• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.4A
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• pp.407-419
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of precast segmental PSC bridge columns with precast concrete footings and to provide the details and reference data. Six precast segmental PSC bridge columns were tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. A computer program, RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. A bonded or unbonded tendon element based on the finite element method, that can represent the interaction between tendon and concrete of prestressed concrete member, is used. A joint element is modified to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. This study documents the testing of precast segmental PSC bridge columns with precast concrete footings and presents conclusions based on the experimental and analytical findings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.213-226
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• 2018

This paper focuses on the seismic protection of slender old masonry structures by the implementation of prestressing devices at key locations. The devices are vertically and externally located inside the towers in order to be reversible and calibrated. An extensive parametric study on a selected slender tower is carried out based on more than 100 nonlinear static simulations aimed at investigating the impact of different parameters on the seismic performance: (i) different prestressing levels; (ii) shape memory alloy superelasticity and (iii) changes in prestressing-forces in all the stages of the analysis until failure and masonry toe crushing. The tendon materials under analysis are conventional prestressing steel, fiber-reinforced polymers of different fibers and shape memory alloys. The parametric study serves to select the most suitable prestressing device and optimal prestressing level able to dissipate more earthquake energy. The seismic energy dissipation is evaluated by comparing the structural capacity curves in original state and retrofitted.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.241-253
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• 2016

Depending on the researcher, the effect of prestressing on the natural frequency of a PSC (prestressed concrete) structure appear to have been interpreted differently. Most laboratory tests on PSC beams available showed that the natural frequency is increased appreciably by prestressing. On the other hand, some other references based on field experience argued that the dynamic response of a PSC structure does not change regardless of the prestressing applied. Therefore, the deduced conclusions are inconsistent. Because an experiment with and without prestressing is a difficult task on a full size PSC bridge, the change in natural frequency of a PSC bridge due to prestressing may not be examined through field measurements. The study examined analytically the effects of prestressing on the natural frequency of PSC bridges. A finite element program for an undamped dynamic motion of a beam-tendon system was developed with additional geometric stiffness. The analytical results confirm that a key parameter in changing the natural frequency due to prestressing is the relative ratio of prestressing to the total weight of the structure rather than the prestressing itself.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.537-544
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• 2003

This paper deals with stress corrosion cracking behavior of high strength steel exposed to marine environments. The objective is to determine the time to failure as a function of hydrogen concentration and tensile stress in the wires. A crack growth curve is modeled using finite element method (FEM) program. The coupled hydrogen diffusion-stress analyses of SCC were programmed separately. The first part is calculating stress and stress intensity /sup 1)/factor of a cylindrical shell, prestressing tendon or suspension bridge wires, from the initiation of cracks to rupture. Virtual crack extension method, contour integral method, and crack tip elements are used for the calculation of stresses in front of the crack tip. Comparisons of the result show a good agreement with the analytical equations and wire tests. The second part of the study deals with the programming of hydrogen diffusion, affected by hydrostatic stress, calculated at the location of boundary of plastic area around the crack tip. The results of paper can be used in the design and management of prestressed structures, cable stayed and suspension bridges. Time dependent correlated parallel reliabilities of a cable, composed of 36 wires, were evaluated by the consideration of the deterioration of stress corrosion cracking.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.219-225
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• 2013

This work examines the feasibility for estimating existing tensile stress on a stressed wire using the permeability of magnetic flux. A closed magnetic circuit has been constructed to induce magnetic flux inside a steel wire. With different tension stress levels on a wire, the permeability of magnetic flux on the wire has been measured. Two different experimental case studies have been conducted for the examination of sensitivity of permeability of magnetic flux on the stressed wire. One is a varying-length stress test, and the other is a fixed-length stress test. The results show that the permeability of magnetic flux in the varying-length stress test is inversely proportional to the applied stress, while the permeability in the fixed-length stress test is linearly proportional to the applied stress on the stressed wire. It is thus expected that the permeability of magnetic flux on a wire can be a promising indicator for the inspection of its tensile stress.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.45-54
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• 2000

Precast R.C. slabs are being used widely for the construction of bridge structures due to their simplicity in construction processes. However, one of the disadvantages in precast R.C. slabs is the existence of transverse joints between two precast slabs. The transverse joints are structurally fragile and the task of strengthening the joints is difficult one due to their structural discontinuity. The aim of this study was to improve the behavior of transverse joints between precast R.C. slabs by introducing prestress with external cables. Three steel-concrete composite bridge specimens, which were prestressed with the external cables anchored on steel girders, were fabricated in the laboratory. Both pretension and post-tension methods were applied to introduce prestressing on the concrete slab with a straight tendon arrangement. Static tests were conducted at service load and ultimate load test was performed to evaluate punching shear capacity of the transverse joint. In this paper, two prestressing methods were tested and their effects were evaluated with respect to the elastic behavior and ultimate loading capacity of the transverse joints.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 2009

A vibration-impedance-based monitoring method is proposed to predict the loss of prestress forces in prestressed concrete (PSC) girder bridges. Firstly, a global damage alarming algorithm using the change in frequency responses is formulated to detect the occurrence of damage in PSC girders. Secondly, a local damage detection algorithm using the change in electro-mechanical impedance features is selected to identify the prestress-loss in tendon and anchoring members. Thirdly, a prestress-loss prediction algorithm using the change in natural frequencies is selected to estimate the extent of prestress-loss in PSC girders. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method is experimentally evaluated on a scaled PSC girder model for which acceleration responses and electro-mechanical impedances were measured for several damage scenarios of prestress-loss.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.241-258
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• 2012

The need for long-span members increases gradually in recent years, which makes issues not only on ultimate strength but also on excessive deflection of horizontal members important. In building structures, the post-tension methods with unbonded tendons are often used for long-span members to solve deflection problems. Previous studies on prestressed flexural members with unbonded tendons, however, were mostly focused on the ultimate strength. For this reason, their approaches are either impossible or very difficult to be implemented for serviceability check such as deflection, tendons stress, etc. Therefore, this study proposed a flexural behavior model for post-tensioned members with unbonded tendons that can predict the initial behavior, before and after cracking, service load behavior and ultimate strength. The applicability and accuracy of the proposed model were also verified by comparing with various types of test results including internally and externally post-tensioned members, a wide range of reinforcement ratios and different loading patterns. The comparison showed that the proposed model very accurately estimated both the flexural behavior and strength for these members. Particularly, the proposed model well reflected the effect of various loading patterns, and also provided good estimation on the flexural behavior of excessively reinforced members that could often occur during reinforcing work.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.103-112
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of the structural behavior in precast segmental prestressed concrete girders, which consist of five precast segments. These girders were developed to save labor and cost in construction field reducing a term of work. Therefore, four different types of specimens of 25m in length were built, and they were tested and analyzed for observing flexural behavior. The analysis included the investigation of the flexural behaviors in varying tendon amount and at joints using the relationship between moment and deflection. Moreover, nonlinear finite element analysis was utilized to verify the experimental result.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.727-735
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• 2012

Recently, a high-strength strand of 2400 MPa was developed using domestic technologies. In 2011, KS D 7002 was revised to cover the newly developed high-strength strands to support their practical usage. Presently, however, discussions and evaluations are not sufficient on the mechanical properties of the strands and their performance in structural members. Also, there were no detailed reviews on the need to revise the current design code for practical use of the high-strength strands. In this study, flexural behavior of a member with the high-strength strands was estimated through sectional analysis and a review and comparison of the domestic and foreign design codes were conducted considering the analysis results. Also, the need for the revision of the design code was discussed. Such discussion especially focused on the estimation of the stress in strand, which related with various issues such as determination methods for yield point of strands, time-dependent loss of prestressing force, estimation of stress in strand at member failure, and net strain limit for ductile failure of member. The discussion revealed that some parts in the design code need a revision and the further studies are required.