• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.511-519
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• 2017

The reliability of reinforced concrete structures is frequently compromised by the deterioration caused by reinforcement corrosion. Evaluating the effect caused by reinforcement corrosion on structural behaviour of corrosion damaged concrete structures is essential for effective and reliable infrastructure management. In lifecycle management of corrosion affected reinforced concrete structures, it is difficult to correctly assess the lifecycle performance due to the uncertainties associated with structural resistance deterioration. This paper presents a stochastic deterioration modelling approach to evaluate the performance deterioration of corroded concrete structures during their service life. The flexural strength deterioration is analytically predicted on the basis of bond strength evolution caused by reinforcement corrosion, which is examined by the experimental and field data available. An assessment criterion is defined to evaluate the flexural strength deterioration for the time-dependent reliability analysis. The results from the worked examples show that the proposed approach is capable of evaluating the structural reliability of corrosion damaged concrete structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.393-405
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• 2022

Lightweight concrete is a superior material due to its light weight and high strength. There however remain significant lacunae in engineering knowledge with regards to shear failure of lightweight fiber reinforced concrete beams. The main aim of the present study is to investigate the optimum usage of steel fibers in lightweight fiber reinforced concrete (LWFRC). Multi-scale finite element model calibrated with experimental results is developed to study the effect of steel fibers on the mechanical properties of LWFRC beams. To decrease the amount of steel fibers, it is preferred to reinforce only the middle section of the LWFRC beams, where the flexural stresses are higher. For numerical simulation, a multi-scale finite element model was developed. The cement matrix was modeled as homogeneous and uniform material and both steel fibers and lightweight coarse aggregates were randomly distributed within the matrix. Considering more realistic assumptions, the bonding between fibers and cement matrix was considered with the Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) and its parameters were determined using the model update method. Furthermore, conformity of Load-Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMOD) curves obtained from numerical modeling and experimental test results of notched beams under center-point loading tests were investigated. Validating the finite element model results with experimental tests, the effects of fibers' volume fraction, and the length of the reinforced middle section, on flexural and residual strengths of LWFRC, were studied. Results indicate that using steel fibers in a specified length of the concrete beam with high flexural stresses, and considerable savings can be achieved in using steel fibers. Reducing the length of the reinforced middle section from 50 to 30 cm in specimens containing 10 kg/m3 of steel fibers, resulting in a considerable decrease of the used steel fibers by four times, whereas only a 7% reduction in bearing capacity was observed. Therefore, determining an appropriate length of the reinforced middle section is an essential parameter in reducing fibers, usage leading to more affordable construction costs.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2013

The ultimate flexural strength of HSB I-girders, considering the effect of local bucking, was investigated through a series of nonlinear finite element analysis. The girders were selected such that the inelastic local flange buckling or the plastic yielding of compression flanges governs the flexural strength. Both homogeneous sections fabricated from HSB600 or HSB800 steel and hybrid sections with HSB800 flanges and SM570-TMC web were considered. In the FE analysis, the flanges and web were modeled using thin shell elements and initial imperfections and residual stresses were imposed on the FE model. An elasto-plastic strain hardening material was used for steels. After establishing the validity of present FE analysis by comparing FE results with test results published in the literature, the effects of initial imperfection and residual stress on the inelastic flange local buckling behavior were assessed. The ultimate flexural strengths of 60 I-girders with various compression flange slenderness were obtained by FE analysis and compared with those calculated from the KHBDC, AASHTO LRFD and Eurocode 3 provisions. Based on the comparison, the applicability of design equations in these specifications for the flexural strength of I-girder considering flange local buckling was evaluated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.479-490
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• 2012

Flexural tests on full-scale H-shaped beams, built up from high-strength steels (HSB800 and HSA800) with a nominal tensile strength of 800 MPa, was carried out to study the effect of flange slenderness of high-strength steel on flexural strength and rotation capacity. The primary objective was to investigate the appropriateness of extrapolating current stability criteria (originally developed for ordinary steel) to high-strength steel. The performance of high-strength steel specimens was very satisfactory from the strength, but not from the rotation capacity, perspective. The inferior rotation capacity of high-strength steel beams was shown to be directly attributable to the absence of a distinct yield plateau and the high yield ratio of the material. Residual stress measurements reconfirmed that the magnitude of the residual stress is almost independent of the yield stress of the base metal.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.261-283
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• 2023

This study aimed to review the performance stability of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) fiber reinforcing materials among the synthetic fiber types for which the application of performance reinforcing materials to fiber-reinforced concrete is being reviewed by examining short-term and long-term performance changes. To this end, the residual performance was analyzed after exposing the PET fiber to an acid/alkali environment, and the flexural strength and equivalent flexural strength of the PET fiber-reinforced concrete mixture by age were analyzed, and the surface of the PET fiber collected from the concrete specimen was examined using a scanning microscope (SEM). The changes in were analyzed. As a result of the acid/alkali environment exposure test of PET fiber, the strength retention rate was 83.4~96.4% in acidic environment and 42.4~97.9% in alkaline environment. It was confirmed that the strength retention rate of the fiber itself significantly decreased when exposed to high-temperature strong alkali conditions, and the strength retention rate increased in the finished yarn coated with epoxy. In the test results of the flexural strength and equivalent flexural strength of the PET fiber-reinforced concrete mixture, no reduction in flexural strength was found, and the equivalent flexural strength result also did not show any degradation in performance as a fiber reinforcement. Even in the SEM analysis results, no surface damage or cross-sectional change of the PET reinforcing fibers was observed. These results mean that no damage or cross-section reduction of PET reinforcing fibers occurs in cement concrete environments even when fiber-reinforced concrete is exposed to high temperatures in the early stage or depending on age, and the strength of PET fibers decreases in cement concrete environments. The impact is judged to be of no concern. As the flexural strength and equivalent flexural strength according to age were also stably expressed, it could be seen that performance degradation due to hydrolysis, which is a concern due to the use of PET fiber reinforcing materials, did not occur, and it was confirmed that stable residual strength retention characteristics were exhibited.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2010

Recently, a new type of polyolefin fiber having a good mechanical properties is being developed, and it is necessary to examine a possibility for the new fiber together to be used as a reinforcing fiber with other types of fiber or by itself. The objective of this study is to find flexural toughness and tensile strength of concrete reinforced with steel and polyolefin fibers. Four point beam tests were performed with 324 specimens following two standard tests methods: KS F 2566 and ASTM C 1399-02. From the test results, the effects of volume fraction of fibers, and aspect ratio of steel fiber on the toughness and tensile strength were investigated, and the optimal ratio of steel fiber to polyolefin fiber was suggested.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.635-638
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• 2003

This paper deals with structural behavior of reinforced concrete beams with high strength under fire and fire damaged condition. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the residual strength of flexural members by exposure time to fire. For this purpose, six beam specimens are fabricated and experimented. Among the specimens, four specimens are exposed to the fire for 60 and 90 minutes and two specimens are control beam that is not exposed to fire. After being cooled in room temperature, the specimens are loaded to the failure. The research result shows that the main variables of the test, concrete cover and exposure time to fire are much influenced on the structural behavior and the residual strength.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.109-115
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• 2015

High performance fiber reinforced cementitious composite (HPFRCC) can provide high fracture energy absorption as well as high strength with high fiber volume fraction. The increased fracture energy helps resisting high frequency loadings, such as earthquake, impact or blast. This study investigates the flexural performance of slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON), one of the important HPFRCC, with respect to varying fiber volume fraction. The maximum fiber volume fraction was 8.0 % and reduced to 6.0% by 0.5% and the maximum volume fraction is obtained by packing fibers with simple tapping by hands. The used fiber was a steel fiber with the length 30 mm and the diameter of 0.5 mm. The flexural strengths were 48.7 MPa at 8.0 % and 22.8 MPa at 6.0 %. The measured flexural strength is much higher compared to other cememtitious composite materials but decreased proportional to the fractions. This result implies that for SIFCON considered herein the reduced amount of steel fibers may affect its flexural performance in a negatively way. The flexural toughness, an index to represent the fracture energy absorption, also decreased with the reduced fiber amount.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.657-669
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• 2020

This study investigates the fire resistance characteristics of reactive powder concrete according to changes in the cement content per unit area, mixing ratio of metakaolin (MK), and content of polypropylene fiber. A fire test was conducted, and the resulting residual strength characteristics were investigated through flexural and compressive strength measurements, as well as condition rating classification based on visual evaluation. MK effectively reduced the initial high content of calcium hydroxide, thereby reducing the water vapor pressure generated during pyrolysis and slowing spalling. Furthermore, the pore structure and loose tissue were effective for relieving the water vapor pressure in the event of a fire.

• 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.