• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.415-433
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• 2015

Tendon failures in bonded post-tensioned bridges over the last two decades have motivated ongoing investigations on various aspects of unbonded tendons and their monitoring methods. Recent research shows that change of strain distribution in anchor heads can be useful in detecting wire breakage in unbonded construction. Based on this strain variation, this paper develops a damage detection model that enables an automated tendon monitoring system to identify and locate wire breaks. The first part of this paper presents an experimental program conducted to study the strain variation in anchor heads by generating wire breaks using a mechanical device. The program comprised three sets of tests with fully populated 19-strand anchor head and evaluated the levels of strain variation with number of wire breaks in different strands. The sensitivity of strain variation with wire breaks in circumferential and radial directions of anchor head in addition to the axial direction (parallel to the strand) were investigated and the measured axial strains were found to be the most sensitive. The second part of the paper focuses on formulating the wire breakage detection framework. A finite element model of the anchorage assembly was created to demonstrate the algorithm as well as to investigate the asymmetric strain distribution observed in experimental results. In addition, as almost inevitably encountered during tendon stressing, the effects of differential wedge seating on the proposed model have been analyzed. A sensitivity analysis has been performed at the end to assess the robustness of the model with random measurement errors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.555-561
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• 2024

This paper derives material properties of steel bars that simulate the distribution of stress and strain of prestressed tendons used in Prestressed concrete(PSC) girders and presents an optimal material model. ABAQUS software was used to establish the 3D solid model of the PSC girder and strand wire rope for a PS(Prestressed) tendon. Then the model of steel wire rope was imported into the Isight interface plugin directly through the ABAQUS and the Data Matching. In ABAQUS, the contact pairs were established, the models were meshed, the constraints were applied to solve the finite element model and an axial tension of 0.5m/s was loaded to analyze the stress and deformation distributions in the normal working range of the PS strand wire rope. In Data Matching, classical experimental data is fitted to the optimal material properties through finite element analysis and multi-objective optimization. The results show that the steel bar with optimal material properties presents a similar linear area and stress distribution with the PS tendon.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.129-155
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• 2022

In this study, parametric analyses on a hoop-type PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate) interface are performed to estimate the effects of the PZT interface's materials and geometries on sensitivities of impedance responses under strand breakage. The paper provides a guideline for installing the PZT interface suitable in tendon anchorages for damage-sensitive impedance signatures. Firstly, the concept of the PZT interface-based impedance monitoring technique in prestressed tendon anchorage is briefly described. A FE (finite element) analysis is conducted on a multi-strands anchorage equipped with a hoop-type PZT interface for analyzing materials and geometric effects. Various material properties, geometric sizes of the interface, and PZT sensor are simulated under two states of prestressing force for acquiring impedance responses. Changes in impedance signals are statistically quantified to analyze the effect of these factors on damage-sensitive impedance monitoring in the tendon anchorage. Finally, experimental analyses are performed to demonstrate the effects of materials and geometrical properties of the PZT interface on damage-sensitive impedance monitoring.