• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.365-368
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• 2006

RBSN Method, Rigid-Body-Spring Network Method, is a structural analysis method that overcomes the problems faced in FEM analysis of concrete or crack forming structures. In RBSN, irregular lattices are used to model structural components consisting of bulk material, curvilinear reinforcements, and their interfaces. Because reinforcements and their interfaces in the bulk material are freely positioned, meshing is irrespective of the geometry of the representing bulk material. In this paper, RBSN method of 3D is applied in simulating the pull-out test of FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) embedded in concrete. The comparison of analysis results to experimental results shows that RBSN method simulates the shear-slip behavior very precisely. From the analysis results, 3D RBSN method is proven to be an effective and accurate analysis method for concrete structural analysis. Also, the results show that RBSN method can be a potential analysis method for concrete structures that can replace the current FEM analysis.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2021

Relative to the outer surface of the mastic coating, the reliability of the available waterproofing resource is determined by the ability to stabilize the structural characteristics in difficult climatic conditions. Organic components of mastic as a result of solar radiation, elevated temperatures and their alternating change, atmospheric oxidants, especially in industrial areas, have a tendency to self-polymerization and loss of low molecular weight components. This is the gradual loss of deformability and the transition to brittleness with its tendency to crack as the reasons for the gradual transition from normal to emergency operating condition.The presented mechanism of functioning of the coating surface indicates the expediency of increasing its components, able to stabilize the structure and prevent changes in deformability.Durability, hydrophobicity, water displacement, water absorption are accepted as estimating indicators. The main dependences of the influence of the lost additional components of mastic on the operational properties of the formed coating characterize the ability to provide successful resistance to environmental influences and longer stability. As a result, mastic acquires additional service life.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-154
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• 2023

Obscured structural members are mostly under-evaluated during condition assessment due to lack of visual inspection capability. Insufficient information about the integrity of these structural members poses a significant risk for public safety. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is a novel approach in structural health monitoring (SHM). Ordinary coaxial cables "as is" without a major modification are not suitable for SHM with TDR. The objective of this study is to propose a practical and cost-effective modification approach to commercially available coaxial cables in order to use them as a "cable sensor" for damage detection with the TDR equipment for obscured structural members. The experimental validation and assessment of the proposed modification approach was achieved by conducting 3-point bending tests of the model piles as a representative obscured structural member. It can be noted that the RG59/U-6 and RG6/U-4 cable sensors expose higher strain sensitivity in comparison with non-modified "as is" versions of the cables used. As a result, the cable sensors have the capability of sensing both the presence and the location of a structural damage with a maximum aberration of 3 cm. Furthermore, the crack development can be monitored by the RG59/U-6 cable sensor with a simple calibration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1982-1992
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• 2019

The alkaliphilic, calcium carbonate precipitating Bacillus sp. strain AK13 can be utilized in concrete for self-repairing. A statistical experimental design was used to develop an economical medium for its mass cultivation and sporulation. Two types of screening experiment were first conducted to identify substrates that promote the growth of the AK13 strain: the first followed a one-factor-at-a-time factorial design and the second a two-level full factorial design. Based on these screening experiments, barley malt powder and mixed grain powder were identified as the substrates that most effectively promoted the growth of the AK13 strain from a range of 21 agricultural products and by-products. A quadratic statistical model was then constructed using a central composite design and the concentration of the two substrates was optimized. The estimated growth and sporulation of Bacillus sp. strain AK13 in the proposed medium were 3.08 ± 0.38 × 10⁸ and 1.25 ± 0.12 × 10⁸ CFU/ml, respectively, which meant that the proposed low-cost medium was approximately 45 times more effective than the commercial medium in terms of the number of cultivatable bacteria per unit price. The spores were then powdered via a spray-drying process to produce a spore powder with a spore count of 2.0 ± 0.7 × 10⁹ CFU/g. The AK13 spore powder was mixed with cement paste, yeast extract, calcium lactate, and water. The yeast extract and calcium lactate generated the highest CFU/ml for AK13 at a 0.4:0.4 ratio compared to 0.4:0.25 (the original ratio of the B4 medium) and 0.4:0.8. Twenty-eight days after the spores were mixed into the mortar, the number of vegetative cells and spores of the AK13 strain had reached 10⁶ CFU/g within the mortar. Cracks in the mortar under 0.29 mm were healed in 14 days. Calcium carbonate precipitation was observed on the crack surface. The mortar containing the spore powder was thus concluded to be effective in terms of healing micro-cracks.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.163-177
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• 2023

Complex and intricate preparation techniques, the imperative for utmost precision and sensitivity in instrumentation, premature sample failure, and fragile specimens collectively contribute to the arduous task of measuring the fracture toughness of concrete in the laboratory. The objective of this research is to introduce and refine an equation based on the gene expression programming (GEP) method to calculate the fracture toughness of reinforced concrete, thereby minimizing the need for costly and time-consuming laboratory experiments. To accomplish this, various types of reinforced concrete, each incorporating distinct ratios of fibers and additives, were subjected to diverse loading angles relative to the initial crack (α) in order to ascertain the effective fracture toughness (Keff) of 660 samples utilizing the central straight notched Brazilian disc (CSNBD) test. Within the datasets, six pivotal input factors influencing the Keff of concrete, namely sample type (ST), diameter (D), thickness (t), length (L), force (F), and α, were taken into account. The ST and α parameters represent crucial inputs in the model presented in this study, marking the first instance that their influence has been examined via the CSNBD test. Of the 660 datasets, 460 were utilized for training purposes, while 100 each were allotted for testing and validation of the model. The GEP model was fine-tuned based on the training datasets, and its efficacy was evaluated using the separate test and validation datasets. In subsequent stages, the GEP model was optimized, yielding the most robust models. Ultimately, an equation was derived by averaging the most exemplary models, providing a means to predict the Keff parameter. This averaged equation exhibited exceptional proficiency in predicting the Keff of concrete. The significance of this work lies in the possibility of obtaining the Keff parameter without investing copious amounts of time and resources into the CSNBD test, simply by inputting the relevant parameters into the equation derived for diverse samples of reinforced concrete subject to varied loading angles.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.261-272
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• 2020

A novel precast concrete-encased steel composite beam, which can be abbreviated as PCES beam, is introduced in this paper. In order to investigate the shear behavior of this PCES beam, a test of eight full-scale PCES beam specimens was carried out, in which the specimens were subjected to positive bending moment or negative bending moment, respectively. The factors which affected the shear behavior, such as the shear span-to-depth aspect ratio and the existence of concrete flange, were taken into account. During the test, the load-deflection curves of the test specimens were recorded, while the crack propagation patterns together with the failure patterns were observed as well. From the test results, it could be concluded that the tested PCES beams could all exhibit ductile shear behavior, and the innovative shear connectors between the precast concrete and cast-in-place concrete, namely the precast concrete transverse diaphragms, were verified to be effective. Then, based on the shear deformation compatibility, a theoretical model for predicting the shear capacity of the proposed PCES beams was put forward and verified to be valid with the good agreement of the shear capacities calculated using the proposed method and those from the experiments. Finally, in order to facilitate the preliminary design in practical applications, a simplified calculation method for predicting the shear capacity of the proposed PCES beams was also put forward and validated using available test results.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.820-828
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• 2003

Recent research has indicated that the current ACI shear provision provides unconservative predictions for large slender beams and beams with low level of longitudinal reinforcement, and conservative results for deep beams. To modify some problems of ACI shear provision, ultimate shear strength equation considering size effect and arch action to compute shear strength in high-strength concrete beams without stirrups is presented in this research. Three basic equations, namely size reduction factor, rho factor, and arch action factor, are derived from crack band model of fracture mechanics, analysis of previous some shear equations for longitudinal reinforcement ratio, and concrete strut described as linear prism in strut-tie model deep beams. Constants of basic equations are determined using statistical analysis of previous shear testing data. To verify proposed shear equation for each variable, effective depth, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, concrete compressive strength and shear span-to-depth ratio, about 300 experimental data are used and proposed shear equation is compared with ACI 318-99 code, CEB-FIP Model code, Kim &Park's equation and Zsutty's equation. The proposed shear equation is not only simpler than other shear equations, it is but also shown to be economical predictions and reasonable safety margin. Hence proposed shear strength equation is expected to be applied to practical shear design.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.253-267
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• 2016

The stability of surrounding rock will be poor when the tunnel is excavated through nearly horizontal stratum. In this paper, the instability mechanism of local nearly horizontal stratum in super-large section and deep buried tunnel is revealed by the analysis of the macro failure and micro fracture. A structural model is proposed to explain the mechanics of surrounding rock collapse under the action of stress redistribution and shed light on the macroscopic analytical approach of the stability of surrounding rock. Then, some highly effective formulas applied in the tunnel engineering are developed according to the theory of mixed-mode micro fracture. And well-documented field case is made to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed analytical methods of mixed-mode fracture. Meanwhile, in order to make the more accurate judgment about yield failure of rock mass, a series of comprehensive failure criteria are formed. In addition, the relationship between the nonlinear failure criterion and $K_I$ and $K_{II}$ of micro fracture is established to make the surrounding rock failure criterion more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the influence of the parameters related to the tension-shear mixed-mode fracture and compression-shear mixed-mode fracture on the propagation of rock crack is analyzed. Results show that ${\sigma}_3$ changes linearly with the change of ${\sigma}_1$. And the change rate is related to ${\beta}$, angle between the cracks and ${\sigma}_1$. The proposed simple analytical approach is economical and efficient, and suitable for the analysis of local nearly horizontal stratum in super-large section and deep buried tunnel.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.997-1016
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• 2015

The contribution of tensioned concrete between cracks (tension-stiffening) cannot be ignored when analysing deformation of reinforced concrete elements. The tension-stiffening effect is crucial when it comes to adequately estimating the load-deformation response of steel reinforced concrete and the more recently appeared fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete. This paper presents a unified methodology for numerical modelling of the tension-stiffening effect in steel as well as FRP reinforced flexural members using the concept of equivalent deformation modulus and the smeared crack approach to obtain a modified stress-strain relation of the reinforcement. A closed-form solution for the equivalent secant modulus of deformation of the tensioned reinforcement is proposed for rectangular sections taking the Eurocode 2 curvature prediction technique as the reference. Using equations based on general principles of structural mechanics, the main influencing parameters are obtained. It is found that the ratio between the equivalent stiffness and the initial stiffness basically depends on the product of the modular ratio and reinforcement ratio ($n{\rho}$), the effective-to-total depth ratio (d/h), and the level of loading. The proposed methodology is adequate for numerical modelling of tension-stiffening for different FRP and steel reinforcement, under both service and ultimate conditions. Comparison of the predicted and experimental data obtained by the authors indicates that the proposed methodology is capable to adequately model the tension-stiffening effect in beams reinforced with FRP or steel bars within wide range of loading.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 2012

At mesoscale, concrete is considered as a three-phase composite material consisting of the aggregate particles, the cement matrix and the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The reconstruction of the internal structures for concrete composites requires the identification of the boundary of the aggregate particles and the cement matrix using digital imaging technology followed by post-processing through MATLAB. A parameter study covers the subsection transformation, median filter, and open and close operation of the digital image sample to obtain the optimal parameter for performing the image processing technology. The subsection transformation is performed using a grey histogram of the digital image samples with a threshold value of [120, 210] followed by median filtering with a $16{\times}16$ square module based on the dimensions of the aggregate particles and their internal impurity. We then select a "disk" tectonic structure with a specific radius, which performs open and close operations on the images. The edges of the aggregate particles (similar to the original digital images) are obtained using the canny edge detection method. The finite element model at mesoscale can be established using the proposed image processing technology. The location of the crack determined through the numerical method is identical to the experimental result, and the load-displacement curve determined through the numerical method is in close agreement with the experimental results. Comparisons of the numerical and experimental results show that the proposed image processing technology is highly effective in reconstructing the internal structures of concrete composites.