• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.23-37
• /
• 2010

Concrete is a heterogeneous material consisting of coarse aggregate, mortar matrix and interfacial zones at the meso level. Though studies have been done to interpret the fracture process in concrete using meso level models, not much work has been done for simulating the macroscopic behaviour of reinforced concrete structures using the meso level models. This paper presents a procedure for the mesoscopic analysis of reinforced concrete beams using a modified micro truss model. The micro truss model is derived based on the framework method and uses the lattice meshes for representing the coarse aggregate (CA), mortar matrix, interfacial zones and reinforcement bars. A simple procedure for generating a random aggregate structure is developed using the constitutive model at meso level. The study reveals the potential of the mesoscopic numerical simulation using a modified micro truss model to predict the nonlinear response of reinforced concrete structures. The modified micro truss model correctly predicts the load-deflection behaviour, crack pattern and ultimate load of reinforced concrete beams failing under different failure modes.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.673-686
• /
• 2015

R-curve based on the size effect law previously developed for geometrically similar specimens (geometry type III) is extended to geometries with variable depth (geometry type I) as well as with variable notch (geometry type II), where the R-curve is defined as the envelope of the family of critical strain energy release rates from specimens of different sizes. The results show that the extended R-curve for type I tends to be the same for different specimen configurations, while it is greatly dependent on specimen geometry in terms of the initial crack length. Furthermore, the predicted load-deflection responses from the suggested R-curve are found to agree well with the testing results on concrete and rock materials. Besides, maximum loads for type II specimen are predicted well from the extended R-curve.

• Computational Structural Engineering
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 1998

CERVENKA CONSULTING의 설립자인 Vladimir Cervenka는 1970년 미국 Colorado 대학에서 콘크리트 크랙(Concrete Crack)과 관련하여 개발되어지던 유한요소해석 프로그램을 박사학위 취득 후 체코의 Czech Technical University와 Stuttgart University에서 계속 공동 개발이 되었다. 1990년에 CERVENKA CONSULTING이라는 회사가 설립이 되었고 그 후 "SBETA"라는 콘크리트 구조의 균열(Crack), 파괴(Fracture Mechanics) 등의 비선형모델(Nonlinear Material Model)의 유한요소해석(Finite Element Analysis) 프로그램을 상용화 출시하여 그동안 여러번 version-up이 되면서 현재는 두 대학의 교수, Jana Margoldova와 Radomir Pukl가 개발에 참여하여 최근에는 SBETA 2.0이 세계 여러 나라에서 사용이 되고 있는 콘크리트 구조의 크랙 해석용 프로그램이다.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.277-290
• /
• 2023

In order to study the mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced ultra-fine fly ash concrete (BFUFARC), the effects of ultra-fine fly ash (UFA) content, basalt fiber content, basalt fiber length and water reducing agent content on the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of the composite material were studied through experimental and theoretical analysis. Also, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to analyze the mesoscopic structure in the fracture surface of composite material specimens at magnifications of 500 and 3500. Besides, the energy release rate (G_c) and surface free energy (γ_s) of crack tip cracking on BFUFARC in different basalt fiber content were studied from the perspective of fracture mechanics. Further, the cracking resistance, reinforcement, and toughening mechanisms of basalt fibers on concrete substrate were revealed by surface free energy of BFUFARC. The experimental results indicated that basalt fiber content is the main influence factor on the splitting tensile strength of BFUFARC. In case that fiber content increased from 0 to 0.3%, the concrete surface free energy at the tip of single-sided crack showed a trend of increased at first and then decreased. The surface free energy reached at maximum, about 3.59 × 10^-5 MN/m. During the process of increasing fiber content from 0 to 0.1%, G_C-2_γS showed a gradually decreasing trend. As a result, an appropriate amount of basalt fiber can play a preventing cracking role by increasing the concrete surface free energy, further effectively improve the concrete splitting tensile performance.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.4 no.5
• /
• pp.347-362
• /
• 2007

Due to heterogeneities at all scales, concrete exhibits significant variability in mechanical behavior from sample to sample. An understanding of the fundamental mechanical performance of concrete must therefore be embedded in a stochastic framework. The current work attempts to address the connection between a two-dimensional concrete mesostructure and the random local material properties associated within that mesostructure. This work builds on previous work that has focused on the random configuration of concrete mesostructures. This was accomplished by developing an understanding of the effects of variations in the mortar strength and the mortar-aggregate interfacial strength in given deterministic mesostructural configurations. The results are assessed through direct tension tests that are validated by comparing experimental results of two different, pre-arranged mesostructures, with the intent of isolating the effect of local variations in strength. Agreement is shown both in mechanical property values as well as the qualitative nature of crack initiation and propagation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.137-154
• /
• 2006

The reliable pushover analysis of RC structures requires a realistic prediction of moment-curvature relations, which can be obtained by utilizing proper constitutive models for the stress-strain relationships of laterally confined concrete members. Theoretical approach of Mander is still a single stress-strain model, which employs a multiaxial failure surface for the determination of the ultimate strength of confined concrete. Alternatively, this paper introduces a simple and practical failure criterion for confined concrete with emphasis on introduction of significant modifications into the two-parameter Drucker-Prager model. The new criterion is only applicable to triaxial compression stress state which is exactly the case in the RC columns. Unlike many existing multi-parameter criteria proposed for the concrete fracture, the model needs only the compressive strength of concrete as an independent parameter and also implies for the influence of the Lode angle on the material strength. Adopting Saenz equation for stress-strain plots, satisfactory agreement between the measured and predicted results for the available experimental test data of confined normal and high strength concrete specimens is obtained. Moreover, it is found that further work involving the confinement pressure is still encouraging since the confinement model of Mander overestimates the ultimate strength of some RC columns.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.847-864
• /
• 2015

This study aimed to develop models of sulfate diffusion and ettringite content profile in cement paste for the predication of the damage behavior in cement paste subject to external sulfate. In the models, multiphase reaction equilibrium between ions in pore solution and solid calcium aluminates phases and the microstructure changes in different positions of cement paste were taken into account. The distributions of expansive volume strain and expansion stress in cement paste were calculated based on the ettringite content profile model. In addition, more sulfate diffusion tests and SEM analyses were determined to verify the reliability and veracity of the models. As the results shown, there was a good correlation between the numerical simulation results and experimental evidences. The results indicated that the water to cement ratio (w/c) had a significant influence on the diffusion of sulfate ions, ettringite concentration profile and expansion properties in cement paste specimens. The cracking points caused by ettringite growth in cement paste specimens were predicted through numerical methods. According to the simulation results, the fracture of cement paste would be accelerated when the specimens were prepared with higher w/c or when they were exposed to sulfate solution with higher concentration.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.177-186
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study is to analyze the interface debonding of RC beams strengthened by carbon fiber sheet(CFS). The behavior of damaged RC beams strengthened with CFS is analytically investigated next using linear elastic fracture mechanics(LEFM) approach and the finite element method. The study includes an investigation of the separation mode by interface fracture of the strengthening materials due to the interfacial shear and normal stresses. The numerical method is presented to obtain the value of interfacial fracture parameter such as the strain energy release rate. Based on the results of this study, it is found that the critical case occurs when the interfacial cracks occur within a short region of the flexural crack. The CFS strengthening has not an adequate factor of safety against interfacial debonding of CFS. Furthermore, for the thicknesses of the adhesive studied[1mm~3mm], it is no noticeable effect on the strain energy release rate.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.141-153
• /
• 2023

In order to develop and take full advantage of pasture fiber and waste concrete, this article studied how different amounts of pasture fiber influenced the toughness and pore structure of concrete with different replacement rates of recycled fine aggregate. Pasture fiber recycled concrete constitutive equations were established under idealized stiffness and toughness damage rate, based on fracture energy and damage mechanics theories. The relationship between pore structure and toughness was studied utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance and fractal theory. The toughness of text groups (0% (JZ), 10% (ZS10), 20% (ZS20)) first increased and then decreased with increasing amounts of pasture fiber, based on the damage rate of toughness. The toughness of concrete samples with recycled fine aggregate and pasture fiber is negatively correlated to the fractal dimension of small and medium-sized pores with a pore size of 0-500 nm. At a replacement rate of 10% of the recycled fine aggregate, the fractal dimension of the air voids (r: 500-9000 nm, i.e., Lg(r) ∈ [2.7, 3.9]) shows a gradual decrease with the increase of grass fiber dosage, indicating that with such a replacement rate of the recycled fine aggregate, the increase of pasture fiber can reduce the complexity of the pore structure of the air voids (500-9000 nm).

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 1994.10a
• /
• pp.160-166
• /
• 1994

In general, the problems of strengthening and repairing of deteriorated or damaged reinforced concrete members are usually worked out in situ by externally bounding steel plates using epoxy resins, which has been recognized to be one of effective and convenient methods. But the disadvantages of strengthening/repairing concrete members with externally bonded steel plates include ; (a) deterioration of the bond at the steel-concrete interface caused by the corrosion of steel ; (b) difficulty in manipulating the plate at the construction site ; (c) improper formation of joints, due to the limited delivery lengths of the steel plates ; and etc. Therefore these difficulties eventually have led to the concept of replacing the steel plates by fiber-reinforced composite sheets which are characterized by their light weight, extremely high stiffness, excellent fatigue properties, and outstanding corrosion resistance. In the paper, for the reliability assessment of reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened by carbon fiber plastic(CFRP) laminates, an attempt is made to suggest a limit state model based on the strain compatibility method and the concept of fracture mechanics. And the reliability of the proposed models is evaluated by using the AFOSM method. The load carrying capacity of the deteriorated and/or damaged RC beams is considerably increased. Thus, it may be stated that the post-strengthening of concrete beams with externally bonded CFRP materials may be one of very effective way of increasing the load carrying capacity and stiffeness characteristics of existing structures.