• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.337-353
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• 2018

The present study focuses on examining the structural behaviour of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams under high rates of loading largely associated with impact problems. Fibres are added to the concrete mix to enhance ductility and energy absorption, which is important for impact-resistant design. A simple, yet practical non-linear finite-element analysis (NLFEA) model was used in the present study. Experimental static and impact tests were also carried out on beams spanning 1.3 meter with weights dropped from heights of 1.5 m and 2.5 m, respectively. The numerical model realistically describes the fully-brittle tensile behaviour of plain concrete as well as the contribution of steel fibres to the post-cracking response (the latter was allowed for by conveniently adjusting the constitutive relations for plain concrete, mainly in uniaxial tension). Suitable material relations (describing compression, tension and shear) were selected for SFRC and incorporated into ABAQUS software Brittle Cracking concrete model. A more complex model (i.e., the Damaged Plasticity concrete model in ABAQUS) was also considered and it was found that the seemingly simple (but fundamental) Brittle Cracking model yielded reliable results. Published data obtained from drop-weight experimental tests on RC and SFRC beams indicates that there is an increase in the maximum load recorded (compared to the corresponding static one) and a reduction in the portion of the beam span reacting to the impact load. However, there is considerable scatter and the specimens were often tested to complete destruction and thus yielding post-failure characteristics of little design value and making it difficult to pinpoint the actual load-carrying capacity and identify the associated true ultimate limit state (ULS). To address this, dynamic NLFEA was employed and the impact load applied was reduced gradually and applied in pulses to pinpoint the actual failure point. Different case studies were considered covering impact loading responses at both the material and structural levels as well as comparisons between RC and SFRC specimens. Steel fibres were found to increase the load-carrying capacity and deformability by offering better control over the cracking process concrete undergoes and allowing the impact energy to be absorbed more effectively compared to conventional RC members. This is useful for impact-resistant design of SFRC beams.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-37
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• 2016

This paper compares the arc-length and explicit dynamic solution methods for nonlinear finite element analysis of prestressed concrete members subjected to monotonically increasing loads. The investigations have been conducted using an L-shaped, prestressed concrete spandrel beam, selected as a highly nonlinear problem from the literature to give insight into the advantages and disadvantages of these two solution methods. Convergence problems, computational effort, and quality of the results were investigated using the commercial finite element package ABAQUS. The work in this paper demonstrates that a static analysis procedure, based on the arc-length method, provides more accurate results if it is able to converge on the solution. However, it experiences convergence problems depending upon the choice of mesh configuration and the selection of concrete post-cracking response parameters. The explicit dynamic solution procedure appears to be more robust than the arc-length method in the sense that it provides acceptable solutions in cases when the arc-length approach fails, however solution accuracy may be slightly lower and computational effort may be significantly larger. Furthermore, prestressing forces must be introduced into the finite element model in different ways for the explicit dynamic and arc-length solution procedures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.755-772
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• 2014

A simplistic approach towards evaluation of complete load deflection response of Reinforced Concrete (RC) flexural members under post fire (residual) scenario is presented in this paper. The cross-section of the RC flexural member is divided into a number of sectors. Thermal analysis is performed to determine the temperature distribution across the section, for given fire duration. Temperature-dependent stress-strain curves for concrete and steel are then utilized to perform a moment-curvature analysis. The moment-curvature relationships are obtained for beams exposed to different fire durations. These are then utilized to obtain the load-deflection plots following pushover analysis. Moreover one of the important issues of modeling the initial stiffness giving due consideration to stiffness degradation due to material degradation and thermal cracking has also been addressed in a rational manner. The approach is straightforward and can be easily programmed in spreadsheets. The presented approach has been validated against the experiments, available in literature, on RC beam subjected to different fire durations viz. 1hr, 1.5hrs and 2hrs. Complete load-deflection curves have been obtained and compared with experimentally reported counterparts. The results also show a good match with the results obtained using more complicated approaches such as those involving Finite element (FE) modeling and conducting a transient thermal stress analysis. Further evaluation of the beams during fire (at elevated temperatures) was performed and a comparison of the mechanical behavior of RC beams under post fire and during fire scenarios is made. Detailed formulations, assumptions and step by step approach are reported in the paper. Due to the simplicity and ease of implementation, this approach can be used for evaluation of global performance of fire affected structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2020

This paper presents a full-scale experimental test to investigate the flexural behavior of an innovative dovetail ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) joint designed for the 5^th Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. The test specimen had a dimension of 3600 × 1600 × 170 mm, in accordance with the real bridge. The failure mode, crack pattern and structural response were presented. The ductility and stiffness degradation of the tested specimens were explicitly discussed. Test results indicated that different from conventional reinforced concrete slabs, well-distributed cracks with small spacing were observed for UHPC joint slabs at failure. The average nominal flexural cracking strength of the test specimens was 7.7 MPa, signifying good crack resistance of the proposed dovetail UHPC joint. It is recommended that high grade reinforcement be cooperatively used to take full advantage of the superior mechanical property of UHPC. A new ductility index, expressed by dividing the ultimate deflection by flexural cracking deflection, was introduced to evaluate the post-cracking ductility capacity. Finally, a strut-and-tie (STM) model was developed to predict the ultimate strength of the proposed UHPC joint.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2020

Connections play a significant role in strength of structures against earthquake-induced loads. According to the post-seismic reports, connection failure is a cause of overall failure in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Connection failure results in a sudden increase in inter-story drift, followed by early and progressive failure across the entire structure. This article investigated the cyclic performance and behavioral improvement of shape-memory alloy-based connections (SMA-based connections). The novelty of the present work is focused on the effect of shape memory alloy bars is damage reduction, strain recoverability, and cracking distribution of the stated material in RC moment frames under seismic loads using 3D nonlinear static analyses. The present numerical study was verified using two experimental connections. Then, the performance of connections was studied using 14 models with different reinforcement details on a scale of 3:4. The response parameters under study included moment-rotation, secant stiffness, energy dissipation, strain of bar, and moment-curvature of the connection. The connections were simulated using LS-DYNA environment. The models with longitudinal SMA-based bars, as the main bars, could eliminate residual plastic rotations and thus reduce the demand for post-earthquake structural repairs. The flag-shaped stress-strain curve of SMA-based materials resulted in a very slight residual drift in such connections.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.547-562
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• 2015

A two-dimensional multi-layered finite elements modeling of reinforced concrete structures at non-linear behaviour under monotonic and cyclical loading is presented. The non-linearity material is characterized by several phenomena such as: the physical non-linearity of the concrete and steels materials, the behaviour of cracked concrete and the interaction effect between materials represented by the post-cracking filled. These parameters are taken into consideration in this paper to examine the response of the reinforced concrete structures at the non-linear behaviour. Four examples of application are presented. The numerical results obtained, are in a very good agreement with available experimental data and other numerical models of the literature.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.445-455
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• 2022

Steel anchor bolts are installed in concrete using a variety of methods. One of the most common methods of anchor bolt installation is using epoxy resin as an infill material injected into the drilled hole to act as a bonding material between the steel bolt and the surrounding concrete. Typical design standards assume uniform stress distribution along the length of the anchor bolt accompanied with single crack leading to pull-out failure. Experimental evidence has shown that the steel anchor bolts fail owing to the multiple failure patterns, hence these design assumptions are not realistic. In this regard, the presented research work details the analytical model that takes into consideration multiple micro cracks in the infill material induced via impact loading. The impact loading from the Schmidt hammer is used to evaluate the bond condition bond condition of anchor bolt and the epoxy material. The added advantage of the presented analytical model is that it is able to take into account the various type of end conditions of the anchor bolts such as bent or U-shaped anchors. Through sensitivity analysis the optimum stiffness and shear strength properties of the epoxy infill material is achieved, which have shown to achieve lower displacement coupled with reduced damage to the surrounding concrete. The accuracy of the presented model is confirmed by comparing the simulated deformational responses with the experimental evidence. From the comparison it was found that the model was successful in simulating the experimental results. The proposed model can be adopted by professionals interested in predicting and controlling the deformational response of anchor bolts.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2018

The material and geometrical nonlinear finite elment analysis of UHPFRC 50M composite box girder was carried out. Constitute law in tension and compressive region of UHPFRC and HPC were modeled based on specimen test. The accuracy of nonlinear FEM analysis was verified by the experimental result of UHPFRC 50M composite girder. The UHPFRC 50M segmental composite box girder which has 1.5% steel fiber of volume fraction, 135MPa compressive strength and 18MPa tensile strength was tested. The post-tensioned UHPFRC composite girder consisted of three segment UHPFRC U-girder and High Strength Concrete reinforced slab. The parts of UHPFRC girder were modeled by 8nodes hexahedron elements and reinforcement bars and tendons were built by 2nodes linear elements by Midas FEA software. The constitutive laws of concrete materials were selected Multi-linear model both of tension and compression function under total strain crack model, which was included in classifying of smeared crack model. The nonlinearity of reinforcement elements and tendon was simulated by Von Mises criteria. The nonlinear static analysis was applied by incremental-iteration method with convergence criteria of Newton-Raphson. The validation of numerical analysis was verified by comparison with experimental result and numerical analysis result of load-deflection response, neutral axis coordinate change, and cracking pattern of girder. The load-deflection response was fitted very well with comparison to the experimental result. The finite element analysis is seen to satisfactorily predict flexural behavioral responses of post-tensioned, reinforced UHPFRC composite box girder.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.501-520
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• 2015

Presence of torsional loadings can significantly affect the flow of internal forces and deformation capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) columns. It increases the possibility of brittle shear failure leading to catastrophic collapse of structural members. This necessitates accurate prediction of the torsional behaviour of RC members for their safe design. However, a review of previously published studies indicates that the torsional behaviour of RC members has not been studied in as much depth as the behaviour under flexure and shear in spite of its frequent occurrence in bridge columns. Very few analytical models are available to predict the response of RC members under torsional loads. Softened truss model (STM) developed in the University of Houston is one of them, which is widely used for this purpose. The present study shows that STM prediction is not sufficiently accurate particularly in the post cracking region when compared to test results. An improved analytical model for RC square columns subjected to torsion with and without axial compression is developed. Since concrete is weak in tension, its contribution to torsional capacity of RC members was neglected in the original STM. The present investigation revealed that, disregard to tensile strength of concrete is the main reason behind the discrepancies in the STM predictions. The existing STM is extended in this paper to include the effect of tension stiffening for better prediction of behaviour of square RC columns under torsion. Three different tension stiffening models comprising a linear, a quadratic and an exponential relationship have been considered in this study. The predictions of these models are validated through comparison with test data on local and global behaviour. It was observed that tension stiffening has significant influence on torsional behaviour of square RC members. The exponential and parabolic tension stiffening models were found to yield the most accurate predictions.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.299-307
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• 2022

Cement-based matrixes have low tensile strength and negligible ductility. Adding fibres to these matrixes will improve their mechanical properties and make these composites suitable for structural applications. Post-cracking tensile strength of steel fibers-reinforced cementitious composite materials is directly related to the number of transverse fibers passing through the crack width and the pulling-out behavior of each of the fibers. Therefore, the exact recognition of the pullout behavior of single fibers is necessary to understand the uniaxial tensile and bending behavior of steel fiber-reinforced concrete. In this paper, an experimental study has been carried out on the pullout behavior of 3D (steel fibers with totally two hooks at both ends), 4D (steel fibers with a total of four hooks at both ends), and 5D (steel fibers with totally six hooks at both ends) in which the fibers have been located either perpendicular to the crack width or in an inclined manner. The pullout behavior of the mentioned steel fibers at an inclination angle of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees and with embedded lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 millimetres is studied in order to explore the simultaneous effect of the inclination angle of the fibers relative to the alongside loading and the embedded length of fibers on the pullout response in each case, including the maximal pullout force, the slip of the maximum point of pullout force, pullout energy, fiber rupture, and concrete matrix spalling. The results showed that the maximum pullout energy in 3D, 4D, and 5D steel fibers with different embedded lengths occurs at 0 to 30° inclination angles. In 5D fibers, maximum pullout energy occurs at a 30° angle with a 25 mm embedded length.