• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2013

There is an abundance of research on the strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structural elements such as beams, columns and slabs with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Less research by comparison has been conducted on the strengthening of RC beam-column connections and the majority of such research has been predominantly experimental to date. Few existing experimental studies have reported extensive instrumentation of test specimens which in turn makes understanding the behavior of the connections and especially the contributions made by the FRP difficult to ascertain. In addition, there has been even more limited research on the analytical and numerical modelling of FRP-strengthened connections. In this paper, detailed descriptions of key strategies to model FRP-strengthened RC connections with finite elements are provided. An extensively instrumented and comprehensively documented set of experiments on FRP-strengthened connections is firstly presented and finite element models are then constructed using ANSYS. The study shows that the finite element approach is able to capture the overall behavior of the test specimens including the failure mode as well as the behavior of the FRP which will most importantly lead to a detailed understanding of the FRP and the future development of rational analytical models. The finite element models are, however, unable to model the stiffness of the connections with accuracy in the ultimate load range of response.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.431-452
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• 2014

The present study focuses on the mechanical behaviour of concrete filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) stub columns confined by fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). A series of axial compression tests have been conducted on two CFDST stub columns, eight CFDST stub columns confined by FRP and a concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) stub column confined by FRP, respectively. The influences of hollow section ratio, FRP wall thickness and fibre longitudinal-circumferential proportion on the load-strain curve and the concrete stress-strain curve for stub columns with annular section were discussed. The test results displayed that the FRP jacket can obviously enhance the carrying capacity of stub columns. Based on the test results, a new model which includes the effects of confinement factor, hollow section ratio and lateral confining pressure of the outer steel tube was proposed to calculate the compressive strength of confined concrete. Using the present concrete strength model, the formula to predict the carrying capacity of CFDST stub columns confined by FRP was derived. The theoretically predicted results agree well with those obtained from the experiments and FE analysis. The present method is also adapted to calculate the carrying capacity of CFST stub columns confined by FRP.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.379-388
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• 2018

This study aims to identify the effect of both longitudinal reinforcement details and damage level on making a decision of repairing pre-damaged bridge columns using basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) jackets. Two RC bridge columns with improper details of the longitudinal and/or transverse reinforcement were tested under the effect of a constant axial load and increasing lateral cyclic loading. Test results showed that the lap-splice column exhibited an inferior performance where it showed rapid degradation of strength before achieving the theoretical strength and its deformation capacity was limited; however, quick restoration is possible through a suitable rehabilitation technique. On the other hand, expensive repair or even complete replacement could be the decision for the column with the confinement failure mode. After that, a rehabilitation technique using external BFRP jacket was adopted. Performance-based design details guaranteeing the enhancement in the inelastic performance of both damaged columns were addressed and defined. Test results of the repaired columns confirmed that both reparability and the required repairing time of damage structures are dependent on the reinforcement details at the plastic hinge zone. Furthermore, lap-splice of longitudinal reinforcement could be applied as a key design-tool controlling reparability and restorability of RC structures after massive actions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.921-947
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• 2016

Concrete Filled Fibre Reinforced Polymer Tube (CFFT) for new columns construction has attracted significant research attention in recent years. The CFFT acts as a formwork for new columns and a barrier to corrosion accelerating agents. It significantly increases both the strength capacity (Strength enhancement ratio) and the ductility (Strain enhancement ratio) of reinforced concrete columns. In this study, based on predefined selection criteria, experimental investigation results of 134 circular CFFT columns under axial compression have been compiled and analysed from 599 CFFT specimens available in the literature. It has been observed that actual confinement ratio (expressed as a function of material properties of fibres, diameter of CFFT and compressive strength of concrete) has significant influence on the strength and ductility of circular CFFT columns. Design oriented models have been proposed to compute the strength and strain enhancement ratios of circular CFFT columns. The proposed strength and strain enhancement ratio models have significantly reduced Average Absolute Error (AAE), Mean Square Error (MSE), Relative Standard Error of Estimate (RSEE) and Standard Deviation (SD) as compared to other available strength and strain enhancement ratios of circular CFFT column models. The predictions of the proposed strength and strain enhancement ratio models match well with the experimental strength and strain enhancement ratios investigation results in the compiled database.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2015

Many existing reinforced concrete (RC) columns in structures tend to become substandard RC ones due to updated standards or environmental changes. These substandard columns may alter the behaviors of the whole structure and therefore are in urgent need of seismic retrofitting. Owing to their superior advantages, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used to retrofit RC columns. The applications mainly focus on various substandard RC columns, but few deals with substandard columns with deteriorated concrete, especially damaged by earthquake. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the seismic behaviors of CFRP reinforced partially deteriorated RC columns and to evaluate the effect of CFRP sheets on them. Six flexure-dominant columns were tested under a constant axial load and transverse cyclic displacements. It is found that the seismic behaviors of partially deteriorated columns can be recovered by wrapping CFRP sheets on them. Numerical analysis is then conducted using finite element methods and verified with experimental results. The effects of the axial load ratio, the ratio of the thickness of CFRP sheet to the column diameter, and the slenderness ratio on the seismic behaviors of CFRP reinforced RC columns are evaluated. Finally, a method is proposed to determine the required thickness of CFRP sheet.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 1996

Thiobacillus neopolitanus R-10, which produces a active thiosulfate oxidase was isolated from nightsoil. The optimal culture conditions of Thiobacillus neopolitanus R-10 for the production of enzyme was determined as followed: 0.8% $Na_2S_2O_3$, 0.2% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.2% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.04% $Na_2CO_3$, 0.02% $MgSO_4$.$7H_2O$, 2ml trace elements solution, ann PH 6.5 at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and 72hr cultivation. The oxidase was successively purified 83 folds yield by ${(NH_2)}_2SO_4$ fractionation, DEAE-Cellulose, Sephadex A-50 column chromatogrophy and gel Sephadex G-150 gel filteration with yield of 5.9%. The molecular weight of purified enzyme was estimated to be 43.000 dalton by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filteration column chromatography The enzyme activity was highest at 40t and PH 7.0 The enzyme activity was relatively high by $\beta$-mercaptoethanol but strongly inhibited by cysteine.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.257-270
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• 2022

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) is rarely used in load-carrying structural members. To widen its structural application, the compressive behavior of a promising type of composite column, steel-fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) double-tube confined RAC column, has been experimentally and analytically investigated in this study. The objectives are the different performance of such columns from their counterparts using natural aggregate concrete (NAC) and the different mechanisms of the double-tube and single-tube confined concrete. The single-tube confined concrete refers to that in concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns and concrete-filled FRP tubular (CFFT) columns. The test results showed that the use of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) affected the axial load-strain response in terms of deformation capacity but such effect could be eliminated with the increasing confinement. The composite effect can be triggered by the double confinement of the steel and carbon FRP (CFRP) tubes but not by the steel and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) FRP tubes. The proposed analysis-oriented stress-strain model is capable to capture the load-deformation history of such steel-FRP double-tube confined concrete columns under axial compression.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.293-301
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• 2023

Existing reinforced concrete buildings with seismically deficient details have premature failure under earthquake loads. The fiber-reinforced polymer column jacket enhances the lateral resisting capacities with additional confining pressures. This paper aims to quantify the retrofit effect varying the confinement and stiffness-related parameters under three earthquake scenarios and establish the retrofit strategy. The retrofit effects were estimated by comparing energy demands between non-retrofitted and retrofitted conditions. The retrofit design parameters are determined considering seismic hazard levels to maximize the retrofit effects. The critical parameters of the retrofit system were determined by the confinement-related parameters at moderate and high seismic levels and the stiffness-related parameters at low seismic levels.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2016

A set of lab-scale polymer synthetic fiber packed column wetlands composing three columns (CW1, CW2 and CW3) with different hydraulic regimes, recirculation frequencies and pollutant loading rates, were operated in 2012. Synthetic fiber tested as an alternative wetland medium for soil mixture or gravel which has been widely used, has very high pore size and volume, so that clogging opportunity can be greatly avoided. The inflow to the wetland was artificial stormwater. All the wetlands achieved effective removal of TSS (94%~96%), TCOD (68%~73%), TN (35%~58%), TKN (62%~73%) and NH4-N (85%~ 99%). Particularly, it was observed that COD was released from the fiber during one distinct period in all wetlands. This was probably due to the degradation of polymer fiber, and the released organic matters were found to serve as carbon source for denitrification. In addition, with longer retention time and frequent recirculation, lower effluent concentration was observed. With higher pollutant loading rate, higher nitrification and denitrification rates were achieved. However, although organic matters were released from the fiber, the lack of carbon source was still the limiting factor for the system since the release persisted only for 40 days.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.267-278
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• 2018

Structures may need retrofitting as a result of design and calculation errors, lack of proper implementation, post-construction change in use, damages due to accidental loads, corrosion and changes introduced in new editions of construction codes. Retrofitting helps to compensate weakness and increase the service life. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is a modern material for retrofitting steel elements. This study aims to investigate the effect of deficiency location on the axial behavior of compressive elements of Circular Hollow Section (CHS) steel short columns. The deficiencies located vertically or horizontally at the middle or bottom of the element. A total of 43 control column and those with deficiencies were investigated in the ABAQUS software. Only 9 of them tested in the laboratory. The results indicated that the deficiencies had a significant effect on the increase in axial deformation, rupture in deficiency zone (local buckling), and decrease in ductility and bearing capacity. The damages of steel columns were responsible for resistance and stiffness drop at deficiency zone. Horizontal deficiency at the middle and vertical deficiency at the bottom of the steel columns were found to be the most critical. Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) as the most effective material in retrofitting the damaged columns, significantly helped the increase in resistance and rupture control around the deficiency zone.