• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.391-401
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• 2018

Locally available Stainless Steel Wire Mesh (SSWM) bonded on a concrete surface with an epoxy resin is explored as an alternative method for the torsional strengthening of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beam in the present study. An experiment is conducted to understand the behavior of RC beams strengthened with a different configuration of SSWM wrapping subjected to pure torsion. The experimental investigation comprises of testing fourteen RC beams with cross section of $150mm{\times}150mm$ and length 1300 mm. The beams are reinforced with 4-10 mm diameter longitudinal bars and 2 leg-8 mm diameter stirrups at 150 mm c/c. Two beams without SSWM strengthening are used as control specimens and twelve beams are externally strengthened by six different SSWM wrapping configurations. The torsional moment and twist at first crack and at an ultimate stage as well as torque-twist behavior of SSWM strengthened specimens are compared with control specimens. Also the failure modes of the beams are observed. The rectangular beams strengthened with corner and diagonal strip wrapping configuration exhibited better enhancement in torsional capacity compared to other wrapping configurations. The numerical simulation of SSWM strengthened RC beam under pure torsion is carried out using finite element based software ABAQUS. Results of nonlinear finite element analysis are found in good agreement with experimental results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.397-406
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• 2017

The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) for torsional strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) single cell box beams has been analyzed considerably by researchers worldwide. However, little attention has been paid to torsional strengthening of multicell box girders in terms of both experimental and numerical research. This paper reports the experimental work in an overall investigation for torsional strengthening of multicell box section RC girders with externally-bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer CFRP strips. Numerical work was carried out using non-linear finite element modeling (FEM). Good agreement in terms of torque-twist behavior, steel and CFRP reinforcement responses, and crack patterns was achieved. The unique failure modes of all the specimens were modeled correctly as well.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Retrofitting is an alteration of existing member or component of the structure. In civil engineering point of view, it is called strengthening of the old structure. Deterioration of structures may be due to aging, corrosion, failure of joints, earthquake forces, increase in service loads, etc. Such structures need urgent repair, retrofitting and strengthening to avoid collapse, cracking and loss in strength or deflection. Advanced techniques are required to be developed for the repair of structural components to replace conventional techniques. This paper focuses exclusively on torsional behaviour of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams and retrofitted RC beams wrapped with aramid fiber. Beams were retrofitted with aramid fiber by full wrapping and in the form of 150 mm wide strips at a spacing of 100 mm, 150 mm, 200 mm respectively using epoxy resin and hardener. A total 15 numbers of RC beams of 150 mm×300 mm×1300 mm in size were cast, 3 beams are tested as control specimens, and 12 beams are tested for torsion up to the failure and then retrofitted with aramid fiber. Experimental results are validated with the help of data obtained by finite element analysis using ANSYS. The full wrapping configuration of aramid fiber regains 105% strength after retrofitting. With the increase in spacing of fabric material, torsional strength reduces to 82% with about 45% saving in material.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.637-648
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• 2021

Nowadays, one of the practical, fast and easy ways to strengthen steel elements is the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). Most previous research in the CFRP strengthening of steel members has carried out on straight steel members. The main difference between horizontal curved beams and straight beams under vertical load is the presence of torsional moment in the horizontal curved beams. In the other words, the horizontal curved beams are analyzed and designed for simultaneous internal forces included bending moment, torsional moment, and shear force. The horizontal curved steel beams are usually used in buildings, bridges, trusses, and others. This study explored the effect of the CFRP strengthening on the behavior of the horizontal curved square hollow section (SHS) steel beams. Four specimens were analyzed, one non-strengthened curved steel beam as a control column and three horizontal curved steel beams strengthened using CFRP sheets (under concentrated load and uniform distributed load). To analyze the horizontal curved steel beams, three dimensional (3D) modeling and nonlinear static analysis methods using ANSYS software were applied. The results indicated that application of CFRP sheets in some specific locations of the horizontal curved steel beams could increase the ultimate capacity of these beams, significantly. Also, the results indicated when the horizontal curved steel beams were under distributed load, the increase rate in the ultimate capacity was more than in the case when these beams were under concentrated load.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.545-553
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• 2008

Dynamic deformation behavior of ultra-fine-grained pure coppers fabricated by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was investigated in this study. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted on four copper specimens using a torsional Kolsky bar, and then the test data were analyzed by their microstructures and tensile properties. The 1-pass ECAP'ed specimen consisted of fine dislocation cell structures elongated along the ECAP direction, which were changed to very fine, equiaxed subgrains of 300~400 nm in size as the pass number increased. The dynamic torsional test results indicated that maximum shear stress increased with increasing ECAP pass number. Adiabatic shear bands were not found at the gage center of the dynamically deformed torsional specimen of the 1- or 4-pass ECAP'ed specimen, while some weak bands were observed in the 8-pass ECAP'ed specimen. These findings suggested that the grain refinement according to the ECAP was very effective in strengthening of pure coppers, and that ECAP'ed coppers could be used without serious reduction in fracture resistance under dynamic torsional loading as adiabatic shear bands were hardly formed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.299-312
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• 2000

The response of an embedded body to dynamic loads is greatly influenced by the reactions of the soil to the motion of the body. The properties of the soil surrounding embedded bodies (e.g., piles) may be different than those of the far-field for a variety of reasons. It may be weakened or strengthened according to the method of installation of piles, or altered due to applying one of the soil strengthening technique (e.g., electrokinetic treatment of soil, El Naggar et al. 1998). In all these cases, the shear strength of the soils and its shear modulus vary gradually in the radial direction, resulting in a radially inhomogeneous soil layer. This paper describes an analysis to compute vertical and torsional dynamic soil reactions of a radially inhomogeneous soil layer with a circular hole. These soil reactions could then be used to model the soil resistance in the analysis of the pile vibration under dynamic loads. The soil layer is considered to have a piecewise, radial variation for the complex shear modulus. The model is developed for soil layers improved using the electrokinetic technique but can be used for other situations where the soil properties vary gradually in the radial direction (strengthened or weakened). The soil reactions (impedance functions) are evaluated over a wide range of parameters and compared with those obtained from other solutions. A parametric study was performed to examine the effect of different soil improvement parameters on vertical and torsional impedance functions of the soil. The effect of the increase in the shear modulus and the width of the improved zone is investigated.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.309-319
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• 2017

A new method is suggested for the retrofitting of torsionally sensitive buildings. The main objective is to eliminate the torsional component from the first two natural modes of the structure by properly modifying its stiffness distribution via selective strengthening of its vertical elements. Due to the multi-parameter nature of this problem, state-of-art optimization schemes together with an ad-hoc software implementation were used for quantifying the required stiffness increase, determine the required retrofitting scheme and finally design and analyze the required composite sections for structural rehabilitation. The performance of the suggested method and its positive impact on the earthquake response of such structures is demonstrated through benchmark examples and applications on actual torsionally sensitive buildings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.123-136
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• 2015

The proposed techniques to repair concrete members such as steel plates, fiber-reinforced polymers or concrete have important deficiencies in adherence and durability. The use of ultra high performance fiber concrete (UHPFC) can overtake effectively these problems. In this paper, the possibility of using UHPFC to strengthen reinforced concrete beams under torsion is investigated. Seven specimens of concrete beams reinforced with longitudinal and transverse reinforcements. One of these beams consider as control specimen while the others was strengthened by UHPFC on four, three, and two sides. This study includes experimental results of all beams with different types of configurations and thickness of UHPFC. As well as, finite element analysis was conducted in tandem with experimental test. Results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed technique at cracking and ultimate torque for different beam strengthening configurations, torque - twist graphs and crack patterns. The UHPFC can generally be used as an effective external torsional reinforcement for RC beams. It was noted that the behavior of the beams strengthen with UHPFC are better than the control beams. This increase was proportional to the retrofitted beam sides. The use of UHPFC had effect in delaying the growth of crack formation. The finite element analysis is reasonably agreement with the experimental data.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2022

FIB is introduced as the sole guideline for the design purpose that results in a practical relationship for the torsional capacity of concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). This study applies first-order reliability method to assess the reliability evaluation of the torsional capacity of CFRP-strengthened beams on the basis of FIB guidelines. In terms of steel reinforcement losses, this study applies a corrosion model to investigate the ceaseless deterioration of the existing structure. Hence, the average of reliability indices varies between 2.68 and 2.80, indicating the reliability viewpoint of the design methodologies. The average values are somehow low compared to the target values of reliability (3.0 or 3.5) applied in the calibration stage of the FIB guideline. In this way, the partial safety factors may change in the forthcoming guideline revisions. For this aim, the reliability of strengthening ratio was applied to assess the variation in the average value of the reliability index with different partial safety factors. The performance of parametric study for the factor proved that minimum values of 1.60 and 2.32 are required for target values of reliability (3.0 and 3.5), respectively.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-66
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• 2019

One method of retrofitting concrete structures is to use fiber reinforced polymers (FRP). In this research, the shear, torsional and flexural strengthening of self-compacting reinforced concrete (RC) girders are fulfilled with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials. At first, for verification, the experimental results were compared with numerical modeling results obtained from ABAQUS software version 6.10. Then the reinforcing sheets were attached to concrete girders in one and two layers. Studying numerical results obtained from ABAQUS software showed that the girders stiffness decreased with the propagations of cracks in them, and then the extra stresses were tolerated by adhesive layers and GFRP and CFRP sheets, which resulted in increasing the bearing capacity of the studied girders. In fact, shear, torsion and bending strengths of the girders increased by reinforcing girders with adding GFRP and CFRP sheets. The samples including two layers of CFRP had the maximum efficiencies that were 90, 76 and 60 percent of improvement in shear, torsion and bending strengths, respectively. It is worth noting that the bearing capacity of concrete girders with adding one layer of CFRP was slightly higher than the ones having two layers of GFRP in all circumstances; therefore, despite the lower initial cost of GFRP, using CFRP can be more economical in some conditions.