• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.277-283
• /
• 2019

In evaluating explosion-protection capacity, safety distance is broadly accepted as the distance at which detonation of a given explosive causes acceptable structural damage. Safety distance can be calculated based on structural response under blast loading and damage criteria. For the applicability of the safety distance, the minimum required stand-off distance should be given when the explosive size is assumed. However, because of the nature of structures, structural details and material characteristics differ, which requires sensitivity analysis of the safety distance. This study examines the safety-distance sensitivity from structural and material property variations. For the safety-distance calculation, a blast analysis module based on the Kingery and Bulmash formula, a structural response module based on a Single Degree of Freedom model, and damage criteria based on a support rotation angle were prepared. Sensitivity analysis was conducted for the Reinforced Concrete one-way slab with different thicknesses, reinforcement ratios, reinforcement yield strengths, and concrete compressive strengths. It was shown that slab thickness has the most significant influence on both inertial force and flexure resistance, but the compressive strength of the concrete is not relevant.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.173-184
• /
• 2023

In this study, the flexural behaviors of one- and two-way reinforced concrete (RC) slabs strengthened with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips under impact loads were investigated. The flexural strengthening of RC slabs under simulated static monotonic loads has been comprehensively studied. However, the flexural behavior of RC slabs strengthened with CFRP strips has not been investigated extensively, particularly those conducted numerically. Nonlinear three-dimensional finite element models were developed, executed, and verified against previous experimental results, producing satisfactory models with approximately 4% error. The models were extended to a parametric study, considering three geometric parameters: the slab rectangularity ratio, CFRP strip width, and CFRP strip configuration. Finally, the main results were used to derive a new formula for predicting the total deflection of RC slabs strengthened with CFRP strips under impact loads with an error of approximately 10%. The proposed equation reflected the slab rectangularity, CFRP strip width, equivalent slab stiffness, and dropped weight. Results indicated that the use of CFRP strips enhanced the overall impact performance, the wider the CFRP width, the better the enhancement. Moreover, the application of diagonally oriented CFRP strips diminished the cracking zone compared to straight strips. Additionally, the diagonal orientation of CFRP strips was more efficient for two-way slabs while the vertical orientation was found to be better in the case of one-way slabs.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.351-363
• /
• 2023

Reducing the self-weight of reinforced concrete structures problem is discussed in this paper by using two types of self-weight reduction, the first is by using lightweight coarse aggregate (crushed brick) and the second is by using styropor block. Experimental and Numerical studies are conducted on (LWAC) lightweight aggregate reinforced concrete slabs, having styropor blocks with various sizes of blocks and the ratio of shear span to the effective depth (a/d). The experimental part included testing eleven lightweight concrete one-way simply supported slabs, comprising three as reference slabs (solid slabs) and eight as styropor block slabs (SBS) with a total reduction in cross-sectional area of (43.3% and 49.7%) were considered. The holes were formed by placing styropor at the ineffective concrete zones in resisting the tensile stresses. The length, width, and thickness of specimen dimensions were 1.1 m, 0.6 m, and 0.12 m respectively, except one specimen had a depth of 85 mm (which has a cross-sectional area equal to styropor block slab with a weight reduction of 49.7%). Two shear spans to effective depth ratios (a/d) of (3.125) for load case (A) and (a/d) of (2) for load case (B), (two-line monotonic loads) are considered. The test results showed under loading cases A and B (using minimum shear reinforcement and the reduction in cross-sectional area of styropor block slab by 29.1%) caused an increase in strength capacity by 60.4% and 54.6 % compared to the lightweight reference slab. Also, the best percentage of reduction in cross-sectional area is found to be 49.7%. Numerically, the computer program named (ANSYS) was used to study the behavior of these reinforced concrete slabs by using the finite element method. The results show acceptable agreement with the experimental test results. The average difference between experimental and numerical results is found to be (11.06%) in ultimate strength and (5.33%) in ultimate deflection.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.449-461
• /
• 2014

The use of low-ductility welded wire fabric (WWF) as a main tensile reinforcement in concrete slabs compromises the ductility of concrete structures. Lower ductility in concrete structures can lead to brittle and catastrophic failure of the structures. This paper presents the experimental study carried out on eight simply supported one-way slabs to study the structural behavior of concrete slabs reinforced with low-ductility WWF and steel fibers. The different types of steel fibers used were crimped fiber, hooked-end fiber and twincone fiber. The experimental results show that the ductility behavior of the slab specimens with low-ductility reinforcement was significantly improved with the inclusion of $40kg/m^3$ of twincone fiber. Distribution of cracks was prominent in the slabs with twincone fiber, which also indicates the better distribution of internal forces in these slabs. However, the slab reinforced only with low-ductility reinforcement failed catastrophically with a single minor crack and without appreciable deflection.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2003

In recent years, the investigation on the development of fiber reinforced plastic(FRP) Re-Bar has been greatly increased due to the attractive physical and mechanical properties of FRP. The primary reason of such a tendency is in the fact that it does not ordinarily cause durability problems such as those associated with steel reinforcement corrosion. This study is an experimental investigation on the flexural behavior of one-way concrete slabs, which can be used to construct bridge deck, reinforced with GFRP Re-Bar bundle. The tensile tests of GFRP Re-Bar produced by domestic industry and third point bending tests of one-way slab specimens reinforced with GFRP Re-Bar bundle are peformed. For all slab specimens, load-deflection relations are predicted by using the ACI committee 440 and the results are compared with experimental ones. In order to establish the design criteria or guidelines of concrete flexural member reinforced with FRP Re-Bar, it is needed to evaluate the serviceability limit state as well as the strength limit state.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.9 no.5
• /
• pp.511-527
• /
• 2020

The main aim of the current research is to investigate the flexural behavior of the reinforced concrete (RC) slabs strengthened with strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) experimentally and numerically. Seven RC slabs were prepared and tested under four-points loading test. One un-strengthened slab considered as control specimen while six RC slabs were strengthened with reinforced SHCC layers. The SHCC layers had different reinforcement ratios and different thicknesses. The results showed that the proposed strengthening techniques significantly increased the ultimate failure load and the ductility index up to 25% and 22%, respectively, compared to the control RC slab. Moreover, a three dimensional (3D) finite element model was proposed to analyze the strengthened RC slabs. It was found that the results of the proposed numerical model well agreed with the experimental responses. The validated numerical model used to study many parameters of the SHCC layer such as the reinforcement ratios and the different thicknesses. In addition, steel connectors were suggested to adjoin the concrete/SHCC interface to enhance the flexural performance of the strengthened RC slabs. It was noticed that using the SHCC layer with thickness over 40 mm changed the failure mode from the concrete cover separation to the SHCC layer debonding. Also, the steel connectors prevented the debonding failure pattern and enhanced both the ultimate failure load and the ductility index. Furthermore, a theoretical equation was proposed to predict the ultimate load of the tested RC slabs. The theoretical and experimental ultimate loads are seen to be in fairly good agreement.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.301-312
• /
• 2016

In a concrete member under pure tension, the stress in concrete is uniformly distributed over the whole concrete section. It is supposed that a local bond failure occurs at each crack, and there is a relative slip between steel and surrounding concrete. The compatibility of deformation between the concrete and reinforcement is thus not maintained. The bond transfer length is a length of reinforcement adjacent to the crack where the compatibility of strain between the steel and concrete is not maintained because of partially bond breakdown and slip. It is an empirical measure of the bond characteristics of the reinforcement, incorporating bar diameter and surface characteristics such as texture. Based on results from a series of previously conducted long-term tests on eight restrained reinforced concrete slab specimens and material properties including creep and shrinkage of two concrete batches, the ratio of final bond transfer length after all shrinkage cracking, to THE initial bond transfer length is presented.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.363-381
• /
• 2012

This study is aimed at providing an efficient analytical model to obtain pressure- impulse diagram of one-way reinforced concrete slabs subjected to different shapes of air blast loading using single degree of freedom method (SDOF). A tri-linear elastic perfectly plastic SDOF model has been used to obtain the pressure-impulse diagram to correlate the blast pressure and the corresponding concrete flexural damage. In order to capture the response history for the slab, a new approximately SDOF method based on the conventional SDOF method is proposed and validated using published test data. The influences of pulse loading shape on the pressure-impulse diagram are studied. Based on the results, a pressure-impulse diagram generation method using SDOF and an analytical equation for the pressure-impulse diagram is proposed to different damage levels and different blast loading shapes.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-23
• /
• 2023

Various efforts have been made to reduce the weight of concrete slabs while preserving their flexural strength. This will result in reducing deflection and allows the utilization of longer spans. The top zone of the slab requires concrete to create the compression block for flexural strength, and the tension zone needs concrete to join with reinforcing for flexural strength. Also, the top and bottom slab faces must be linked to transmit stresses. Voided slab systems were and are still used to make long-span slab buildings lighter. Eight slab specimens of (1000^*1000 (1000^*1000 mm²) were cast and tested as two-way simply supported slabs in this research. The tested specimens consist of one solid slab and seven voided slabs with the following variables (type of slab solid and voided), thickness of slab (100 and 125 mm), presence of steel fibers (0% and 1%), and the number of GFRP layers). The voids in slabs were made using high-density polystyrene of dimensions (200^*200^*50 mm) with a central hole of dimensions (50^*50^*50 mm) at the ineffective concrete zones to give a reduction in weight by (34% to 38%). The slabs were tested as simply supported slabs under partial uniform loading. The results of specimens subjected to monotonic loading show that the combined strengthening by steel fibers and GFRP sheets of the concrete specimen (V-125-2GF-1%) shows the least deflection, deflection (4.6 mm), good ultimate loading capacity (192 MPa), large stiffness at cracking and at ultimate (57 and 41.74) respectively, more ductility (1.44), and high energy absorption (1344.83 kN.mm); so it's the best specimen that can be used as a voided slab under this type of loading.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.563-575
• /
• 2014

Concrete which is a composite material is frequently used in construction works. Properties and behavior of concrete are significant under the effect of different loading cases. Impact loading which is a sudden dynamic one may have destructive effects on structures. Testing apparatuses are designed to investigate the impact effect on test members. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is a computational model that is inspired by the structure or functional aspects of biological neural networks. It can be defined as an emulation of biological neural system. In this study, impact parameters as acceleration and impact force values of a reinforced concrete slab are obtained by using a testing apparatus and essential test devices. Afterwards, ANN analysis which is used to model different physical dynamic processes depending on several variables is performed in the numerical part of the study. Finally, test and predicted results are compared and it's seen that ANN analysis is an alternative way to predict the results successfully.