• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.807-819
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• 2019

In recent earthquakes, the failure of ceiling systems has been one of the most widely reported damage and the major cause of functionality interruption in some buildings. In an effort to mitigate this damage, some scholars have studied a series of ceiling systems including plaster ceilings and mineral wool ceilings. But few studies have involved the backdrop metal ceiling used in some important constructions with higher rigidity and frequency such as the main control area of nuclear power plants. Therefore, in order to evaluate its seismic performance, a full-scale backdrop metal ceiling system, including steel runners and metal panels, was designed, fabricated and installed in a steel frame in this study. And the backdrop metal ceiling system with two perimeter attachments variants was tested: (i) the ends of the runners were connected with the angle steel to form an effective lateral constraint around the backdrop metal ceiling, (ii) the perimeter attachments of the main runner were retained, but the perimeter attachments of the cross runner were removed. In the experiments, different damage of the backdrop metal ceiling system was observed in detail under various earthquakes. Results showed that the backdrop metal ceiling had good integrity and excellent seismic performance. And the perimeter attachments of the cross runner had an adverse effect on the seismic performance of the backdrop metal ceiling under earthquakes. Meanwhile, a series of seismic construction measures and several suggestions that need to be paid attention were proposed in the text so that the backdrop metal ceiling can be better applied in the main control area of nuclear power plants and other important engineering projects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.715-728
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• 2022

A new type of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) with a longitudinally profiled steel plate working as the core (LPBRB) is proposed and experimentally investigated. Different from conventional BRBs with a constant thickness core, both stiffness and strength of the longitudinally profiled steel core along its longitudinal direction can change through itself variable thickness, thus the construction of LPBRB saves material and reduces the processing cost. Four full-scale component tests were conducted under quasi-static cyclic loading to evaluate the seismic performance of LPBRB. Three stiffening methods were used to improve the fatigue performance of LPBRBs, which were bolt-assembled T-shaped stiffening ribs, partly-welded stiffening ribs and stiffening segment without rib. The experimental results showed LPBRB specimens displayed stable hysteretic behavior and satisfactory seismic property. There was no instability or rupture until the axial ductility ratio achieved 11.0. Failure modes included the out-of-plane buckling of the stiffening part outside the restraining member and core plate fatigue fracture around the longitudinally profiled segment. The effect of the stiffening methods on the fatigue performance is discussed. The critical buckling load of longitudinally profiled segment is derived using Euler theory. The local bulging behavior of the outer steel tube is analyzed with an equivalent beam model. The design recommendations for LPBRB are presented finally.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.13-21
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• 2006

Geosynthetic damage has attracted a major attention since the introduction of geotextiles for civil engineering applications. In this study 3 pilot trial embankments were carried out to investigate the behaviours of reinforced embankments over soft cohesive soils and to find the optimum methodology of embankments over soft soils. As the seamed part of polyester mat (PET, tensile strength 15 ton) used in the first full-scale field test was ruptured under progressing rotational slope failure because of unexpectedly rapid construction of embankments, the excessive pore water pressures were measured. On the soil behavior where tension explosion of mat was continued, pore pressure larger than the one caused by embankment height was measured. Especially, at the depth of 5.0 m under the ground pore pressure increased over long term. It was discussed with respect to the height of embankment and heaving behavior of soft soils.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2010

This study was programmed to fabricate a beam-to-column connection that is limited to a steel-welded moment connection with full-scale members, using SN steel. A cyclic seismic test was conducted of the nine specimens that were fabricated by choosing the test variable for the weld access hole geometry, connection design method, and RBS. From the test results, failure modes, the moment-drift behavior, and the strain distribution were provided. From the specimen material properties, the beam's nominal plastic flexural capacity and classified qualified connection as a special moment flame were calculated. By analyzing the skeleton part and the baushinger part, a range of strength-raising effects, and deformation ratios were provided, with which the seismic performance of the specimens were evaluated. The test results showed that the specimens eliminated their weld access holes that demonstrated higher seismic performance than the specimens' existing weld access holes, and that the WUF-W connection that was reinforced by the supplemental fillet weld around the shear tap that was fastened by five bolts demonstrated superior seismic performance.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.431-439
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• 2009

These days the amount of demolished concrete waste has been increasing due to reconstruction and redevelopment of aged buildings. So the use of recycled aggregates is recommended to solve environmental problems. Some investigations have been carried out to study the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams with recycled aggregates. But these have some limitation due to the use of low quality recycled aggregates and small-scale specimens in the laboratory. The purpose of this experimental study is to evaluate the flexural behavior of simply supported RC beams subjected to four-point monotonic loading and made with recycled aggregates. Seven full-scale RC beams were manufactured with different replacement level of recycled aggregates. The main parameters of the study are combination of aggregates. From the test results, the flexural behavior of the beam is described in terms of crack patterns and failure modes. And the flexural strength of RC beam with different types of recycled coarse aggregates and recycled fine aggregates is compared with the provision of KCI code.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.503-514
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• 2011

In this research, the seismic connection details for two concrete-filled U-shape steel beam-to-H columns were proposed and cyclically tested under a full-scale cruciform configuration. The key connecting components included the U-shape steel section (450 and 550 mm deep for specimens A and B, respectively), a concrete floor slab with a ribbed deck (165 mm deep for both specimens), welded couplers and rebars for negative moment transfer, and shear studs for full composite action and strengthening plates. Considering the unique constructional nature of the proposed connection, the critical limit states, such as the weld fracture, anchorage failure of the welded coupler, local buckling, concrete crushing, and rebar buckling, were carefully addressed in the specimen design. The test results showed that the connection details and design methods proposed in this study can well control the critical limit states mentioned above. Especially, the proposed connection according to the strengthening strategy successfully pushed the plastic hinge to the tip of the strengthened zone, as intended in the design, and was very effective in protecting the more vulnerable beam-to-column welded joint. The maximum story drift capacities of 6.0 and 6.8% radians were achieved in specimens A and B, respectively, thus far exceeding the minimumlimit of 4% radians required of special moment frames. Low-cycle fatigue fracture across the beam bottom flange at a 6% drift level was the final failure mode of specimen A. Specimen B failed through the fracture of the top splice plate of the bolted splice at a very high drift ratio of 8.0% radian.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.491-497
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• 2014

The corrosion of steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete bridge decks significantly affects the degradation of the capacity. Due to the advantageous characteristics such as high tensile strength and non-corrosive property, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) has been gathering much interest from designers and engineers for possible usage as a alternative reinforcement for a steel reinforcing bar. However, its application has not been widespread, because there data for short- and long-term performance data of FRP reinforced concrete members are insufficient. In this paper, seven full-scale decks with dimensions of $4000{\times}3000{\times}240mm$ were prepared and tested to failure in the laboratory. The test parameter was the bottom reinforcement ratio in transverse direction. The decks were subjected to various levels of concentrated cyclic load with a contact area of $577{\times}231mm$ to simulate the vehicle loading of DB-24 truck wheel loads acting on the center span of the deck. It was observed that the glass FRP (GFRP) reinforced deck on a restraint girder is strongly effected to the level of the applied load rather than the bottom reinforcement ratio. The study results showed that the maximum load less than 58% of the maximum static load can be applied to the deck to resist a fatigue load of 2 million cycles. The fatigue life of the GFRP decks from this study showed the lower and higher fatigue performance than that of ordinary steel and CFRP rebar reinforced concrete deck. respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.809-820
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• 2008

A new modified full scale double tee slabs with the length of nib plate - 1,500 mm were suggested, designed, and experimentally evaluated up to the loading of flexural failure. This slabs were composed of the tee section which was same to original PCI double tee and the plate section which was modified in a new shape, and the prestressing force was applied at the bottom of tee section only. This specimens were made from the domestic precast factory. The safety and serviceability of the modified nib plate with the dapped ends were evaluated up to the ultimate flexural strength of tee section. As the experimental loading increased, the flexural crackings developed first in the bottom of the slab and they changed to the increased flexural shear and inclined shear crackings in the nib and dapped portion of the double tees. The suggested modified double tee slabs failed in ductile above the design loading with many evenly distributed flexural crackings. The thickness of nib plate - 250 mm does not show any cracking under the service loading and show several minor flexural cracking up to the ultimate state of tee portion. The proposed specimens were satisfied with the strength and ductility requirements in the design code provisions in the tests. Additional experimental tests are required to reduce the depth and tensile reinforcement of nib plate concrete for the practical use of this system effectively.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2017

As per current seismic design codes, diagonally reinforced coupling beams are restricted to coupling beams having aspect ratio below 4. However, a grouped diagonally reinforcement detail makes distribution of steel bars in the beam much harder, furthermore it may result in poor construction quality. This paper describes the experimental results of concrete coupling beam reinforced with high-strength steel bars (SD500 & SD600 grades). In order to improve workability for fabricating coupling beams, a headed large diameter steel bar was used in this study. Two full-scale coupling beams were fabricated and tested with variables of reinforcement details and aspect ratio. To reflect real behavior characteristic of the beam coupling shear walls, a rigid steel frame system with linked joints was set on the reaction floor. As a test result, it was noted that cracking and yielding of reinforcement were initially progressed at the coupling beam-to-shear wall joint, and were progressed to the mid-span of the coupling beam, based on the steel strain and failure modes. It was found that the coupling beams have sufficient deformation capacity for drift ratio of shear wall corresponding to the design displacement in FEMA 450-1. In this study, the headed horizontal steel bar was also efficient for coupling beams to exhibit shear performance required by seismic design codes. For detailed design for coupling beam reinforced with high-strength steel, however, research about the effect of variable aspect ratios on the structural behavior of coupling beam is suggested.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.83-91
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• 2021

In this study, to improve the connection performance between the existing reinforced concrete (R/C) frame and the strengthening member, we proposed a new H-section steel frame with elastic pad (HSFEP) system for seismic rehabilitation of existing medium-to-low-rise reinforced concrete (R/C) buildings. This HSFEP strengthening system exhibits an excellent connection performance because an elastic pad is installed between the existing structure and reinforcing frame. The method shows a strength design approach implemented via retrofitting, to easily increase the ultimate lateral load capacity of R/C buildings lacking seismic data, which exhibit shear failure mechanism. Two full-size two-story R/C frame specimens were designed based on an existing R/C building in Korea lacking seismic data, and then strengthened using the HSFEP system; thus, one control specimen and one specimen strengthened with the HSFEP system were used. Pseudodynamic tests were conducted to verify the effects of seismic retrofitting, and the earthquake response behavior with use of the proposed method, in terms of the maximum response strength, response displacement, and degree of earthquake damage compared with the control R/C frame. Test results revealed that the proposed HSFEP strengthening method, internally applied to the R/C frame, effectively increased the lateral ultimate strength, resulting in reduced response displacement of R/C structures under large scale earthquake conditions.