correlate the average value of the crack width and the hoop strain is also provided. Results obtained using the proposed model have been compared with experimental data, and a satisfactory agreement is found.