• Computers and Concrete
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.607-642
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• 2015

The stress-strain relationship of concrete in flexure is one of the essential parameters in assessing the flexural strength and ductility of reinforced concrete (RC) columns. An overview of previous research studies revealed that the presence of strain gradient would affect the maximum concrete stress developed in flexure. However, no quantitative model was available to evaluate the strain gradient effect on concrete under flexure. Previously, the authors have conducted experimental studies to investigate the strain gradient effect on maximum concrete stress and respective strain and developed two strain-gradient-dependent factors k3 and ko for modifying the flexural concrete stress-strain curve. As a continued study, the authors herein will extend the investigation of strain gradient effects on flexural strength and ductility of RC columns to concrete strength up to 100 MPa by employing the strain-gradient-dependent concrete stress-strain curve using nonlinear moment-curvature analysis. It was evident from the results that both the flexural strength and ductility of RC columns are improved under strain gradient effect. Lastly, for practical engineering design purpose, a new equivalent rectangular concrete stress block incorporating the combined effects of strain gradient and concrete strength was proposed and validated. Design formulas and charts have also been presented for flexural strength and ductility of RC columns.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.167-180
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• 2007

The tensile strength of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastics under a high strain rate was experimentally investigated. A high-strain-rate test was performed using the tension-type split Hopkinson bar technique. In order to obtain the tensile stress-strain relations, a special fixture was used for the impact tensile specimen. The experimental results demonstrated that the tensile modulus and strength in the longitudinal direction are independent of the strain rate. In contrast, the tensile properties in the transverse direction and the shear properties increase with the strain rate. Moreover, it was observed that the strain-rate dependence of the shear strength is much stronger than that of the transverse strength. The tensile strength of off-axis specimens was measured using an oblique tab, and the experimental results were compared with the tensile strength predicted based on the Tsai-Hill failure criterion. It was concluded that the tensile strength can be characterized quite well using the above failure criterion under dynamic loading conditions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.419-429
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• 2024

The primary goal was to assess how the addition of cement dust, a byproduct known to be harmful, could be used to stabilize clay. Various percentages of cement dust were added to soil samples, which were then subjected to triaxial testing at different rates of strain using an unconsolidated undrained triaxial machine. Six different rates of strain were applied to analyze the response of the clay under different conditions, resulting in 216 triaxial sample tests. As the percentage of cement dust in the clay samples increased, there was a noticeable increase in the strength properties of the clay, indicating a positive effect of cement dust on the clay's strength characteristics. Higher rates of strain during testing led to increased strength properties of the clay. Varying cement dust content influenced the impact of increasing the rate of strain on the clay's strength properties. Higher cement dust content reduced the sensitivity of the clay to changes in strain rate, indicating that the clay became less responsive to changes in strain rate as cement dust content increased. Potential for Clay Stabilization Cement dust proved the potential to enhance the strength properties of clay, indicating its potential utility in clay stabilization applications. Both higher percentages of cement dust and higher rates of strain were found to increase the clay's strength. It's essential to consider both the percentage of cement dust and the rate of strain when assessing the strength properties of clay in practical applications.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.563-572
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• 2018

Uniaxial compressive strength test and uniaxial compression creep one were produced on four groups of twelve concrete specimens with different hole number by RLW-2000 rock triaxial rheology test system. The relationships between horizontal holes and instantaneous failure stress, the strain, and creep failure stress, the strain, and the relationships between stress level and instantaneous strain, creep strain were studied, and the relationship between horizontal holes and failure mode was determined. The results showed that: with horizontal hole number increasing, compressive strength of the specimens decreased whereas its peak strain increased, while both creep failure strength and its peak strain decreased. The relationships between horizontal holes and compressive strength of the specimens, the peak strain, were represented in quadratic polynomial, the relationships between horizontal holes and creep failure strength, the peak strain were represented in both linear and quadratic polynomial, respectively. Instantaneous strain decreased with stress level increasing, and the more holes in the blocks the less the damping of instantaneous strain were recorded. In the failure stress level, instantaneous strain reversally increased, creep strain showed three stages: decreasing, increasing, and sharp increasing; in same stress level, the less holes the less creep strain rate was recorded. The compressive-shear failure was produced along specimen diagonal line where the master surface of creep failure occurred, the more holes in a block, the higher chances of specimen failure and the more obvious master surface were.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제3권6호
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• pp.375-388
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• 2006

Poor strength test results are sometimes not an indication of low concrete quality, but rather inferior testing quality. In a compression test, the strain distribution over the ends of the specimen is a critical factor for the test results. Non-uniform straining of a concrete specimen leads to locally different compressive stresses on the cross-section, and eventual premature breaking of the specimen. Its effect on a specimen can be quantified by comparing the compressive strength results of two specimens, one subjected to uniform strain and another to a specified strain gradient. This can be done with the help of a function that relates two parameters, the strain ratio and the test efficiency. Such a function depends on the concrete strength and cross-sectional shape of the specimen. In this study, theoretical relationships between the strain ratio and test efficiency are developed using a concrete stress-strain model. The results show that for the same strain ratio, the test efficiency is larger for normal strength concrete than for high strength concrete. Further, the effect of the strain gradient on the test result depends on the cross-sectional shape of the specimen. Implementation of the results is demonstrated with the aid of two examples.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.921-947
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• 2016

Concrete Filled Fibre Reinforced Polymer Tube (CFFT) for new columns construction has attracted significant research attention in recent years. The CFFT acts as a formwork for new columns and a barrier to corrosion accelerating agents. It significantly increases both the strength capacity (Strength enhancement ratio) and the ductility (Strain enhancement ratio) of reinforced concrete columns. In this study, based on predefined selection criteria, experimental investigation results of 134 circular CFFT columns under axial compression have been compiled and analysed from 599 CFFT specimens available in the literature. It has been observed that actual confinement ratio (expressed as a function of material properties of fibres, diameter of CFFT and compressive strength of concrete) has significant influence on the strength and ductility of circular CFFT columns. Design oriented models have been proposed to compute the strength and strain enhancement ratios of circular CFFT columns. The proposed strength and strain enhancement ratio models have significantly reduced Average Absolute Error (AAE), Mean Square Error (MSE), Relative Standard Error of Estimate (RSEE) and Standard Deviation (SD) as compared to other available strength and strain enhancement ratios of circular CFFT column models. The predictions of the proposed strength and strain enhancement ratio models match well with the experimental strength and strain enhancement ratios investigation results in the compiled database.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.327-336
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• 2020

Conventional researches on the behavior of fiber-reinforced and unreinforced soils often investigated the failure point. In this study, a concept is proposed in the comparison of the fiber-reinforced with unreinforced sand, by estimating the strength and strength ratio at different levels of strain. A comprehensive program of laboratory drained triaxial compression test was performed on compacted sand specimens, with and without date palm fiber. The fiber inclusion used in triaxial test specimens was form 0.25%-1.0% of the sand dry weight. The effect of the fiber inclusion and confining pressure at 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 3.0%, 6.0%, 9.0%, 12%, and 15% of the imposed strain levels on the specimen were considered and described. The results showed that, the trend and magnitude of the strength ratio is different for various strain levels. It also implies that, using failure strength from peak point or the strength corresponding to the axial strain of approximately 15% for evaluating the enhancement of strength or strength ratio, due to the reinforcement, may cause hazard and uncertainty in practical design. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the strength of fiber-reinforced specimen at the imposed strain level, compared to the unreinforced specimen.

• 한국생산제조학회지
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.113-118
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• 1999

In order to evaluate strength of spot welded joint, at first it is importent that we should know strain distribution near nugget zone. During loading, in HAZ, compressive strain increase with Increase of load, but in nugget zone tensile strain increase. During unloading, on the other hand, even through the decreases, the strain variation is not almost appeared in nugget zone and HAZ. In nugget boundary zone, the strain range increases continuously along with load increase on outer surface, but the strain increases continunously and decreases rapidly beyond yield strength on inner surface. In this paper, strain distribution are measured in inner and outer surface with variation of thickness and load under tensile-shear load. Tensile-shear strength increased as with increase of specimen thickness. As for thickness increase rates are 25%, 50%, 100%, and 150%, tensile-shear strength in crease rates are 40%, 81%, 130% and 228%.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제84권2호
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• pp.239-251
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• 2022

The use of lateral reinforcement in confined concrete columns can improve bearing capacity and deformability. The lateral responses of lateral reinforcement significantly influence the effective confining pressure on core concrete. However, lateral strain-axial strain model of concrete columns confined by lateral reinforcement has not received enough attention. In this paper, based on experimental results of 85 concrete columns confined by lateral reinforcement under axial compression, the effect of unconfined concrete compressive strength, volumetric ratio, lateral reinforcement yield strength, and confinement type on lateral strain-axial strain curves was investigated. Through parameter analysis, it indicated that with the same level of axial strain, the lateral strain slightly increased with the increase in the unconfined concrete compressive strength, but decreased with the increase in volumetric ratio significantly. The lateral reinforcement yield strength had slight influence on lateral strain-axial strain curves. At the same level of lateral strain, the axial strain of specimen with spiral was larger than that of specimen with stirrup. Furthermore, a lateral strain-axial strain model for concrete columns confined by lateral reinforcement under axial compression was proposed by introducing the effects of unconfined concrete compressive strength, volumetric ratio, confinement type and effective confining pressure, which showed good agreement with the experimental results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.185-198
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• 2005

In the design of reinforced concrete beams, it is a standard practice to use the yield stress of the steel reinforcement for the evaluation of the flexural strength. However, because of strain hardening, the tensile strength of the steel reinforcement is often substantially higher than the yield stress. Thus, it is a common belief that the actual flexural strength should be higher than the theoretical flexural strength evaluated with strain hardening ignored. The possible increase in flexural strength due to strain hardening is a two-edge sword. In some cases, it may be treated as strength reserve contributing to extra safety. In other cases, it could lead to greater shear demand causing brittle shear failure of the beam or unexpected greater capacity of the beam causing violation of the strong column-weak beam design philosophy. Strain hardening may also have certain effect on the flexural ductility. In this paper, the effects of strain hardening on the post-peak flexural behaviour, particularly the flexural strength and ductility, of reinforced normal- and high-strength concrete beams are studied. The results reveal that the effects of strain hardening could be quite significant when the tension steel ratio is relatively small.