• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 2022

For steel structures, fatigue cracks are critical damage induced by long-term cycle loading and distortion effects. Vision-based crack detection can be a solution to ensure structural integrity and performance by continuous monitoring and non-destructive assessment. A critical issue is to distinguish cracks from other features in captured images which possibly consist of complex backgrounds such as handwritings and marks, which were made to record crack patterns and lengths during periodic visual inspections. This study presents a parametric study on image-based crack identification for orthotropic steel bridge decks using captured images with complicated backgrounds. Firstly, a framework for vision-based crack segmentation using the atrous convolution-based Deeplapv3+ network (ACDN) is designed. Secondly, features on crack images are labeled to build three databanks by consideration of objects in the backgrounds. Thirdly, evaluation metrics computed from the trained ACDN models are utilized to evaluate the effects of obstacles on crack detection results. Finally, various training parameters, including image sizes, hyper-parameters, and the number of training images, are optimized for the ACDN model of crack detection. The result demonstrated that fatigue cracks could be identified by the trained ACDN models, and the accuracy of the crack-detection result was improved by optimizing the training parameters. It enables the applicability of the vision-based technique for early detecting tiny fatigue cracks in steel structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.727-739
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• 2018

Crack is the most common typical feature of concrete deterioration, so routine monitoring and health assessment become essential for identifying failures and to set up an appropriate rehabilitation strategy in order to extend the service life of concrete structures. At present, image segmentation algorithms have been applied to crack analysis based on inspection images of concrete structures. The results of crack segmentation offering crack information, including length, width, and area is helpful to assist inspectors in surface inspection of concrete structures. This study proposed an algorithm of image segmentation enhancement, named morphological segmentation based on edge detection-II (MSED-II), to concrete crack segmentation. Several concrete pavement and building surfaces were imaged as the study materials. In addition, morphological operations followed by cross-curvature evaluation (CCE), an image segmentation technique of linear patterns, were also tested to evaluate their performance in concrete crack segmentation. The result indicates that MSED-II compared to CCE can lead to better quality of concrete crack segmentation. The least area, length, and width measurement errors of the concrete cracks are 5.68%, 0.23%, and 0.00%, respectively, that proves MSED-II effective for automatic measurement of concrete cracks.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.85-90
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• 2000

The fracture toughness and crack propagation behaviors of short nylon66 fiber reinforced Chloroprene rubber nave been Investigated as functions of fiber aspect ratio, fiber content and interphase conditions. The J for crack initiation and rupture were determined for short-fiber reinforced rubber. The values of $J_c$ for most reinforced rubbers were low compared that of matrix. But, $J_r$ at rupture showed a higher value than that of matrix. The crack propagation behaviors were analyzed into 3 patterns with increasing fiber aspect ratio and fiber content. The tearing mechanisms of matrix and fiber reinforced rubber were observed by CCD camera focused on the tip of crack and load-displacement graph. Both cases showed a completely different behaviors

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1273-1280
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• 2003

In this paper, transparent dynamic photoelastic experimental hybrid method for propagating cracks in orthotropic material was developed. Using transparent dynamic photoelastic experimental hybrid method, we can obtain stress intensity factor and separate the stress components from only isochromatic fringe patterns without using isoclinics. When crack is propagated with constant velocity, the contours of stress components in the vicinity of crack tip in orthotropic material are similar to those of isotropic material or orthotropic material with stationary crack under the static load. Dynamic stress intensity factors are decreased as crack growths. It was certified that the dynamic photoelastic experimental hybrid method was very useful for the analysis of the dynamic fracture mechanics.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2013

A major difference between high-strength reinforcing steel and conventional steel in concrete is that the service-load steel stress is expected to be greater. Consequently, the service-load steel strains are greater affecting cracking behavior. A parametric study investigating crack widths and patterns in reinforced concrete prisms is presented in order to establish limits to the service-load steel stress and strain. Additionally, based on the results of available flexural tests, crack widths at service load levels were evaluated and found to be within presently accepted limits for highway bridge structures, and were predictable using current AASHTO provisions. A limitation on service-level stresses of $f_s{\leq}414$ MPa (60 ksi) is nonetheless recommended.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.377-396
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• 2001

The excessive cracking of RC cantilever decks, which often requires special attention for structural engineers, is studied using a three-dimensional crack analysis model. The model is based on a fracture energy approach for analyzing cracks in concrete, and the numerical analysis is carried out using a modified load control method. The problem of excessive cracking is then studied with four different span-ratios. Based on the numerical results, the crack behavior with respect to the patterns of crack propagation, dissipation of the fracture energy, and effects on the structural integrity are discussed. The mechanisms which cause the excessive cracking are also explained.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.133-137
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• 2012

Cracking may be used to help predict the cause of deterioration of concrete, since in many cases characteristic cracking patterns are produced. The purpose of this paper is an analysis of the crack cause occurred in concrete faced rockfill dams. We analyzed the concrete placement methods, cracking pattern, the inspection of crack depth by the ultrasonic pulse velocity method, and the measurement of heat of hydration, environmental condition, and so on. In this study, the crack cause of concrete faced rockfill dam is the wrong method of concrete placement, high temperature difference by cement of heat of hydration and concrete of drying shrinkage.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 1990

The fatigue growth behavior of surface cracks cannot be adequately predicted solely by stress intensity factor analysis. This is caused by different plastic deformation due to variations in the stress field triaxiality along the crack tip. Therefore, a new model which accounts for the crack closure phenomenon is proposed in this paper to predict the fatigue crack growth patterns for surface cracks. Fatigue tests were performed to develop the new model for the prediction and to assess the accuracy of the analysis. The predicted crack growth behavior for PMMA and Aluminum alloy 7075-T6 materials agreed well with the experimental data.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.553-564
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• 2019

This paper presents experimental results of rock-concrete bi-material discs under cyclically diametrical compression. It was found that both specimens under cyclical and static loading failed in three typical modes: shear crack, tensile crack and a combined mode of shear and wing crack. The failure modes transited gradually from the shear crack to the tensile one by increasing the interface angle between the interface and the loading direction. The cycle number and peak load increased by increasing the interface angle. The number of cycles and peak load increased with the interface groove depth and groove width, however, decreased with increase in interface groove spacing. The concrete strength can contribute more to the cycle number and peak load for specimens with a higher interface angle. Compared with the discs under static loading, the cyclically loaded discs had a lower peak load but a larger deformation. Finally, the effects of interface angle, interface asperity and concrete strength on the fatigue strength were also discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.3
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• pp.339-356
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• 2020

In this article, a developed bond-based peridynamic model for functionally graded materials (FGMs) is proposed to simulate the dynamic fracture behaviors in FGMs. In the developed bond-based peridynamic model for FGMs, bonds are categorized into three different types, including transverse directionally peridynamic bond, gradient directionally peridynamic bond and arbitrary directionally peridynamic bond, according to the geometrical relationship between directions of peridynamic bonds and gradient bonds in FGMs. The peridynamic micromodulus in the gradient directionally and arbitrary directionally peridynamic bonds can be determined using the weighted projection method. Firstly, the standard bond-based peridynamic simulations of crack propagation and branching in the homogeneous PMMA plate are performed for validations, and the results are in good agreement with the previous experimental observations and the previous phase-field numerical results. Then, the numerical study of crack initiation, propagation and branching in FGMs are conducted using the developed bond-based peridynamic model, and the influence of gradient direction on the dynamic fracture behaviors, such as crack patterns and crack tip propagation speed, in FGMs is systematically studied. Finally, numerical results reveal that crack branching in FGMs under dynamic loading conditions is easier to occur as the gradient angle decreases, which is measured by the gradient direction and direction of the initial crack.