• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.529-541
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• 2016

Under the interaction between dam body, dam foundation and external environment, the dam structural behavior presents the time-varying nonlinear characteristics. According to the prototypical observations, the correct identification on above nonlinear characteristics is very important for dam safety control. It is difficult to implement the description, analysis and diagnosis for dam structural behavior by use of any linear method. Based on the rescaled range analysis approach, the algorithm is proposed to identify and extract the fractal feature on observed dam structural behavior. The displacement behavior of one actual dam is taken as an example. The fractal long-range correlation for observed displacement behavior is analyzed and revealed. The feasibility and validity of the proposed method is verified. It is indicated that the mechanism evidence can be provided for the prediction and diagnosis of dam structural behavior by using the fractal identification method. The proposed approach has a high potential for other similar applications.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1305-1322
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• 2016

This paper presents the results of experimental and numerical model analyses on partially encased composite columns under concentric loads. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of replacing the conventional longitudinal and transverse steel bars by welded wire mesh on the structural behavior of these members under concentric loads. To achieve these goals experimental tests on four specimens of partially encased composite columns submitted to axial loading were performed and the results were promising in terms of replacing the traditional reinforcement by steel meshes. In addition, a numerical FE model was developed using the software DIANA$^{(R)}$ with FX+. The experimental results were used to validate the numerical model. Satisfactory agreement between experimental and numerical results was observed in both capacity and deformability of the composite columns. Despite of the simplifying assumptions of perfect bond between steel and concrete, the numerical model adequately represented the columns behavior. A finite element parametric study was performed and parameters including thickness of the steel profile and the concrete and steel strengths were evaluated. The parametrical study results found no significant changes in the partially encased columns behavior due to variations of the steel profile thickness or yield strength. However, significant changes in the post peak behavior were observed when using high strength concrete and these results suggest a change in the failure mode.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3-18
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• 2012

Observed wall damage in recent earthquakes in Chile and New Zealand, where modern building codes exist, exceeded expectations. In these earthquakes, structural wall damage included boundary crushing, reinforcement fracture, and global wall buckling. Recent laboratory tests also have demonstrated inadequate performance in some cases, indicating a need to review code provisions, identify shortcomings and make necessary revisions. Current modeling approaches used for slender structural walls adequately capture nonlinear flexural behavior; however, strength loss due to buckling of reinforcement and nonlinear and shear-flexure interaction are not adequately captured. Additional research is needed to address these issues. Recent tests of reinforced concrete coupling beams indicate that diagonally-reinforced beams detailed according to ACI 318-$11^1$ can sustain plastic rotations of about 6% prior to significant strength loss and that relatively simple modeling approaches in commercially available computer programs are capable of capturing the observed responses. Tests of conventionally-reinforced beams indicate less energy dissipation capacity and strength loss at approximately 4% rotation.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.271-290
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• 2014

In this study, structural irregularities in plan, which has a considerable effect on earthquake behavior of buildings, have been investigated in detail based on Turkish Earthquake Code 2007. The study consists of six main parametric models and a total of 144 sub-models that are grouped based on RC structural systems such as frame, frame + rigid core, frame with shear wall, and frame with shear wall + rigid core. All models are designed to have both symmetrical plan geometry and regular rigidity distribution. Changes in the earthquake behavior of buildings were evaluated according to the number of storeys, number of axes and the configuration of structural elements. Many findings are obtained and assessed as a result of the analysis for each structural irregularity. The study shows that structural irregularities can be observed in completely symmetric buildings in terms of plan geometry and rigidity distribution.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.2
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• pp.211-227
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• 2020

The contribution of infill wall is generally not considered in the structural analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) structures due to the lack of knowledge of the complex behavior of the infilled frame of RC structures. However, one of the significant factors affecting structural behavior and earthquake performance of RC structures is the infill wall. Considering structural and architectural features of RC structures, any infill wall may have openings with different amounts and aspect ratios. In the present study, the influence of infill walls with different opening rates on the structural behaviors and earthquake performance of existing RC structures were evaluated. Therefore, the change in the opening ratio in the infill wall has been investigated for monitoring the change in structural behavior and performance of the RC structures. The earthquake performance levels of existing RC structures with different structural properties were determined by detecting the damage levels of load-carrying components. The results of the analyzes indicate that the infill wall can completely change the distribution of column and beam damage level. It was observed that the openings in the walls had serious impact on the parameters affecting the behavior and earthquake performance of the RC structures. The infill walls have a beneficial effect on the earthquake performance of RC structures, provided they are placed regularly and there are appropriate openings rate throughout the RC structures and they do not cause structural irregularities.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.95-113
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• 2015

The knowledge of the behavior of any roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam and its foundation is gained by studying the service action of the dam and its foundation using measurements of an external and internal nature. The information by which a continuing assurance of structural safety of the RCC dam can be gauged is of primary importance. Similarly, the fact that the information on structural and thermal behavior and the properties of concrete that may be used to give added criteria for use in the design of future RCC dams is of secondary importance. Wide spread attention is now being given to the installation of more expensive instrumentation for studying the behavior of concrete dams and reservoirs and forecasting of any adverse trends. In view of this, the paper traces installation and need of the comprehensive instrumentation scheme implemented to monitor the structural and thermal behavior of 102.4 m high RCC dam constructed near Mumbai in India. An attempt is made in the present paper to emphasize the need to undertake an instrumentation program and evaluate their performance during construction and post construction stage of RCC structures. Few typical results, regarding the thermal and structural behavior of the dam, obtained through instrumentation installed at the dam site are presented and compared with the design considerations. The fair agreement is seen in the response observed through instrumentation with that governing the design criteria.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.569-589
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• 2007

This paper presents an analytical model for RC beam-column connections that takes into account bond deterioration between reinforcing steel and concrete. The model is based on the Lumped Damage Mechanics (LDM) theory which allows for the characterization of cracking, degradation and yielding, and is extended in this paper by the inclusion of the slip effect as observed in those connections. Slip is assumed to be lumped at inelastic hinges. Thus, the concept of "slip hinge", based on the Coulomb friction plasticity theory, is formulated. The influence of cracking on the slip behavior is taken into account by using two concepts of LDM: the effective moment on an inelastic hinge and the strain equivalence hypothesis. The model is particularly suitable for wide beam-column connections for which bond deterioration dominates the hysteretic response. The model was evaluated by the numerical simulation of five tests reported in the literature. It is found that the model reproduces closely the observed behavior.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.1579-1586
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• 2020

Dissimilar metal joints (DMJs) are more common in the application of piping system of many industries. A 2- D and 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out on dissimilar metal Single Edged Notch Bending (DMSENB) specimens fabricated from ferritic steel, austenitic steel and Inconel - 182 alloy to study the behavior of DMJs with constraints by using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) principles. Studies on DMSENB specimens are conducted with respect to (i) dissimilar metal joint width (DMJW) (geometrical constraints) (5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm and 50 mm) (ii) strength mismatch (material constraints) and (iii) crack lengths (16 mm, 20 mm and 24 mm) to study the DMJ behavior. From the FEA investigation, it is observed that (i) SIF increases with increase of crack length and DMJWs (ii) significant constraint effect (geometry, crack tip and strength mismatch) is observed for DMJWs of 5 mm and 10 mm (iii) stress distribution at the interfaces of DMSENB specimen exhibits clear indication of strength mismatch (iv) 3-D FEA yields realistic behavior (v) constraint effect is found to be significant if DMJW is less than 20 mm and the ratio of specimen length to the DMJW is greater than 7.4.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.629-634
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• 2000

Comparing with single structure constructed with reinforced concrete or steel, composite structures have a great advantage. However, in case of nuclear power structure, the application of a conventional single structure (reinforced concrete or steel structure) inflicts a heavy loss on a economical and constructive efficiency. But, the application of composite slab to nuclear power structure could compensate these deficiency. Therefore, in this study, the structural behavior of composite slab in nuclear power structure is observed to assure economical and constructive efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.514-519
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• 2004

The paper discusses the general behavior of fire-damaged slender reinforced concrete columns on the basis of results obtained from parametric studies. Effects of slenderness ratio, concrete strength, cover thickness, reinforcement ratios, exposed time to fire, and eccentricity on the ultimate capacity of fire-damaged column are theoretically observed. With the increase of slenderness ratio, similar tendency of relative strength reduction was observed between fire-damaged columns and columns at room temperature.