• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.219-228
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• 2022

In this study, to improve educational motivation and learning outcomes, a mobile app using game elements was developed, and the effect of its application in rebar work education was analyzed. Using the 4F(Figure out-Focus-Fun design-Finalize) process, which is a game development model, a mobile learning app for rebar work was developed that considers the characteristics of college students familiar with smartphone use, and the app was developed in a manner that utilizes game mechanics such as learning missions and points to stimulate a learner's interest and improve educational motivation. The results show that the proposed app for rebar work is positively evaluated in terms of interface style, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, attitude toward using, and intention to use. Therefore, it can be concluded that using the learning game app for rebar work in classes can contribute to improving a learner's performance in various aspects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.275-287
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• 2023

The use of environmental-friendly building materials is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Compared to the normal concrete, rubber-based concrete is considered more durable, environmentally friendly, socially and economically viable. In this investigation, M20 grade concrete was designed and the fine aggregates were replaced with crumb rubber of two different micron sizes (0.221 mm and 0.350 mm). Fly ash (FA) and silica fume (SF) replaces the binder as supplementary cementitious materials at a rate of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% by weight. The mechanical properties of concrete including compressive strength, tensile, and flexural strength were determined. The polynomial work expectation validates the response surface approach (RSM) concept for optimizing SF and FA substitution. The maximum compressive strength (22.53 MPa) can be observed for the concrete containing 10% crumb rubber, 15% fly ash and 15% silica fume. The reduced unit weight of the rubberized concrete may be attributed to the lower specific gravity of the rubber particles. Two-way ANOVA with a significance criterion of less than 0.001 has been utilized with modest residual error from the lack of fit and the pure error. The predictive model accurately forecasts the variable-response relationship. Since, the crumb rubber is obtained from wasted tires incorporating FA and SF as a cementitious ingredient, it helps to significantly improve mechanical properties of concrete and reduce environmental degradation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2022

This work elaborately investigates the influences of the guideway geometry parameters and track irregularity on the dynamic performances of the suspended monorail vehicle-guideway system (SMVGS). Firstly, a spatial dynamic analysis model of the SMVGS is established by adopting ANSYS parameter design language. Then, the dynamic interaction between a vehicle with maximum design load and guideway is investigated by numerical simulation and field tests, revealing the vehicle-guideway dynamic features. Subsequently, the influences of the guideway geometry parameters and track irregularity on the dynamic performances of the SMVGS are analyzed and discussed in detail, and the reasonable ranges of several key geometry parameters of the guideway are also obtained. Results show that the vehicle-guideway dynamic responses change nonlinearly with an increase of the guideway span, and especially the guideway dynamic performances can be effectively improved by reducing the guideway span; based on a comprehensive consideration of all performance indices of the SMVGS, the deflection-span ratio of the suspended monorail guideway is finally recommended to be 1/1054~1/868. The train load could cause a large bending deformation of the pier, which would intensify the car-body lateral displacement and decrease the vehicle riding comfort; to well limit the bending deformation of the pier, its cross-section dimension is suggested to be more than 0.8 m×0.8 m. The addition of the track irregularity amplitude has small influences on the displacements and stress of the guideway; however, it would significantly increase the vehicle-guideway vibrations and rate of load reduction of the driving tyre.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.685-697
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• 2022

Nanotechnology has become one of the interesting technique used in material science and engineering. However, it is low used in civil engineering structures. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the static behavior of concrete plates reinforced with silica-nanoparticles. Due to agglomeration effect of silica-nanoparticles in concrete, Voigt's model is used for obtaining the equivalent nano-composite properties. Furthermore, the plate is simulated mathematically with higher order shear deformation theory. For a large use of this study, the concrete plate is assumed resting on a Pasternak elastic foundation, including a shear layer, and Winkler spring interconnected with a Kerr foundation. Using the principle of virtual work, the equilibrium equations are derived and by the mean of Hamilton's principle the energy equations are obtained. Finally, based on Navier's technique, closed-form solutions of simply supported plates have been obtained. Numerical results are presented considering the effect of different parameters such as volume percent of SiO₂ nanoparticles, mechanical loads, geometrical parameters, soil medium, on the static behavior of the plate. The most findings of this work indicate that the use of an optimum amount of SiO₂ nanoparticles on concretes increases better mechanical behavior. In addition, the elastic foundation has a significant impact on the bending of concrete slabs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.105-118
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• 2023

The present work is an attempt to develop a simple and accurate finite element formulation for the assessment of thermal shock/thermally induced vibrations in pretwisted and tapered functionally graded material thin (FGM) blades obtained from Voigt and local representative volume elements (LRVE) homogenization models, based on neutral surface approach. The neutral surface of the FGM blade does not coincide with its mid-surface. A finite element model (FEM) is developed using first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the FGM turbine blade is modelled according to the shallow shell theory. The top and the bottom layers of the FGM blade are made of pure ceramic and pure metal, respectively and temperature-dependent material properties are functionally graded in the thickness direction, the position of the neutral surface also depends on the temperature. The material properties are estimated according to two different homogenization models viz., Voigt or LRVE. The top layer of the FGM blade is subjected to high temperature and the bottom surface is either thermally insulated or kept at room temperature. The solution of the nonlinear profile of the temperature in the thickness direction is obtained from the Fourier law of heat conduction in the unsteady state. The results obtained from the present FEM are compared with the benchmark examples. Next, the effect of angle of twist, intensity of thermal shock, variable chord and span and volume fraction index on the transient response due to thermal shock obtained from the two homogenization models viz., Voigt and LRVE scheme is investigated. It is shown that there can be a significant difference in the transient response calculated by the two homogenization models for a particular set of material and geometric parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.399-415
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• 2023

This paper presents the experimental and numerical evaluations on the circular SFRC columns reinforced GFRP rebars under the axial compressive loading. The test programs were designed to inquire and compare the effects of different parameters on the columns' structural behavior by performing experiments and finite element modeling. The research variables were conventional concrete (CC), fiber concrete (FC), types of longitudinal steel/GFRP rebars, and different configurations of lateral rebars. A total of 16 specimens were manufactured and categorized into four groups based on different rebar-concrete arrangements including GRCC, GRFC, SRCC, and SRFC. Adding steel fibers (SFs) into the concrete, it was essential to modify the concrete damage plastic (CDP) model for FC columns presented in the finite element method (FEM) using ABAQUS 6.14 software. Failure modes of the columns were similar and results of peak loads and corresponding deflections of compression columns showed a suitable agreement in tests and numerical analysis. The behavior of GFRP-RC and steel-RC columns was relatively linear in the pre-peak branch, up to 80-85% of their ultimate axial compressive loads. The axial compressive loads of GRCC and GRFC columns were averagely 80.5% and 83.6% of axial compressive loads of SRCC and SRFC columns. Also, DIs of GRCC and GRFC columns were 7.4% and 12.9% higher than those of SRCC and SRFC columns. Partially, using SFs compensated up to 3.1%, the reduction of the compressive strength of the GFRP-RC columns as compared with the steel-RC columns. The effective parameters on increasing the DIs of columns were higher volumetric ratios (up to 12%), using SFs into concrete (up to 6.6%), and spiral (up to 5.5%). The results depicted that GFRP-RC columns had higher DIs and lower peak loads compared with steel-RC columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.147-165
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• 2023

The paper contrasts conventional seismic design with a design that incorporates buckling-restrained bracing in three-dimensional reinforced concrete buildings (BRBs). The suboptimal structures may be found using the multi-objective chimp optimization algorithm (MEN-ChOA). Given the constraints and dimensions, ChOA suffers from a slow convergence rate and tends to become stuck in local minima. Therefore, the ChOA is improved by niching and evolutionary operators to overcome the aforementioned problems. In addition, a new technique is presented to compute seismic and dead loads that include all of a structure's parts in an algorithm for three-dimensional frame design rather than only using structural elements. The performance of the constructed multi-objective model is evaluated using 12 standard multi-objective benchmarks proposed in IEEE congress on evolutionary computation. Second, MEN-ChOA is employed in constructing several reinforced concrete structures by the Mexico City building code. The variety of Pareto optimum fronts of these criteria enables a thorough performance examination of the MEN-ChOA. The results also reveal that BRB frames with comparable structural performance to conventional moment-resistant reinforced concrete framed buildings are more cost-effective when reinforced concrete building height rises. Structural performance and building cost may improve by using a nature-inspired strategy based on MEN-ChOA in structural design work.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.337-348
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• 2023

The optimization of reinforced concrete (RC) cantilever retaining walls is a complex problem and requires the use of advanced techniques like metaheuristic algorithms. For this purpose, an optimization model must first be developed, which involves mathematical complications, multidisciplinary knowledge, and programming skills. This task has proven to be too arduous and has halted the mainstream acceptance of optimization. Therefore, it is necessary to unravel the complications of optimization into an easily applicable form. Currently, the most commonly used method for designing retaining walls is by following the proportioning limits provided by the ACI handbook. However, these limits, derived manually, are not verified by any optimization technique. There is a need to validate or modify these limits, using optimization algorithms to consider them as optimal limits. Therefore, this study aims to propose updated proportioning limits for the economical design of a RC cantilever retaining wall through a comprehensive parametric investigation using the genetic algorithm (GA). Multiple simulations are run to examine various design parameters, and trends are drawn to determine effective ranges. The optimal limits are derived for 5 geometric and 3 reinforcement variables and validated by comparison with their predecessor, ACI's preliminary proportioning limits. The results indicate close proximity between the optimized and code-provided ranges; however, the use of optimal limits can lead to additional cost optimization. Modifications to achieve further optimization are also discussed. Besides the geometric variables, other design parameters not covered by the ACI building code, like reinforcement ratios, bar diameters, and material strengths, and their effects on cost optimization, are also discussed. The findings of this investigation can be used by experienced engineers to refine their designs, without delving into the complexities of optimization.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.167-180
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• 2023

This work applies a four-known quasi-3D shear deformation theory to investigate the bending behavior of a functionally graded plate resting on a viscoelastic foundation and subjected to hygro-thermo-mechanical loading. The theory utilizes a hyperbolic shape function to predict the transverse shear stress, and the transverse stretching effect of the plate is considered. The principle of virtual displacement is applied to obtain the governing differential equations, and the Navier method, which comprises an exponential term, is used to obtain the solution. Novel to the current study, the impact of the viscoelastic foundation model, which includes a time-dependent viscosity parameter in addition to Winkler's and Pasternak parameters, is carefully investigated. Numerical examples are presented to validate the theory. A parametric study is conducted to study the effect of the damping coefficient, the linear and nonlinear loadings, the power-law index, and the plate width-tothickness ratio on the plate bending response. The results show that the presence of the viscoelastic foundation causes an 18% decrease in the plate deflection and about a 10% increase in transverse shear stresses under both linear and nonlinear loading conditions. Additionally, nonlinear loading causes a one-and-a-half times increase in horizontal stresses and a nearly two-times increase in normal transverse stresses compared to linear loading. Based on the article's findings, it can be concluded that the viscosity effect plays a significant role in the bending response of plates in hygrothermal environments. Hence it shall be considered in the design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 2022

Due to the large number of railway bridges along China's high-speed railway (HSR) lines, which cover a wide area with many lines crossing the seismic zone, the possibility of a HSR train running over a bridge when an earthquake occurs is relatively high. Since the safety performance of the train will be threatened, it is necessary to study the safety of trains running over HSR bridges during earthquakes. However, ground motion (GM) is highly random and selecting the appropriate ground-motion intensity measures (IMs) for train running safety analysis is not trivial. To deal this problem, a model of a coupled train-bridge system under seismic excitation was established and 104 GM samples were selected to evaluate the correlation between 16 different IMs and train running safety over HSR bridges during earthquakes. The results show that spectral velocity (SvT₁) and displacement (SdT₁) at the fundamental period of the structure have good correlation with train running safety for medium-and long-period HSR bridges, and velocity spectrum intensity (VSI) and Housner intensity (HI) have good correlation for a wide range of structural periods. Overall, VSI and HI are the optimal IMs for safety analysis of trains running over HSR bridges during earthquakes. Finally, based on VSI and HI, the IM thresholds of an HSR bridge at different speed were analyzed.