• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2023

Various efforts have been made to reduce the weight of concrete slabs while preserving their flexural strength. This will result in reducing deflection and allows the utilization of longer spans. The top zone of the slab requires concrete to create the compression block for flexural strength, and the tension zone needs concrete to join with reinforcing for flexural strength. Also, the top and bottom slab faces must be linked to transmit stresses. Voided slab systems were and are still used to make long-span slab buildings lighter. Eight slab specimens of (1000^*1000 (1000^*1000 mm²) were cast and tested as two-way simply supported slabs in this research. The tested specimens consist of one solid slab and seven voided slabs with the following variables (type of slab solid and voided), thickness of slab (100 and 125 mm), presence of steel fibers (0% and 1%), and the number of GFRP layers). The voids in slabs were made using high-density polystyrene of dimensions (200^*200^*50 mm) with a central hole of dimensions (50^*50^*50 mm) at the ineffective concrete zones to give a reduction in weight by (34% to 38%). The slabs were tested as simply supported slabs under partial uniform loading. The results of specimens subjected to monotonic loading show that the combined strengthening by steel fibers and GFRP sheets of the concrete specimen (V-125-2GF-1%) shows the least deflection, deflection (4.6 mm), good ultimate loading capacity (192 MPa), large stiffness at cracking and at ultimate (57 and 41.74) respectively, more ductility (1.44), and high energy absorption (1344.83 kN.mm); so it's the best specimen that can be used as a voided slab under this type of loading.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.527-542
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• 2020

In traditional eccentrically braced steel frames, damages and plastic deformations are limited to the links and the main structure members are required tremendous sizes to ensure elasticity with no damage based on the force-based seismic design method, this limits the practical application of the structure. The high strength steel frames with eccentric braces refer to Q345 (the nominal yield strength is 345 MPa) steel used for links, and Q460 steel utilized for columns and beams in the eccentrically brace steel frames, the application of high strength steels not only brings out better economy and higher strength, but also wider application prospects in seismic fortification zone. Here, the structures with four type eccentric braces are chosen, including K-type, Y-type, D-type and V-type. These four types EBFs have various performances, such as stiffness, bearing capacity, ductility and failure mode. To evaluate the seismic behavior of the high strength steel frames with variable eccentric braces within the similar performance objectives, four types EBFs with 4-storey, 8-storey, 12-storey and 16-storey were designed by performance-based seismic design method. The nonlinear static behavior by pushover analysis and dynamic performance by time history analysis in the SAP2000 software was applied. A total of 11 ground motion records are adopted in the time history analysis. Ground motions representing three seismic hazards: first, elastic behavior in low earthquake hazard level for immediate occupancy, second, inelastic behavior of links in moderate earthquake hazard level for rapid repair, and third, inelastic behavior of the whole structure in very high earthquake hazard level for collapse prevention. The analyses results indicated that all structures have similar failure mode and seismic performance.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.233-256
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• 2011

This paper investigates the applicability of newly developed Cu-Al-Mn shape memory alloy (SMA) bars to retrofitting of historical masonry constructions by performing quasi-static tests of half-scale brick walls subjected to cyclic out-of-plane flexure. Problems associated with conventional steel reinforcing bars lie in pinching, or degradation of stiffness and strength under cyclic loading, and in their inability to restrain residual deformations in structures during and after intense earthquakes. This paper attempts to resolve the problems by applying newly developed Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars, characterized by large recovery strain, low material cost, and high machinability, as partial replacements for steel bars. Three types of brick wall specimens, unreinforced, steel reinforced, and SMA reinforced specimens are prepared. The specimens are subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading up to rotation angle enough to cause yielding of reinforcing bars. Corresponding nonlinear finite element models are developed to simulate the experimental observations. It was found from the experimental and numerical results that both the steel reinforced and SMA reinforced specimens showed substantial increment in strength and ductility as compared to the unreinforced specimen. The steel reinforced specimen showed pinching and significant residual elongation in reinforcing bars while the SMA reinforced specimen did not. Both the experimental and numerical observations demonstrate the superiority of Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars to conventional steel reinforcing bars in retrofitting historical masonry constructions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.819-838
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• 2013

This paper summarises the results of an experimental study to investigate the flexural behaviour of reinforced concrete beams strengthened using carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate in four-point bending. The experimental parameters included are the reinforcing bar ratio ${\rho}_s$ and preload level. Four bar ratios were selected (${\rho}_s=0.13$ to 0.86%), representing the section of two longitudinal tensile reinforcements, with diameters of 8, 14, 16, and 20 mm in order to reveal the effect of bar ratio on failure load and failure mode. Eight beams that could be considered "full-scale" in size, measuring 200 mm in width, 400 mm in total height and 2300 mm in length, were tested. Three beams were selected with different bar ratios (${\rho}_1$, ${\rho}_2$, ${\rho}_3$), and considered as control specimens (without ), while three other beams identical to the control beams with the same CFRP laminates ratio and a seventh beam with ${\rho}_{min}$ (the lowest bar ratio) were also used. In the second part of the study, two beams with the bar ratio ${\rho}_2$ were preloaded at two levels, 50 and 100% of their ultimate loads, and then repaired. This experimental investigation was consolidated using an analytical model. The experimental and analytical results indicate that the flexional capacity and stiffness of strengthened and repaired beams using CFRP laminate were increased compared to those of control beams, and the behaviour of repaired beams was nearly similar to the undamaged and strengthened beams; unlike the ductility of strengthened beams, which was greatly reduced compared to the control.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.405-413
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• 2010

A hybrid post and beam shear wall system with structural insulation panel (SIP) infill was developed as a part of a green home 'Han-green' project through post and beam construction for contemporary life style. This project is on-going at the Korea Forest Research Institute to develop a new building system which improves Korean traditional wet-type building system and stimulates industrialized wood construction practice with pre-cut system. Compared to the traditional wet-type infill wall components, the hybrid wall system has benefits, such as, higher structural capacity, better thermal insulation performance, and shorter construction term due to the dry-type construction. To build up the hybrid wall system, in previous, SIP infill wall components can be manufactured at factory, and then inserted and nailed with helically threaded nails into the post and beam members at site. Shear performance of the hybrid wall system was evaluated through horizontal shear tests. The SIP hybrid wall system showed higher maximum shear strength, initial stiffness, ductility, yield strength, specified strength, and the specified allowable strength than those of post and beam with light-frame wall system. In addition to this, the hybrid wall system can provide speedy construction and structural and functional advantages including energy efficiency in the building system.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.5
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• pp.529-540
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• 2020

The mechanical properties of timber construction have drawn more attention after the 2013 Lushan earthquake. A strong desire to preserve this ancient architectural styles has sprung up in recent years, especially for residential buildings of the mountainous areas. In the column-and-tie timber construction, continuous-tenon joints are the most common structural form to connect the chuanfang (similar to the beam in conventional structures) and the column. To study the cyclic performance of the continuous-tenon joints in column-and-tie timber construction, the reversed lateral cyclic loading tests were carried out on three 3/4 scale specimens with different section heights of the chuanfang. The mechanical behavior was assessed by studying the ultimate bending capacity, deformation ductility and energy dissipation capacity. Test results showed that the slippage of chuanfang occurred when the specimens entered the plastic stage, and the slippage degree increased with the increase of the section height of chuanfang. An obvious plastic deformation of the chuanfang occurred due to the mutual squeezing between the column and chuanfang. A significant pinching was observed on the bending moment-rotation curves, and it was more pronounced as the section height of chuanfang increased. The further numerical investigations showed that the flexural capacity and initial stiffness of the continuous-tenon joints increased with the increase of friction coefficient between the chuanfang and the column, and a more obvious increasing of bending moment occurred after the material yielding. The compressive strength perpendicular to grain of the material played a more significant role in the ultimate bending capacity of continuous-tenon joints than the compressive strength parallel to grain.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2021

Buildings made using the locally available clay materials are amongst the least expensive forms of construction in many developing countries, and therefore, widely popular in remote areas. It is despite the fact that these low-strength masonry structures are vulnerable to seismic forces. Since transporting imported materials like cement and steel in areas inaccessible by motorable roads is challenging and financially unviable. This paper presents, and experimentally investigates, adobe masonry structures that utilize the abundantly available local clay materials with moderate use of imported materials like cement, aggregates, and steel. Shake-table tests were performed on two 1:3 reduce-scaled adobe masonry models for experimental seismic testing and verification. The model AM1 was confined with vertical lightly reinforced concrete columns provided at all corners and reinforced concrete horizontal bands (i.e., tie beams) provided at sill, lintel, and eave levels. The model AM2 was confined only with the horizontal bands provided at sill, lintel, and eave levels. The models were subjected to sinusoidal base motions for studying the damage evolution and response of the model under dynamic lateral loading. The lateral forcedeformation capacity curves for both models were developed and bi-linearized to compute the seismic response parameters: stiffness, strength, ductility, and response modification factor R. Seismic performance levels, story-drift, base shear coefficient, and the expected structural damages, were defined for both the models. Seismic performance assessment of the selected models was carried out using the lateral seismic force procedure to evaluate their safety in different seismic zones. The use of vertical columns in AM1 has shown a considerable increase in the lateral strength of the model in comparison to AM2. Although an R factor equal to 2.0 is recommended for both the models, AM1 has exhibited better seismic performance in all seismic zones due to its relatively high lateral strength in comparison to AM2.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.44-51
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• 2010

Recently, to solve the problems associated with the neutralization and corrosion of reinforced concrete compression members, the structural configurations such as CFFT (Concrete Filled GFRP Tube) and RCFFT (Reinforced Concrete Filled GFRR Tube) have been developed and applied to main members of civil engineering structure. These members can increase structural performance in terms of structural stability, ductility as well as chemical resistance compared with conventional concrete structural members. Many researches in numerous institutions to predict the load carrying capacity of the concrete compression member strengthened with FRP materials have been conducted and they have been suggested an equation for the prediction of the load carrying capacity of the members. Through the review of the research results, it was found that their results are similar each other. Moreover, it was also found that the results are not directly applicable to our specimens since the results are largely depended upon the member configurations. Also, since the accurate design criteria for the RC members strengthened with FRP such as RCFFT have not been established properly, relevant theoretical and experimental investigations must be conducted for the application to the practical structures. In this study, structural behavior of RCFFT was evaluated through compressive and quasi-static flexural tests in order to formulate design criteria for the structural design. In addition, the RCFFT members were also investigated to examine their confinement effect and the equations capable of estimating the compressive ultimate strength and flexural stiffness of the RCFFT members were proposed.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.21-30
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• 2018

Building structures of apartment in korea conventionally adopt shear walls using coupling beams as seismic force-resisting systems. Energy dissipating devices employed the building structures are used instead of the coupling beams in order to increase the seismic performances by providing additional damping and stiffness. This study aims to introduce energy dissipating devices which are preferred in structural system and aims to investigate structural behaviors of shear wall structures employing such devices instead of coupling beams. In order for achieve research objectives, Finite Element Analysis and Nonlinear analysis was carry out. Finite Element Analysis results was correspond with experimental results and this is indicated that the device can provide sufficient additional damping and stiffness into shear wall structures. Throughout nonlinear static analyses, examples structures with the devices can enhance seismic performance of building structures due to their sufficient energy dissipating capacities. Especially, strength and ductility capacities were significantly improved when it is compared with the performance of building structures without the devices. Throughout nonlinear dynamic analyses, it was observed that structural damages can be mitigated due to reduced seismic demands for seismic force-resisting systems. It is especially noted due to the fact that story drifts, accelerations, shear demands are reduced by 15~18%, 20~28% and 15~20%, respectively.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.218-222
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• 2011

The effect of cycled temperature change on the mechanical properties of wood flour(50 wt.% and 70 wt.%) polypropylene WPC(Wood Plastic Composites) was investigated in this study. Flexural modulus and flexural strength of the WPC showed a decrease due to the degradation of interfacial adhesion between polymer matrix and wood flour by the freeze-thaw test regardless of the cycled number. At the higher loading level of wood flour, the reduction of the flexural modulus was remarkable. After the cycled heat-freeze test, it was found that the flexural modulus and flexural strength of the WPC were lower at the high temperature ($60^{\circ}C$) and higher at the low temperature ($-20^{\circ}C$). At the low temperature ($-20^{\circ}C$) which is below glass transition temperature of polypropylene ($-10^{\circ}C$), WPC is in a glassy state which brings about the high stiffness and strength. At the high temperature ($60^{\circ}C$), the flexural modulus and flexural strength of the WPC with 50 wt.% wood flour were lower because of the increase of polymer ductility.