• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1337-1358
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• 2016

The current study focuses on the assessment and interface response of reinforced concrete elements with composite materials (carbon fiber reinforced polymers-CFRPs, glass fiber reinforced polymers-GFRPs, textile reinforced mortars-TRM's, near surface mounted bars-NSMs). A description of the transfer mechanisms from concrete elements to the strengthening materials is conducted through analytical models based on failure modes: plate end interfacial debonding and intermediate flexural crack induced interfacial debonding. A database of 55 in total reinforced concrete columns (scale 1:1) is assembled containing elements rehabilitated with various techniques (29 wrapped with CFRP's, 5 wrapped with GFRP's, 4 containing NSM and 4 strengthened with TRM). The failure modes are discussed together with the performance level of each technique as well as the efficiency level in terms of ductility and bearing/ bending capacity. The analytical models' results are in acceptable agreement with the experimental data and can predict the failure modes. Despite the heterogeneity of the elements contained in the aforementioned database the results are of high interest and point out the need to incorporate the analytical expressions in design codes in order to predict the failure mechanisms and the limit states of bearing capacities of each technique.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2023

Textile-reinforced concrete composite (TRC) is a new alternative material that can satisfy sustainable development needs in the civil engineering field. Its mechanical behaviour and properties have been identified from the experimental works. However, it is necessary for a numerical approach to consider the effect of the parameters on TRC's behaviour with lower analysis duration and cost related to the experiment. This paper presents obtained results of the numerical modelling for TRC composite using the cracking model for the cementitious matrix in TRC. As a result, the TRC composite exhibited a strain-hardening behaviour with the cracking phase characterized by the drops in tensile stress on the stress-strain curve. This model also showed the failure mode by multi-cracking on the TRC specimen surface. Furthermore, the parametric studies showed the effect of several parameters on the TRC tensile behaviour, as the reinforcement ratio, the length and position of the deformation measurement zone, and elevated temperatures. These numerical results were compared with the experiment and showed a remarkable agreement for all cases of this study.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.473-491
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• 2022

The research investigates experimentally the effect of confinement on structural behavior at the ends of beam-column in reinforced concrete (RC) frames. In the experimental study, five specimens consisting of 1/3-scaled RC frames having single-bay, representing the traditional deficiencies of existing buildings constructed without receiving proper engineering service is investigated. The RC frame specimens were produced to represent most of the existing buildings in Turkey that have damage potential. To decrease the probable damage to the existing buildings exposed to earthquakes, the carbon Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) strengthening technique (fully wrapping) was used on the ends of the RC frame elements to increase the energy dissipation and deformation capacity. The specimens were tested under reversed cyclic lateral loading with constant axial loads. They were constructed satisfying the weak column-strong beam condition and consisting of low-strength concrete, such as compressive strength of 15 MPa. The test results were compared and evaluated considering stiffness, strength, energy dissipation capacity, structural damping, ductility, and damage propagation in detail. Comprehensive investigations of these experimental results reveal that the strengthening of a brittle frame with fully-TRM wrapping with non-anchored was effective in increasing the stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation capacities of RC bare frames. It was also observed that the frame-only-retrofitting with an infill wall is not enough to increase the ductility capacity. In this case, both the frame and infill wall must be retrofitted with TRM composite to increase the stiffness, lateral load carrying, ductility and energy dissipation capacities of RC frames. The presented strengthening method can be an alternative strengthening technique to enhance the seismic performance of existing or moderately damaged RC buildings.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2017

Textile Reinforced Cementitious Composite (TRCC) became the most common construction material lately and have excellent properties. TRCC can be employed in the manufacture of thin-walled facade elements, load-bearing integrated formwork, tunnel linings or in the strengthening of existing structures. These composite materials are a combination of matrix and textile materials. There isn't much research done about the usage of polymer modified matrices in textile reinforced cementitious composites. In this study, matrix materials named as fine grained concretes ($d_{max}{\leq}1.0mm$) were investigated. Air entraining effect of polymer modifiers were analyzed and air void content of fine grained concretes were identified with different methods. Aim of this research is to study the effect of polymer modification on the air content of fine grained concretes and the role of defoamer in controlling it. Polymer modifiers caused excessive air entrainment in all mixtures and defoamer material successfully lowered down the air content in all mixtures. Latex polymer modified mixtures had higher air content than redispersible powder modified ones. Air void analysis test was performed on selected mixtures. Air void parameters were compared with the values taken from air content meter. Close results were obtained with tests and air void analysis test found to be useful and applicable to fine grained concretes. Air void content in polymer modified matrix material used in TRCC found significant because of affecting mechanical and permeability parameters directly.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.279-295
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• 2016

A new innovative composite material is textile reinforced cementitious composite (TRCC). To achieve high flexural performance researchers suggest polymer modification of TRCC matrices. In this study, nine ready mix repair mortars commonly used in construction industry and the production of TRCC elements were examined. Mechanical properties such as compressive and flexural strength, drying shrinkage were studied. Being a significant durability concern, alkali silica reaction tests were performed according to related standards. Results showed that, some ready repair mortar mixes are potentially reactive due to the alkali silica reaction. Two of the ready mortar mixes labelled as non-shrinkage in their technical data sheets showed the highest shrinkage. In this experiment, researchers designed new matrices. These matrices were fine grained concretes modified with polymer additives; latexes and redispersible powders. Two latexes and six redispersible powder polymers were used in the study. Mechanical properties of fine grained concretes such as compressive and flexural strengths were determined. Results showed that some of the fine grained concretes cast with redispersible powders had higher flexural strength than ready mix repair mortars at 28 days. Matrix composition has to be designed for a suitable consistency for planned production processes of TRCC and mechanical properties for load-carrying capacity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.137-160
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• 2015

The one-way (two-way) flexural strength of RCC prisms (circular slabs) reinforced with glass fiber textiles is addressed. To this end, alkaline-resistant glass fiber textiles with three surface weights were used in the composite, the matrix concrete was designed with zero/nonzero slump, and the textiles were used with/without an intermediate layer provided by epoxy resin and sand mortar. Prisms were tested under a four-point loading apparatus and circular slabs were placed on simple supports under a central load. Effects of the amount and geometry of reinforcement, matrix workability, and the intermediate layer on the ultimate load and deflection were investigated. Results revealed that, with a specific reinforcement amount, there is an optimum textile tex for each case, depending on the matrix mix design and the presence of intermediate layer. Similar results were obtained in one-way and two-way bending tests.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.91-105
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• 2016

One of the most commonly used techniques to strengthen steel reinforced concrete structures is the application of externally bonded patches in the form of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) or recently, textile reinforced cements (TRC). These external patches undertake the tensile stress of bending constraining concrete cracking. Development of full-field inspection methodologies for fracture monitoring are important since the reinforcing layers are not transparent, hindering visual observation of the material condition underneath. In the present study acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) are applied during four-point bending tests of large beams to follow the damage accumulation. AE helps to determine the onset of fracture as well as the different damage mechanisms through the registered shifts in AE rate, location of active sources and change in waveform parameters. The effect of wave propagation distance, which in large components and in-situ can well mask the original information as emitted by the fracture incidents is also discussed. Simultaneously, crucial information is supplied by DIC concerning the moments of stress release of the patches due to debonding, benchmarking the trends monitored by AE. From the point of view of mechanics, conclusions on the reinforcing contribution of the different repair methodologies are also drawn.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09c
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• pp.3-10
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• 2010

Case study was carried out on the interpretation of the mechanical behavior of a severely damaged reinforced earth wall comprising geotextile with the concrete panel facing. In this part I, the outline of the damaged reinforced earth wall is in detail described. The background and cause of the damage are discussed based on the results of site investigation. The engineering properties of the fill were examined by performing various in-situ and laboratory tests, including the surface wave survey (SWS), PS-logging, RI-logging, soaking test, the direct shear box (DSB) test, bender element (BE) test, etc. The background as well as the cause for the damage of the wall may be described such that i) a considerable amount of settlement took place over a 3m thick weak soil layer in the lower part of the reinforced earth due to seepage of rainfall water, ii) the weight of the upper fill was partially supported by the geo-textile hooked on the concrete panels (n.b., named conveniently "hammock state" in this paper), and iii) the concrete panels to form the hammock were severely damaged by the unexpectedly large downwards compression force triggered by the tension force of the geotextile. The numerical simulation for the hammock state of the wall, together with counter-measures to re- stabilize the wall is subsequently described in Part II.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.625-639
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• 2019

The concept of the combined seismic and energy retrofitting of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings was examined in this paper through a number of case studies conducted on model buildings (simulating buildings of the '60s-'80s in southern Europe) constructed according to outdated design standards. Specifically, seismic and thermal analyses have been conducted prior to and after the application of selected retrofitting schemes, in order to quantify the positive effect that retrofitting could provide to RC buildings both in terms of their structural and energy performance. Advanced materials, namely the textile reinforced mortars (TRM), were used for providing seismic retrofitting by means of jacketing of masonry infills in RC frames. Moreover, following the application of the TRM jackets, thermal insulation materials were simultaneously provided to the RC building envelope, exploiting the fresh mortar used to bind the TRM jackets. In addition to the externally applied insulation material, all the fenestration elements (windows and doors) were replaced with new high energy efficiency ones. Afterwards, an economic measure, namely the expected annual loss (EAL) was used to evaluate the efficiency of each retrofitting method, but also to assess whether the combined seismic and energy retrofitting is economically feasible. From the results of this preliminary study, it was concluded that the selected seismic retrofitting technique can indeed enhance significantly the structural behaviour of an existing RC building and lower its EAL related to earthquake risks. Finally, it was found that the combined seismic and energy upgrading is economically more efficient than a sole energy or seismic retrofitting scenario for seismic areas of south Europe.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2024

The paper presents the experimental investigation of RC beams retrofitted with Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM), featuring enhanced bond capacity. Anchoring systems, including an extension of retrofitting length and the use of chemical anchors, are newly employed to improve the structural performance of the RC beam retrofitted with TRM. For the experimental investigation, a total of seven shear-critical RC beams, with and without stirrups, were designed and constructed. The structural behaviors of specimens retrofitted with the proposed TRM methods were compared to those of non-retrofitted specimens or specimens strengthened with conventional TRM methods. Crack pattern, force-displacement relationship, and absorbed energy were evaluated for each specimen. The experimental results indicate a significant improvement in the shear capacity of the RC beam with the proposed retrofitting method. Therefore, it is concluded that the application of an extended retrofitting length and chemical anchors to the TRM retrofitting method can effectively enhance the bond capacity of TRM, thereby improving the shear performance of RC beams.