• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.475-494
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• 2007

This paper deals with the development of an innovative distributed construction system based on smart prefabricated concrete elements for the real-time condition assessment of civil infrastructure. So far, two reduced-scale prototypes have been produced, each consisting of a $0.2{\times}0.3{\times}5.6$ m RC beam specifically designed for permanent instrumentation with 8 long-gauge Fiber Optic Sensors (FOS) at the lower edge. The sensing system is Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG)-based and can measure finite displacements both static and dynamic with a sample frequency of 625 Hz per channel. The performance of the system underwent validation in the laboratory. The scope of the experiment was to correlate changes in the dynamic response of the beams with different damage scenarios, using a direct modal strain approach. Each specimen was dynamically characterized in the undamaged state and in various damage conditions, simulating different cracking levels and recurrent deterioration scenarios, including cover spalling and corrosion of the reinforcement. The location and the extent of damage are evaluated by calculating damage indices which take account of changes in frequency and in strain-mode-shapes. The outcomes of the experiment demonstrate how the damage distribution detected by the system is fully compatible with the damage extent appraised by inspection.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-70
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• 2003

The motivation of this paper is to introduce the modern technology of large-scale cooling tower design. Thereby the innovative design concept for the world's largest cooling tower with a height of 200 m is briefly presented (Harte & Kr$\ddot{a}$tzig 2002, Bush et al. 2002). The new concept was considered not only for safety, but also for preservation of the durability of the structure, because cracking damage in large cooling towers in general cause extremely high cost of maintenance and repair. The paper demonstrates numerically the damage process in large cooling towers (Kr$\ddot{a}$tzig et al. 2001), and describes some basics of the numerical finite element approach for damage propagation modelling of shell structure. A prototype is analysed to trace the progressive damage process, whereby the changes in the dynamical behaviour of the structure, as mirrored in its natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes, are presented and discussed. Finally, the example shows that such damage processes develop progressively over the life-time of the shell structure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.609-626
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• 2014

The capabilities of a high-resolution Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system are presented within the context of deformation measurements of full-scale concrete columns tested under reversed cyclic loading. The system was developed to have very high-resolution such that material strains on the order of the cracking stain of concrete could be measured on the surface of full-scale structural members. The high-resolution DIC system allows the measurement of a wide range of deformations and strains that could only be inferred or assumed previously. The DIC system is able to resolve the full profiles of member curvatures, rotations, plasticity spread, shear deformations, and bar-slip induced rotations. The system allows for automatic and objective measurement of crack widths and other damage indices that are indicative of cumulated damage and required repair time and cost. DIC damage measures contrast prevailing proxy damage indices based on member force-deformation data and subjective damage measures obtained using visual inspection. Data derived from high-resolution DIC systems is shown to be of great use in advancing the state of behavioral knowledge, calibrating behavioral and analytical models, and improving simulation accuracy.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.525-540
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• 2016

The CFRP-confined circular concrete-filled steel tubular column is composed of concrete, steel, and CFRP. Its failure mechanics are complex. The most important difficulties are lack of an available method to establish a relationship between a specific damage mechanism and its acoustic emission (AE) characteristic parameter. In this study, AE technique was used to monitor the evolution of damage in CFRP-confined circular concrete-filled steel tubular columns. A fuzzy c-means method was developed to determine the relationship between the AE signal and failure mechanisms. Cluster analysis results indicate that the main AE sources include five types: matrix cracking, debonding, fiber fracture, steel buckling, and concrete crushing. This technology can not only totally separate five types of damage sources, but also make it easier to judge the damage evolution process. Furthermore, typical damage waveforms were analyzed through wavelet analysis based on the cluster results, and the damage modes were determined according to the frequency distribution of AE signals.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2747-2756
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• 2023

Reinforced Concrete (RC) shear walls are one of the civil structures in nuclear power plants to resist lateral loads such as earthquakes and wind loads effectively. Risk-informed and performance-based regulation in the nuclear industry requires considering possible accidents and determining desirable performance on structures. As a result, rather than predicting only the ultimate capacity of structures, the prediction of performances on structures depending on different damage states or various accident scenarios have increasingly needed. This study aims to develop machine-learning models predicting drifts of the RC shear walls according to the damage limit states. The damage limit states are divided into four categories: the onset of cracking, yielding of rebars, crushing of concrete, and structural failure. The data on the drift of shear walls at each damage state are collected from the existing studies, and four regression machine-learning models are used to train the datasets. In addition, the bagging ensemble method is applied to improve the accuracy of the individual machine-learning models. The developed models are to predict the drifts of shear walls consisting of various cross-sections based on designated damage limit states in advance and help to determine the repairing methods according to damage levels to shear walls.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 2023

In this study, a development of the rust formation arising from steel corrosion was modelled to quantify the structural impact in steel reinforced concrete. The interfacial gap, cover depth and diameter of steel rebar were taken for variables in modelling. It was found that the interfacial gap was the most influencing on the structural limit at steel corrosion, followed by steel diameter and cover depth. At 75 mm of cover depth with 20 mm of the steel diameter, the rust amount to reach cracking accounted for 16.95-27.69 ㎛ to 1-10 ㎛ of the interfacial gap. It was found that there was no risk of cracking and structural limit until the rust was formed within the interfacial gap. With a further formation of rust, the concrete section was successively behaved to yielding, cracking and failure. Additionally, the interfacial gap was the most dominant parameter for the rust amount to reach the cracking of concrete at the interfacial zone, whilst the cover depth had a marginal effect on cracking but had a crucial influence on the rust to failure.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.399-407
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• 2010

The flexural behaviors of two types of beam members exposed to freeze-thaw cycles were evaluated. This study aims to examine the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the behavior characteristics of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. For the purpose, a part of the beam specimens were damaged until yielding of tension reinforcement was reached, before they were exposed to 150 and 300 cycles of freeze-thaw. Cyclic tests, as well as monotonic tests, were conducted to evaluate the stiffness degradation characteristics when same cycle is repeated. The material tests showed that relative dynamic modulus of concrete exposed to 300 cycles of freeze-thaw moderately decreased to 86.8% of normal concrete, indicating that concrete used in this study has good durability against freeze and thaw damage. The results of monotonic tests showed reduction of flexural strength, ductility and stiffness of the beam specimens exposed to freeze-thaw cycles compared with those of the control speciments. In particular, BDF13 specimens, which had been subjected to artificial cracking damage, did not showed enough flexural strength to satisfy nominal moment required by current concrete structure design code. In the monotonic tests results, BF75 specimens exposed to freeze-thaw cycles showed 10% or more cyclic stiffness degradation. Therefore, it was thought that deformation of concrete in compression have to be considered in design process of members under cyclic load, such as seismic device.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.24 no.1 s.173
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• pp.156-162
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• 2000

Sensitized STS 304 stainless steel crack growth rate(CGR) in high temperature water was investigated under trapezoidal wave loading test using fracture mechanics techniques. The CGR, due to stress corrosion cracking(SCC), were systematically measured as a function of the stress intensity factor and stress. holding time under trapezoidal wave loading. In high temperature water, CGR was enhanced by a synergistic effects in combination with an aggressive environment and mechanical damage. The CGR, $(da/dN)_{env}$ was basically described as a summation of the environmentally assisted crack growth rate $(da/dN)_{SCC}$, $(da/dN)_{CF}$ and fatigue crack growth rate in air $(da/dN)air,. The CGR, $(da/dN)_{env}$, increased linearly with increasing stress holding time. The CGR, $(da/dN)_{SCC}$ decreased linearly with increasing stress holding time. Fracture surface mode varied from trans-granular cracking to inter-granular cracking with increasing stress holding time.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.21-22
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• 2009

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on flexural behavior and cracking process of concrete beams subjected to cycles of freezing and thawing after patch-repaired with strain-hardening cement composites (SHCCs). The SHCCs were reinforced with hybrid 0.75% PVA and 0.75% PE fibers. Experimental testing of concrete beams patch-repaired with SHCCs revealed that the SHCC patch-repair system without freeze thaw (FT) exposure showed average 3.31 times increased load carrying capacity and for beams exposed to 300 FT cycles, load carrying capacity increased up to 2.42 times. Cracking damage of SHCC patch-repaired beams mitigated compared to plain concrete beams but this trend decreased under FT exposure.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.895-906
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• 2015

Background: Mitigation of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) is a significant issue in the nuclear industry. Advanced nickel-based alloys with lower susceptibility have been adopted, although they do not seem to be entirely immune from PWSCC during normal operation. With regard to structural integrity assessments of the relevant components, an accurate evaluation of crack growth rate (CGR) is important. Methods: For the present study, the extended finite element method was adopted from among diverse meshless methods because of its advantages in arbitrary crack analysis. A user-subroutine based on the strain rate damage model was developed and incorporated into the crack growth evaluation. Results: The proposed method was verified by using the well-known Alloy 600 material with a reference CGR curve. The analyzed CGR curve of the alternative Alloy 690 material was then newly estimated by applying the proven method over a practical range of stress intensity factors. Conclusion: Reliable CGR curves were obtained without complex environmental facilities or a high degree of experimental effort. The proposed method may be used to assess the PWSCC resistance of nuclear components subjected to high residual stresses such as those resulting from dissimilar metal welding parts.