• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.331-342
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• 2013

The major factors that control the performance of reinforced soil structures is the interaction between the soil and the reinforcement. Thus it is necessary to obtain the accurate bond parameters to be used in the design of these structures. To evaluate the behavior of flyash + clay soil reinforced with a woven geotextile, 36 Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU) and 12 reinforced Consolidated-Undrainrained (CU) triaxial compression tests were conducted. The moisture content of soil during remolding, confining pressures and arrangement of geotextile layers were all varied so that the behavior of the sample could be examined. The stress strain patterns, drainage, modulus of deformation, effect of confinement pressures, effects of moisture content have been evaluated. The impact of moisture content in flyash + clay backfills on critical shear parameters was also studied to recommend placement moisture for compaction to MDD. The results indicate that geotextile reinforced flyash + clay backfill might be a viable alternative in reinforced soil structures if good-quality granular backfill material is not readily available.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.4
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• pp.455-464
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• 2020

Reinforcement corrosion is one of the major problems in the durability of reinforced concrete structures exposed to aggressive environments. Deterioration caused by reinforcement corrosion reduces the durability and the safety margin of concrete structures, causing excessive costs in managing these structures safely. This paper aims to investigate the effects of reinforcement corrosion on the load bearing capacity deterioration of the corroded reinforced concrete structures. A new analytical method is proposed to predict the crack growth of cover concrete and evaluate the residual strength of concrete structures with corroded reinforcement failing in bond. The structural performance indicators, such as concrete crack growth and flexural strength deterioration rate, are assumed to be a stochastic process for lifetime distribution modelling of structural performance deterioration over time during the life cycle. The Weibull life evolution model is employed for analysing lifetime reliability and estimating remaining useful life of the corroded concrete structures. The results for the worked example show that the proposed approach can provide a reliable method for lifetime performance assessment of the corroded reinforced concrete structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2000

A modified constitutive model has been developed for nonlinear finite element analysis of axisymmetric reinforced concrete structures, and then implemented into an existing finite element program. By comparing with the experimental results available, the present model has been validated.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.141-161
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• 2014

This article presents a new generation of empirical ground motion models for the prediction of response spectral accelerations in soil conditions, specifically developed for the Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic source. The strong ground motion database from which the ground motion prediction model is derived consists of over 800 horizontal components of acceleration recorded from nine Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic events as well as from other seventeen intermediate-depth earthquakes produced in other seismically active regions in the world. Among the main features of the new ground motion model are the prediction of spectral ordinates values (besides the prediction of the peak ground acceleration), the extension of the magnitudes range applicability, the use of consistent metrics (epicentral distance) for this type of seismic source, the extension of the distance range applicability to 300 km, the partition of total standard deviation in intra- and inter-event standard deviations and the use of a national strong ground motion database more than two times larger than in the previous studies. The results suggest that this model is an improvement of the previous generation of ground motion prediction models and can be properly employed in the analysis of the seismic hazard of Romania.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.475-478
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• 1999

A numerical tool for predicting the behavior of reinforced concrete structures under uniaxial loads is proposed. Concrete is considered as quasi-brittle material, and for a reinforcing bar, an elastic-perfectly plastic constitutive relationship is adopted. In this study, the behavior of reinforced concrete according to the interface properties between the concrete and steel is analyzed. Comparisons between the numerical predictions and the experimental results show good agreements in the load-deflection behaviors and ultimate loads of reinforced concrete structures.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.171-177
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• 2005

A comprehensive framework for numerical simulation of time-dependent performance change of reinforced concrete (RC) structures subjected to chloride attack is presented in this paper. The system is composed of simplified computational models for transport of moisture and chloride ions in concrete pore structure and crack, corrosion of reinforcement in concrete and mechanical behavior of RC member with reinforcement corrosion. Service-life of RC structures under various conditions is calculated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.444-450
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• 1997

The current ASME code for reinforced concrete containment structures are not based on probability concepts. The stochastic nature of natural hazard or accidental loads and the variations of material properties require a probabilistic approach for a rational assessment of structural safety and performance. The paper develops design load factors for the serviceability limit state of reinforced concrete containment structures. The target limit state probability is determined and the load factors are calculated by the numerical analysis. Design load factors are proposed and carried out the reliability assessments.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.373-376
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• 2006

There are representative two performance evaluation methods for performance-based design(PBD) of reinforced concrete structures by the nonlinear static analysis, one method includes the capacity spectrum method(CSM) suggested in ATC-40(996) and the other is the displacement coefficient method(DCM) in FEMA-273(1997). The objective of this paper is to compare and verify two methods and suggest the displacement-based design for new performance evaluation of reinforced concrete structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.69-91
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• 2010

Current seismic design codes do not contemplate explicitly some variables that are relevant for the design of structures subjected to ground motions exhibiting large energy content. Particularly, the lack of explicit consideration of the cumulative plastic demands and of the degradation of the hysteretic cycle may result in a significant underestimation of the lateral strength of reinforced concrete structures built on soft soils. This paper introduces and illustrates the use of a numerical performance-based methodology for the predesign of standard-occupation reinforced concrete ductile structures. The methodology takes into account two limit states, the performance of the non-structural system, and in the case of the life safety limit state, the effect of cumulative plastic demands and of the degradation of the hysteretic cycle on the assessment of structural performance.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.627-650
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• 2013

This paper deals with application of a non-linear continuum model for reinforced concrete affected by alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) to analysis of some nuclear structures. The macroscopic behaviour of the material affected by AAR is described by incorporating a homogenization/averaging procedure. The formulation addresses the main stages of the deformation process, i.e., a homogeneous deformation mode as well as that involving localized deformation, associated with formation of macrocracks. The formulation is applied to examine the mechanical behaviour of some reinforced concrete structures in nuclear power facilities located in Quebec (Canada). First, a containment structure is analyzed subjected to 45 years of continuing AAR. Later, an inelastic analysis is carried out for the spent fuel pool taking into account the interaction with the adjacent jointed rock mass foundation. In the latter case, the structure is said to be subjected to continuing AAR that is followed by a seismic event.