• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.167-194
• /
• 2004

In this paper axial loading tests on low strength concrete members, which were confined with various thickness of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite sheets are described. Totally 46 specimens with circular, square and rectangular cross-sections with unconfined concrete compressive strengths between 6 and 10 MPa were included in the test program. During the tests, a photogrammetrical deformation measurement technique was also used, as well as conventional measurement techniques. The contribution of external confinement with CFRP composite sheets to the compressive behavior of the specimens with low strength concrete is evaluated quantitatively, in terms of strength, longitudinal and lateral deformability and energy dissipation. The effects of width/depth ratios and the corner radius of the specimens with rectangular cross-section on the axial behavior were also examined. It was seen that the effectiveness of the external confinement with CFRP composite sheets is much more pronounced, when the unconfined concrete compressive strength is relatively lower. It was also found that the available analytical expressions proposed for normal or high strength concrete confined by CFRP sheets could not predict the strength and deformability of CFRP confined low strength concrete accurately. New expressions are proposed for the compressive strength and the ultimate axial strain of CFRP confined low strength concrete.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.19-35
• /
• 2019

In this paper, the effect of the type and amount of fibers on the physicomechanical properties of concrete containing fine recycled refractory brick (RRB) and natural aggregate subjected to elevated temperatures was investigated. For this purpose, forta-ferro (FF), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers with the volume fractions of 0, 0.25, and 0.5%, as well as steel fibers with the volume fractions of 0, 0.75, and 1.5% were used in the concrete containing RRB fine aggregate replacing natural sand by 0 and 100%. In total, 162 concrete specimens from 18 different mix designs were prepared and tested in the temperature groups of 23, 400, and $800^{\circ}C$. After experiencing heat, the concrete properties including the compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), weight loss, and surface appearance were evaluated and compared with the corresponding results of the reference (unheated) specimens. The results show that using RRB fine aggregate replacing natural fine aggregate by 100% led to an increase in the concrete compressive strength in almost all the mixes, and only in the PVA-containing mixes a decrease in strength was observed. Furthermore, UPV values at $800^{\circ}C$ for all the concrete mixes containing RRB fine aggregate were above those of the natural aggregate concrete specimens. Finally, regarding the compressive strength and UPV results, steel fibers demonstrated a better performance relative to other fiber types.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.515-531
• /
• 2020

Due to the construction difficulties of steel reinforced concrete (SRC), a new composite structure of steel and steel fiber reinforced concrete (SSFRC) is proposed for solving construction problems of SRC. This paper aims to investigate the bond properties and composition of interfacial bond stress between steel and steel fiber reinforced concrete. Considering the design parameters of section type, steel fiber ratio, interface embedded length and concrete cover thickness, a total of 36 specimens were fabricated. The bond properties of specimens were studied, and three different methods of calculating interfacial bond stress were analyzed. The results show: relative slip first occurs at the free end; Bearing capacity of specimens increases with the increase of interface embedded length. While the larger interface embedded length is, the smaller the average bond strength is. The average bond strength increases with the increase of concrete cover thickness and steel fiber ratio. And calculation method 3 proposed in this paper can not only reasonably explain the hardening stage after the loading end curve yielding, but also can be applied to steel reinforced high-strength concrete (SRHC) and steel reinforced recycled coarse aggregate concrete (SRRAC).

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.167-193
• /
• 2020

In this paper, the behavior of interior steel fiber reinforced concrete beam - column joints (BCJs) under cyclic loading is investigated. An experimental program including tests on twelve reinforced concrete (BCJs) specimens under cyclic loading was carried out. The test specimens are divided into two groups having different geometry: group (G1) (symmetrical BCJs specimens) and group (G2) (nonsymmetrical BCJs specimens). The parameters considered in this study are the steel fibers (SFs) content by volume of concrete (V_f), the spacing of shear reinforcement at the joint region, and the area of longitudinal flexural reinforcement. Test results show that the addition of 0.5% SFs with stirrups spacing S=S_max has effectively enhanced the overall performance of BCJs with respect to energy dissipation, ductility ratio, spreading and width of cracks. The failure of specimens is governed mainly by the formation of a plastic hinge at the face column and outside the beam-column junction. Secondary shear cracks were also observed in the beam-column junctions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.317-334
• /
• 2008

Seismic performance of coupling beams not designed for ductility is examined. Eight 1:4 scale coupling beam specimens, with seven reinforced concrete sections and one composite section, were tested under cycles of push-pull action. Characteristics of the specimens include moderate shear span ratio in the range of 2.5-3.5, high main reinforcement ratio at 3-4% and small to large stirrup spacing with 90- degree hooks. All the reinforced concrete specimens failed in a brittle manner. Displacement ductility of specimens with large stirrup spacing (${\geq}$140 mm) is in the range of 3 to 5. Seismic performance of the specimens is also examined using the ultimate drift angle and the amount of energy dissipated. Correlating the test data, an empirical relationship is proposed to estimate the ultimate drift angle of a class of coupling beams considered in the study not designed for ductility.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2000.04a
• /
• pp.821-826
• /
• 2000

Reinforced concrete is in general known as high durability construction material under normal environments due to strong alkalinity of cement. Marine concrete specimens in the tidal and the splash zone at seashore have been exposed to cyclic wet and dry saltwaters which cause to accelerate corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete. If corrosion resistance of concrete gets to weaken de to carbonations and cracks in cover concrete, furthermore, concrete durability rapidly decreases by the corrosion of reinforcement steel embeded in concrete. The objective of this study is to develop appropriate corrosion protection systems of marine concrete so as to enhance the durability of concrete by establishing pertinent cover depth of concrete and by using corrosion inhibitors as concrete admixtures.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.345-362
• /
• 2018

In this paper, mechanical and short-term durability properties of fly ash and slag based geopolymer concretes (FAGPC-SGPC) were investigated. The alkaline solution was prepared with a mixture of sodium silicate solution ($Na_2SiO_3$) and sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) for geopolymer concretes. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete was also produced for comparison. Main objective of the study was to examine the usability of geopolymer concretes instead of the ordinary Portland cement concrete for structural use. In addition to this, this study was aimed to make a contribution to standardization process of the geopolymer concretes in the construction industry. For this purpose; SGPC, FAGPC and OPC specimens were exposed to sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$), magnesium sulfate ($MgSO_4$) and sea water (NaCl) solutions with concentrations of 5%, 5% and 3.5%, respectively. Visual inspection and weight change of the specimens were evaluated in terms of durability aspects. For the mechanical aspects; compression, splitting tensile and flexural strength tests were conducted before and after the chemical attacks to investigate the residual mechanical strengths of geopolymer concretes under chemical attacks. Results indicated that SGPC (100% slag) is stronger and durable than the FAGPC due to more stable and strong cross-linked alumina-silicate polymer structure. In addition, FAGPC specimens (100% fly ash) showed better durability resistance than the OPC specimens. However, FAGPC specimens (100% fly ash) demonstrated lower mechanical performance as compared to OPC specimens due to low reactivity of fly ash particles, low amount of calcium and more porous structure. Among the chemical environments, sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) was most dangerous environment for all concrete types.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.491-502
• /
• 2017

In this research, the application of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test as a nondestructive method for estimating some of the mechanical and dynamic properties of reactive powder concrete (RPC) containing steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers, as well as their combination was explored. In doing so, ten different mix designs were prepared in 19 experimental groups of specimens containing three different volume contents of steel fibers (i.e., 1, 2, and 3 %) and PVA fibers (i.e., 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 %), as well as hybrid fibers (i.e., 0.25-0.75, 0.5-0.5, and 0.75-0.25 %). The specimens in these groups were prepared under the two curing regimes of normal and heat treatment. Moreover, the UPV test results were employed to estimate the compressive strength, dynamic modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio of the RPC concrete and to investigate the quality level of the used concrete. At the end, the effect of the specimen shape and in fact the measuring distance length on the UPV results was explored. The results of this research suggest that the steel fiber-containing RPC specimens demonstrate the highest level of ultrasonic pulse velocity as well as the highest values of the mechanical and dynamic properties. Moreover, heat treatment has a positive effect on the density, UPV, dynamic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and compressive strength of the RPC specimens, whereas it leads to a negligible increase or decrease in the shear modulus and static modulus of elasticity. Furthermore, the specimen shape affects the UPV of fiber-lacking specimens while negligibly affecting that of fiber-reinforced specimens.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 2015

PURPOSES : This study was performed to determine a systematic approach for measuring the coefficient of thermal expansion (COTE) of concrete specimens. This approach includes the initial calibration of measurement equipment. Test variables include coarse aggregate types such as natural aggregate, job-site produced recycled concrete aggregate, and recycled aggregate processed from an intermediate waste treatment company. METHODS : First, two cylindrical SUS-304 specimens with a known COTE value of $17.3{\times}10^{-6}m/m/^{\circ}C$. were used as reference specimens for the calibration of each measurement system. The well-known AASHTO TP-60 COTE apparatus for concrete measurement was utilized in this study. Four different measurement apparatuses were used with each LVDT installed and a calibration value was determined using each measurement apparatus. RESULTS : In the initial experimental stage, calibration values for each measurement apparatus were assumed to be almost identical. However, using the SUS-304 samples as a reference, the calibration values for the four different measurement apparatuses were found to range from 3.49 to $8.86{\times}10^{-6}m/m/^{\circ}C$. Using different adjusted values for each measurement apparatuses, COTE values for the three different concrete specimens were obtained. The COTE value of concrete made with natural coarse aggregate was $9.91{\times}10^{-6}m/m/^{\circ}C$, that of job-site produced recycled coarse aggregate was $10.45{\times}10^{-6}m/m/^{\circ}C$, and that of recycled aggregate processed from the intermediate waste treatment company was $10.82{\times}10^{-6}m/m/^{\circ}C$. CONCLUSIONS : We observed that the COTE value of concrete made from recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) was higher than that of concrete made from natural coarse aggregate. This difference is due to the fact that the total volumetric mortar proportion in the RCA mix is higher than that in the concrete mix made with natural coarse aggregate.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.81 no.3
• /
• pp.305-316
• /
• 2022

Externally bonded ultrahigh performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) is commonly used as a strengthening material for reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This study reports the results of an experimental program investigating the bonding behavior between concrete and prefabricated UHPFRC plates. The overall experimental program is consisting of five RC specimens, which are strengthened using the different lengths and widths of prefabricated UHPFRC plates. These specimens were analyzed using the pull-pull double-shear test. The performance of each strengthened specimen is presented, discussed and compared in terms of failure mode, maximum load, load-slip relationship, fracture energy and strain distribution. Specimen C-25-160-300 which bonded along the whole width of 160 mm recorded the highest maximum load (109.2 kN) among all the analysed specimens. Moreover, a 3D numerical finite element model (FEM) is proposed to simulate the bond behavior between concrete and UHPFRC plates. Moreover, this study reviews the analytical models that can predict the relationship between the maximum bond stress and slip for strengthened concrete elements. The proposed FEM is verified against the experimental program and then used to test 36 RC specimens strengthened with prefabricated UHPFRC plates with different concrete grades and UHPFRC plate widths. The obtained results together with the review of analytical models helped in the formation of a design equation for estimating the bond stress between concrete and prefabricated UHPFRC plates.