• Computers and Concrete
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.307-330
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• 2012

This work intends to contribute for the improvement of the procedure suggested by Brazilian Technical Code that takes into account the cracked concrete stiffness in the estimative of the displacement of reinforced concrete beams submitted to service loads. A damage constitutive model accounting for induced anisotropy, plastic deformations and bimodular elastic response is used in order to simulate the concrete behaviour, while an elastoplastic behaviour is admitted for the reinforcement. The constitutive models were implemented in a program for bars structures analysis with layered finite elements. Initially, the damage model is briefly presented as well as the parametric identification of the materials that have been used in the reinforced concrete beams. After that, beams with different geometries and reinforcement area are analyzed and a statistical method (ANOVA) is employed in order to identify the main variables in the problem. Soon after, the same procedure is used with another resistance of concrete, where the compression strength is changed. The numerical responses are compared with the ones obtained by Brazilian Technical Code and experimental tests in order to validate the use of the damage model. Finally, some remarks are discussed based on responses presented in this work.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.918-927
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• 2008

The problems associated with constructing high-speed concrete track embankments over soft compressible soil has lead to the development and/or extensive use of many of the ground improvement techniques used today. Drains, surcharge loading, and geosynthetic reinforcement, have all been used to solve the settlement and embankment stability issues associated with construction on soft soils. Geosynthetic-reinforced embankment supporting piles method consist of vertical columns that are designed to transfer the load of the embankment through the soft compressible soil layer to a firm foundation and one or more layers of geosynthetic reinforcement placed between the top of the columns and the bottom of the embankment. In the paper, the evaluations of a seismic performance of geosynthetic-reinforced embankment piles for a ultra soft ground during earthquake were studied. the equivalent linear analysis was performed by SHAKE for soft ground. A seismic performance analysis of Piles was performed by GROUP PILE and PLAXIS for geosynthetic-reinforced embankment piles. Guidelines is required for pile displacement during earthquake. Conclusions of the studies come up with a idea for soil stiffness, conditions of pile cap, pile length and span.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.533-546
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• 2019

This study presents an experimental investigation on six beam-column joint specimens under the lateral cyclic loading. The aim was to explore the effectiveness of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) in reducing the transverse shear stirrups in beam-column joints of the reinforced concrete (RC) frames with strong-columns and weak-beams. Two RC and four SFRC specimens with different types of reinforcement detailing and steel fibers of volume fraction in the range of 0.75-1.5% were tested under gradually increasing cyclic displacements. The main parameters investigated were lateral load-resisting capacity, hysteresis response, energy dissipation capacity, stiffness degradation, viscous damping variation, and mode of failure. Test results showed that the diagonally bent configuration of beam longitudinal bars in the beam-column joints resulted in the shear failure at the joint region against the flexural failure of beams having straight bar configurations. However, all SFRC specimens exhibited similar lateral strength, energy dissipation potential and mode of failure even in the absence of transverse steel in the beam-column joints. Finally, a methodology has been proposed to compute the shear strength of SFRC beam-column joints under the lateral loading condition.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.797-808
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• 2022

This paper presents an investigation on the free vibration characteristics of functionally graded nanocomposite double-beams reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The double-beams coupled by an interlayer spring, resting on the elastic foundation with a linear layer and shear layer, and is simply supported in thermal environments. The SWCNTs gradient distributed in the thickness direction of the beam forms different reinforcement patterns. The materials properties of the functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC) are estimated by rule of mixture. The first order shear deformation theory and Euler-Lagrange variational principle are employed to derive the motion equations incorporating the thermal effects. The vibration characteristics under several patterns of reinforcement are presented and discussed. We conducted a series of studies aimed at revealing the effects of the spring stiffness, environment temperature, thickness ratios and carbon nanotube volume fraction on the nature frequency.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.565-582
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• 2023

The present research reports the application of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) as an alternative to conventional concrete to improve the seismic behavior of short columns. Experimental and finite element investigation was conducted by testing five reinforced engineered cementitious composite (RECC) concrete columns (half-scale specimens) and one control reinforced concrete (RC) specimen for different shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios under cyclic lateral loads. RECC specimens with higher shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios demonstrated a significant effect on the column lateral load behavior by improving ductility (>5), energy dissipation capacity (1.2 to 4.1 times RC specimen), gradual strength degradation (ultimate drift >3.4%), and altering the failure mode. The self-confinement effect of ECC fibers maintained the integrity in the post-peak region and reserved the transmission of stress through fibers without noticeable degradation in strength. Finite element modeling of RECC specimens under monotonic incremental loads was carried out by adopting simplified constitutive material models. It was apprehended that the model simulated the global response (strength and stiffness) and damage crack patterns reasonably well.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.333-346
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• 2023

This paper presents findings from an experimental study that was focused on evaluating the use of Forta-Ferro (FF) and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) fibers on the response of moderate and special ductility beams under load cycles. For this reason, eight full-scale specimens, identical in geometry, were subjected to gradual cyclic loading. The specimens included two plain concrete beams with medium and special ductility, three beams with medium ductility and stirrup spacing of one-quarter the effective depth (d/4) and three beams with special ductility, and stirrup spacing of one-half the effective depth (d/2), strengthened with FF and PVA fibers separately. The use of fibers was aimed at reducing the amount of shear reinforcement in flexural members. Here, the variation of parameters including the maximum strength, ultimate strength, stiffness, ductility, damage index, energy dissipation, and equivalent damping was studied. Utilizing FF and PVA fibers improved the performance in beams with moderate ductility when compared to those beams with special ductility. Therefore, in special ductility beams, fibers can be used instead of crossties and in moderate ductility beams, fibers can be added to reduce the ratio of shear reinforcement. Furthermore, increasing the stirrup spacing in the moderate ductility beams from d/4 to d/2 and adding 0.6% FF or 1.5% PVA fibers resulted in behavior similar to those of the moderate ductility beam.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2023

The reinforced concrete (RC) structures might need strengthening or upgradation due to adverse environmental conditions, design defects, modification requirements, and to prolong the expected lifespan. The RC beams have been efficiently strengthened using the near surface mounted (NSM) approach over the externally bonded reinforcing (EBR) system. In this study, the performance of RC beam elements strengthened with NSM-steel rebars was investigated using an experimental program and nonlinear finite element modeling (FEM). Nine medium-sized, rectangular cross-section RC beams total in number made up for the experimental evaluation. The beams strengthened with varying percentages of NSM reinforcement, and the number of grooves was assessed in four-point bending experiments up to failure. Based on the experimental evaluation, the load-displacement response, crack features, and failure modes of the strengthened beams were recorded and considered. According to the experimental findings, NSM steel greatly improved the flexural strength (up to about 84%) and stiffness of RC beams. The flexural response of the tested beams was simulated using a 3D non-linear finite element (FE) model. The findings of the experiments and the numerical analysis showed good agreement. The effect of the NSM groove and reinforcement on the structural response was then assessed parametrically.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2000

Current specification prescribes that upper and lower reinforcement mat is required in the same amount to resist negative and positive moment in bridge decks. But the negative moment is much smaller than positive moment because the actual behavior of decks consists of local deflection of slab and global deflection of girder. From this study, the analysis method based on harmonic analysis and slope-deflection method was developed and verified by finite element method. The negative moment, obtained from this method, were smaller than those computed based on the KHBDC specifications as much as 40∼50% in the middle of bridge. The amount of reduction of the design negative moment was shown herein to be dependent on variable parameters as shape factor(S/L) of slab, relative stiffness ratio of girder and deck slab, and so on. This investigations indicate that the upper reinforcement mat to resist negative moment can be removed. But further experimental study is required to consider durability and serviceability. From this new design concept, the construction expense can be reduced and the problem of decreasing durability resulting from corrosion of upper reinforcement steel settled.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.665-670
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• 2005

Nanocomposites of polypropylene with organically modified clays were compounded on a twin-screw extruder by two-step melt compounding of three components, i.e., polypropylene, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA), and organically modified clay. The effect of PP-g-MA compatibilizers, including PH-200, Epolene-43, Polybond-3002, Polybond-3200, with a wide range of maleic anhydride (MA) content and molecular weight was examined. Morphologies of nanocomposites and their mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, and impact resistance were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the dispersion morphology of clay particles seemed to be determined in the first compounding step and the further dispersion of clays didn't occur in the second compounding step. As the ratio of PP-g-MA to clay increased, the clay particles were dispersed more uniformly in the matrix resin. As the dispersibility of clays was enhanced, the reinforcement effect of the clays increased, however impact resistance decreased.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.579-584
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• 2001

The reinforced concrete(RC) beam is developed cracks because the compression strength of concrete is strong but the tensile strength is weak. The structural strength and stiffness is decreased by reduction of tension resistance capacity of concrete due to the developed cracks. Using the fiber reinforced concrete that is increased the flexural strength and tensile strength at tensile part can enhance the strength and stiffness of concrete structure and decrease the tensile flexural cracks and deflection. Therefore, The reinforced concrete used the fiber reinforced concrete at tensile part ensure the safety and serviceability of the concrete structures. In this study, analytical model of a dual concrete beam that is composed of the normal strength concrete at compression part and the high tensile strength concrete at tensile part is developed by using the equilibrium condition of forces and compatibility condition of strains and is parted into elastic analytical model and ultimate analytical model. Three group of test beam that is formed of one reinforced concrete beam and two dual concrete beams for each steel reinforcement ratio is tested to examine the flexural behavior of dual concrete beams. The comparative study of total nine test beams is shown that the ultimate load of a dual concrete beams relative to the reinforced concrete beams have an increase in approximately 30%. In addition, the initial flexural rigidity, as used here, refer to the slope of load-deflection curves in elastic state is increased and the deflection is decreased.