• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2018

This study introduces a new algorithm to determine size independent values of fracture energy, fracture toughness, and fracture process zone length in three-point bending specimens with shallow to deep notches. By using the exact beam theory, a concept of equivalent notch length is introduced for specimens with no notches in order to predict the peak loads with acceptable precisions. Moreover, the method considers the variations of fracture process zone length and effects of higher order terms of stress field in each specimen size. In this paper, it was demonstrated that the use of some recently developed size effect laws raises some concerns due to the use of nonlinear regression analysis. By using a comprehensive fracture test data, provided by Hoover and Bazant, the algorithm has been assessed. It could be concluded that the proposed algorithm can facilitate a powerful tool for size effect study of three-point bending specimens with different notch lengths.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1993.04a
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• pp.34-39
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• 1993

Recently inappropriate aggregates are used as a raw material for ready-mixed concretes, due to the shortage of natural aggregate resources and the prohibition of their extraction for the environmental protection. We, therefore, have conducted experiments to obtain some knowledge of properties of domestic aggregates and to investigate subsequent changes in the properties of the fresh and hardened concretes. To this end, aggregates currently used in 13 domestic ready-mixed concrete plants were collected. Most of aggregate used in this experiment satisfied the KS in density and unit weight. But some of the aggregates have the particle size distribution that can effect bad influence on concrete. In this experiment the aggregates are found to have a bad particle size distribution, resulting in high amount of a unit water content and a unit cement content in concrete.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.05b
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• pp.13-16
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• 2005

Nanoscale materials are of great interest due to their unique optical, electrical and magnetic properties. Due to the recent amazing achievements in nano technology, new materials were developed. But these nano technology is not apply to the construction part in spite of exellent properties of nano size material. The purpose of this study is to apply to nano technology into building materials. To develop the high performance concrete, nano cement particles is prepared by mechanical method. In the results of this study, the nano silica powder increase effect according to increase of the mixing amount, appeared that compressive strength increased but is limit in increment. For the production of high-strength concrete, nano silica powder was suitable the binder ratio from 20$\%$. And, the compressive strength of concrete are especially dependent on the curing temperature.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2020

The main objective of this experimental study is to investigate shear strength of reinforced concrete beams according to longitudinal reinforcement ratio (ρ) and size effect. In order to find out the shear strength according to the tensile reinforcement ratio, in particular, the main variables are 100%, 75% and 50% of ρ=0.01 which is widely used in construction field. A total of twelve RC beams were tested under 4-point loading conditions. In addition to the existing proposal equations, the theoretical values such as KBC and ACI equations are compared with the experimental data. Through this analysis, this study is designed to provide more reasonable equations for shear design of reinforced concrete beams. When shear reinforcement bar spacing of nine specimens (R^*-1, R^*-2, and R^*-3 series) fixed as d/s=2.0 and three specimens of R^*-4 series fixed as d/s=1.5 are compared, the shear strength of two groups showed similar values. As a result, the current standard of d/s=2.0 for shear reinforcement bar spacing may be somewhat alleviated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2005

The paper reports on a study of bond strength between reduced-water-content concrete and tensile reinforcement in spliced mode. Three different diameters (12, 16 and 22 mm) of tensile steel were spliced in the constant moment zone, where there were two bars of same size in tension. For each diameter of reinforcement, a total of nine beams ($1900{\times}270{\times}180mm$) were tested, of which three beams were with no axial force (positive bending) and the other six beams were with axial force (combined bending). The splice length was selected so that bars would fail in bond, splitting the concrete cover in the splice region, before reaching the yield point. It was found that there was a considerable size effect in the experimental results, i.e., as the diameter of the reinforcement reduced the bond strength and the deflection recorded at the midspan increased significantly, whilst the stiffness of the beams reduced. It was also found for all reinforcement sizes that higher bond strength and stiffness were obtained for beams tested in combined bending than that of the beams tested in positive bending only.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.151-161
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• 2023

This paper presents an investigation of variables that cause spurious cracking in numerical modeling of concrete fracture. Spurious cracks appear due to the approximate nature of numerical modeling. They overestimate the dissipated energy, leading to divergent results with mesh refinement. This paper is limited to quasi-static loading regime, homogeneous models, cracking as the only nonlinear mode of deformation and cracking only due to tensile loading. Under these conditions, some variables that can be related to spurious cracking are: mesh alignment, ductility, crack band width, structure size, mesh refinement and load increment size. Case studies illustrate the effect of each variable and convergence analyses demonstrate that, after all, load-increment size is the most important variable. Theoretically, a sufficiently small load increment is able to eliminate or at least alleviate the detrimental influence of the other variables. Such load-increment size might be prohibitively small, rendering the simulation unfeasible. Hence, this paper proposes two alternatives. First, it is proposed an algorithm that automatically find such small load increment size automatically, which not necessarily avoid large computations. Then, it is proposed a double simulation technique, in which the crack is forced to propagate through the localization zone.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.303-308
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• 2001

Recently, concrete structures have become larger and higher and are demanding high performance concrete with lower heat to prevent thermal cracking, far greater workability, high strength and durability, Application of low heat portland(Type IV) cement for the high performance concrete is the best solution to satisfied those requirements. Here are explained the effect on the properties of high flowing concrete using low heat portland cement by material and mixing variations. Variables for sensitivity test were selected items like finess modulus of aggregates, particle size of limestone powder, unit water, superplasticizer, viscosity agent and concrete temperature. The results of this study were be applied to slurry wall of #215 and #216 of underground LNG tank in Inchon.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.281-287
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• 2020

Nanotechnology is an upcoming technology that can provide solution for combating pollution by controlling shape and size of materials at the nanoscale. This review provides comprehensive information regarding the role of nanotechnology in pollution control at concrete structures. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are a good item for concrete structures for diminishing the air polluting affect by gasses of exhaust. In this article, the mixture rule is presented for the effect of nanoparticles in environmental pollution reduction in concrete structures. The compressive strength, elastic modulus and reduction of steel bars in the concrete structures are studied. The Results show that TiO2 nanoparticles have significant effect on the reduction of environmental pollution and increase of stiffness in the concrete structures. In addition, the nanoparticles can reduce the use of steel bars in the concrete structure.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-27
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• 2014

The principal objective of this study is to deepen the characterization studies already led on sand concretes in previous works. Indeed, it consists in studying the effect of the sand type on the main properties of sand concrete: fracture and mechanical properties. We particularly insist on the determination of the fracture characteristics of this material which apparently have not been studied. To carry out this study, four different types of sand have been used: dune sand (DS), river sand (RS), crushed sand (CS) and river-dune sand (RDS). These sands differ in mineralogical nature, grain shape, angularity, particle size, proportion of fine elements, etc. The obtained results show that the particle size distribution of sand has marked its influence in all the studied properties of sand concrete since the sand having the highest diameter and the best particle size distribution has given the best fracture and mechanical properties. The grain shape, the angularity and the nature of sand have also marked their influence: thanks to its angularity and its limestone nature, crushed sand yielded good results compared to river and dune sands which are characterized by rounded shape and siliceous nature. Finally, it should further be noted that the sand concrete presents values of fracture and mechanical properties slightly lower than those of ordinary concrete. Compared to mortar, although the mechanical strength is lower, the fracture parameters are almost comparable. In all cases, the sand grains are debonded from the paste cement during the fracture which means that the crack goes through the paste-aggregate interface.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.121-139
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• 2021

Ultra-high strength concrete (UHSC) encased steel columns are receiving growing interest in high-rise buildings owing to their economic and architectural advantages. However, UHSC encased steel columns are not covered by the modern fire safety design code. A total of 14 fire tests are conducted on UHSC (120 MPa) encased steel columns under constant axial loads and exposed to ISO-834 standard fire. The effect of load ratio, slenderness, stirrup spacing, cross-section size and concrete cover to core steel on the fire resistance and failure mode of the specimens are investigated. The applicability of the tabulated method in EC4 (EN 1994-1-2-2005) and regression formula in Chinese code (DBJ/T 15-81-2011) to fire resistance of UHSC encased steel columns are checked. Generally, the test results reveal that the vertical displacement-heating time curves can be divided into two phases, i.e. thermal expansion and shortening to failure. It is found that the fire resistance of column specimens increases with the increase of the cross-section size and concrete cover to core steel, but decreases with the increase of the load ratio and slenderness. The EC4 method overestimates the fire resistance up to 186% (220 min), while the Chinese code underestimates it down to 49%. The Chinese code has a better agreement than EC4 with the test results since the former considers the effect of the load ratio, slenderness, cross section size directly in its empirical formula. To estimate the fire resistance precisely can improve the economy of structural fire design of ultra-high strength concrete encased steel columns.