• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2021

The hybrid Finite-Discrete Element (FDEM) approach combines aspects of both finite elements and discrete elements with fracture mechanics principles, and therefore it is well suited for realistic simulation of quasi-brittle materials. Notwithstanding, in the literature its application for the analysis of concrete is rather limited. In this paper, the proprietary FDEM code ELFEN is used to model concrete specimens under uniaxial compression and indirect tension (Brazilian tests) of different sizes. The results show that phenomena such as size effect and influence of strain-rate are captured using this modeling technique. In addition, a preliminary model of a slab subjected to dynamic shear punching due to progressive collapse is presented. The resulting fracturing pattern of the impacted slab is similar to observations from actual collapse.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2000

A fracture energy concept proposed by Ouyang and Shah's fracture mechanics approach was used to predict cracking of reinforced concrete members subjected to tension. In this approach, fracture properties in plain concrete which incorporate the presence of the fracture process zone are first determined from the generalized size effect method, then fracture energy required for crack propagation with the same dimension and material properties are evaluated using an R-curve. Subsequently taking into account the material properties in Ouyang and Shah's approach, a theoretical analysis to predict the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete members subjected to tension was performed and compared to observed experimental results. It is seen that the predicted average crack spacing curves agree well with the experimental results, whereas the analytical method seems to predict lower values for this study. The analytical approach predicts well responses of stress-strain curves before and after the first crack is formed. It is concluded from this study that a fracture energy concept based on the R-curve and the generalized size effect method is a rational approach to predict cracking of reinforced concrete members subjected to tension.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.901-907
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• 2013

In this study, flexural strength properties of concrete under biaxial stress state were experimentally investigated. Tests for size effect and fatigue behaviour of concrete under biaxial stress were carried out by the ASTM C 1550 and the biaxial flexure test(BFT). The results given by the biaxial tests were compared to those by the third-point bending test. Test results showed that biaxial flexural strengths obtained from the ASTM C 1550 and the biaxial flexure test are greater than the strength by the third-point bending test. As the size increases, the uniaxial and biaxial flexural strength decreases. However, the slope of the size effect of the biaxial strength was greater than that of the uniaxial strength. Finally, the fatigue response of concrete under the biaxial stress state was similar with that for uniaxial stress state.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.137-138
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• 2014

The aim of this research is suggesting the method of obtaining well-graded aggregates for concrete replacing the recycled aggregate which size range is from 5 to 13 mm to currently used gap-graded natural aggregates which size range is only 13 to 25 mm. according to the tests results, the workability of concrete was improved with replacing the aggregates of 5 to 13 mm of size range because of compensating gap-grading. Furthermore, there was an improvement in compressive strength when the aggregates of 5 to 13 mm of size range was replaced because obtained well-graded aggregates contributed on increasing adhesiveness and filling internal pore system. Comparing replacing recycled aggregate to natural aggregate, there was no significant difference on the performances.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.47-50
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• 2002

This paper presents the results of fire resistance properties of high performance concrete varying with fiber kinds and the size of metal lath in order to verify the validities of fiber on the spatting resistance by fire. Metal lath, glass fiber and carbon fiber are used to confine the concrete. According to test results, plain concrete without lateral confinement and confined concrete with glass fiber and carbon fiber show entire failure after exposed to fire, while confined concrete with metal lath take place in the form of slight surface spatting by fire, which has favorable spatting resistance of concrete. As for the effect of the size of metal lath, when the size of metal lath is more than 1.2mm of thickness, the residual strength of concrete exposed to fire maintains more than 80% of its original strength. However, glass fiber and carbon fiber does not perform desirable spatting resistance by fire due to loss of lateral confinement of fiber exposed to fire caused by melting of fiber and reducing bond strength between concrete and fiber.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.585-612
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• 2013

The paper presents quasi-static numerical simulations of the behaviour of short reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement under mixed shear-tension failure using the FEM and four various constitutive continuum models for concrete. First, an isotropic elasto-plastic model with a Drucker-Prager criterion defined in compression and with a Rankine criterion defined in tension was used. Next, an anisotropic smeared crack and isotropic damage model were applied. Finally, an elasto-plastic-damage model was used. To ensure mesh-independent FE results, to describe strain localization in concrete and to capture a deterministic size effect, all models were enhanced in a softening regime by a characteristic length of micro-structure by means of a non-local theory. Bond-slip between concrete and reinforcement was considered. The numerical results were directly compared with the corresponding laboratory tests performed by Walraven and Lehwalter (1994). The advantages and disadvantages of enhanced models to model the reinforced concrete behaviour were outlined.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.231-257
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• 2015

This paper discusses the spatial variability of the carbonation depth caused by the mesoscopic structure of the concrete and the influence of the spatial variability on the thickness of the concrete cover. To conduct the research, a method to generate the random aggregate structure (RAS) based on polygonal particles and a simplified numerical model of the concrete carbonation at meso-scale are firstly developed. Based on the method and model, the effect of the aggregate properties including shape, content and gradation on the spatial variability of the carbonation depth is comprehensively studied. The results show that a larger degree of the spatial variability will be obtained by using (1) the aggregates with a larger aspect ratio; (2) a larger aggregate content; (3) the gradation which has more large particles. The proper sample size and model size used in the analysis are also studied. Finally, a case study is conducted to demonstrate the influence of the spatial variability of the carbonation depth on the proper thickness of the concrete cover. The research in this paper not only provides suggestions on how to decrease the spatial variability, but also proposes the method to consider the effect of the spatial variability in designing the thickness of the concrete cover.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.41-55
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• 2015

In this paper, a model for the evaluation of shear strength of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP)-reinforced concrete beams is given. The survey of literature indicates that the FRP reinforced beams tested with shear span to depth ratio less than or equal to 1.0 is limited. In this study, eight concrete beams reinforced with GFRP rebars without stirrups are cast and tested over shear span to depth ratio of 0.5 and 1.75. The concrete compressive strength is varied from 40.6 to 65.3 MPa. The longitudinal reinforcement ratio is varied from 1.16 to 1.75. The experimental shear strength and load-deflection response of the beams are determined and reported in this paper. A model is proposed for the prediction of shear strength of beams reinforced with FRP bars. The proposed model accounts for compressive strength of concrete, modulus of FRP rebar, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, shear span to depth ratio and size effect of beams. The shear strength of FRP reinforced concrete beams predicted using the proposed model is found to be in better agreement with the corresponding test data when compared with the shear strength predicted using the eleven models published in the literature. Design example of FRP reinforced concrete beam is also given in the appendix.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.299-306
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• 2015

The quality for the domestic pavement is evaluated based on flexural strength at the age of 28 days in accordance with KS regulation. Most specimens of the flexural tensile strength used currently are relatively large ones with a dimension of $150{\times}150{\times}550mm$. Accordingly, it is difficult to treat the specimens, and the utilization of a curing tank is low. In this paper, the study tried to resolve the problem by specimen size specified in the code. For this purpose, a flexural strength test was conducted according to the log scale within the specimen size specified by the KS. And, based on the results of this experiment, a comparative analysis was conducted using the prediction formula of Size Effect Law (SEL) proposed by Bazant to examine the correlation between specimen sizes, so as to use the result as basic data for the reduction of the specimen size in the quality evaluation of concrete pavement.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.559-566
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• 2010

Fifteen lightweight concrete mixes were tested to evaluate the effect of maximum size of coarse aggregate and the replacement level of natural sand on the various properties of fresh lightweight concrete. The different properties, such as water absorption against the elapsed time, pore size distribution and micro-structure of lightweight aggregates used, influencing on the workability of fresh concrete were also measured. Test results showed that the initial slump of lightweight concrete decreased with the increase of the replacement level of natural sand. The slump of all-lightweight concrete sharply decreased by around 80% of the initial slump after 30~60 minutes. The air content and bleeding rate of lightweight concrete were significantly affected by the replacement level of natural sand as well as the maximum size of coarse aggregates. Empirical equations recommended in ACI 211 and Korea concrete standard specifications underestimated the air content of the lightweight concrete, indicating that the underestimation increases with the decrease of the replacement level of natural sand. In addition, equations to predict the air content and bleeding rate of lightweight concrete were proposed based on the test results.