Stiffness Degradation Research Articles

Seismic performance of compressed earth block walls reinforced with common reeds

Compressed earth block (CEB) is a sustainable and cost-effective option for eco-friendly constructions. The blocks are produced without burning fossil fuels and have low embodied energy. The abundance of its constituents, including clay and sand, is another merit. However, the susceptibility of CEB constructions against seismic forces is still considered a prominent hindrance to their widespread acceptance. The study aims to improve the in-plane seismic performance of CEB walls by using common reeds as a natural reinforcing material. For this purpose, seven wall panels with dimensions of 1000×900×120 mm3 were constructed. Seismic loading was simulated using an incrementally increasing lateral cyclic displacement combined with a constant vertical stress of 0.3MPa. The results are discussed in terms of the hysteresis load-displacement responses, displacement ductility, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation. Based on laboratory experiments, the strength and lateral displacement of the reinforced specimen with four vertical reeds were increased by 44% and 76%, respectively, compared to the non-reinforced ones. Ultimately, Seismic assessments and damage indexes of the tested walls indicated that the in-plane seismic performance of CEB walls could be significantly improved by using vertical sand-coated reeds.

Research on the relationship between comprehensive characteristics of cracks and stiffness of RC beams

The relationship between crack comprehensive characteristics and the stiffness of RC beams is investigated through experimental tests and numerical simulations. A synthetic parameter, the surface damage ratio (SDR), is proposed to represent the comprehensive characteristics of cracks, including crack width, length and location. Crack propagation in RC beams is simulated using a dual-damage parameter plastic damage model. A method for calculating the width and length of cracks is developed based on integral point strains and element equivalent length. The accuracy of this method is verified by comparing it with the results of four-point bending tests on RC T-beams and rectangular beams. Correlation analysis indicates that the cracks in different zones have varying impacts on beam stiffness, with crack length in the bending area and crack width in the shear area having a greater impact than others. To consider the comprehensive characteristics of cracks and their impact on beam stiffness, the SDR, the ratio between the entire crack area and the intact area of the beam surface, is proposed. The proposed parameter is shown to increase linearly with load, resulting in beam stiffness degradation following a power law. The accuracy and applicability of the proposed SDR and its correlation with load and stiffness are verified through load tests on rectangular beams with different reinforcement ratios using Cervenka’s test. Parameter analysis has shown that the section modulus, concrete strength, reinforcement arrangement, and ratios significantly influence how beam stiffness varies with SDR. The presented simulation model for concrete crack evolution, combined with the synthetic parameter of crack characteristics, and the correlation analysis, provide a valuable approach for the safety evaluation of concrete beams during their service life.

Modeling inelastic behavior of U-shaped walls using multi-layer shell element: assessment at both global and local levels

AbstractOver recent decades, various numerical approaches have been developed to simulate the nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) walls, with the multi-layer shell element method being commonly employed for thin RC wall structures. Although the global force–displacement relationship is often used to validate numerical models, their accuracy at the local level is seldom assessed. A recent experimental program has provided a detailed benchmark for investigating the nonlinear behavior of RC U-shaped walls under both flexure- and torsion-dominated loading conditions. This study developed a detailed finite element model to evaluate the multi-layer shell element method’s effectiveness in simulating both the global and local responses of RC U-shaped walls. At the global level, the model accurately captured the wall pre-failure cyclic hysteresis, cracking pattern and stiffness degradation. At the local level, the model’s accuracy was assessed by comparing the concrete deformation, rebar strain distribution and crack width. The results indicated that the model reasonably represented the local behavior of the U-shaped walls at small drift levels. However, the error increased with higher drift level, particularly in reproducing the concrete deformation and reinforcement strain at the wall base. This study provides insights into the capabilities and limitations of the proposed model, informing future improvements in the numerical simulation of RC wall structures.

Estimation of the Remaining Useful Life of Axially Loaded Members Through Nested Least-Square Support Vector Regression

ABSTRACT Prognosis and Health Management (PHM) is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation of structural components, such as bracing members. Despite this, limited study exists for the RUL estimation of civil engineering components. This paper presents a nested framework utilizing the Least Square Support Vector Regression (LS-SVR) for accurately predicting the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of axially loaded members. The framework addresses the challenges of sparse data and multidimensional damage-sensitive features (DSFs) by employing a two-stage process. In the first stage, DSFs are forecasted using one-dimensional mapping, providing essential inputs for the second stage, where axial stiffness degradation is predicted using LS-SVR. The proposed framework is validated through an experimental study on axially loaded members subjected to low-cycle fatigue. To enhance model performance, simulated data generated from an OpenSees model is combined with the experimental data. The nested LS-SVR framework demonstrates superior performance compared to traditional methods, achieving high accuracy in RUL estimation as evidenced by the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) metrics. The framework’s ability to forecast axial stiffness degradation, a critical indicator of structural health, makes it a valuable tool for real-time assessment of structural component RUL. By integrating this framework with real-time monitoring systems, proactive maintenance strategies can be implemented, leading to safer and more efficient structural health management.

Formulation and Implicit Numerical Integration of a Kinematic Hardening Model for Unsaturated Soils

ABSTRACTCurrently, our understanding of material‐scale deterioration resulting from meteorologically induced variations in pore water pressure and its significant impact on infrastructure slopes is limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, we have developed an extended kinematic hardening constitutive model for unsaturated soils that refines our understanding of weather‐driven deterioration mechanisms in heterogeneous clay soils. This model has the capability of predicting the irrecoverable degradation of strength and stiffness that has been shown to occur when soils undergo wetting and drying cycles. The model is equipped with a fully coupled and hysteretic water retention curve and a hysteretic loading–collapse curve and has the capability to predict the irrecoverable degradation of strength and stiffness that occurs during cyclic loading of soils. Here, we employ a fully implicit stress integration technique and give particular emphasis to deriving a consistent tangent operator, which includes the linearisation of the retention curve. The proposed algorithm is evaluated for efficiency and performance by simulating various stress and strain‐driven triaxial paths, and the accuracy of the integration technique is evaluated through the use of convergence curves.

Experimental Investigations of Seismic Performance of Girder–Integral Abutment–Reinforced-Concrete Pile–Soil Systems

Integral abutment bridges (IABs) have been widely applied in bridge engineering because of their excellent seismic performance, long service life, and low maintenance cost. The superstructure and substructure of an IAB are integrally connected to reduce the possibility of collapse or girders falling during an earthquake. The soil behind the abutment can provide a damping effect to reduce the deformation of the structure under a seismic load. Girders have not been considered in some of the existing published experimental tests on integral abutment–reinforced-concrete (RC) pile (IAP)–soil systems, which may not accurately represent real conditions. A pseudo-static low-cycle test on a girder–integral abutment–RC pile (GIAP)–soil system was conducted for an IAB in China. The experiment’s results for the GIAP specimen were compared with those of the IAP specimen, including the failure mode, hysteretic curve, energy dissipation capacity, skeleton curve, stiffness degradation, and displacement ductility. The test results indicate that the failure modes of both specimens were different. For the IAP specimen, the pile cracked at a displacement of +2 mm, while the abutment did not crack during the test. For the GIAP specimen, the pile cracked at a displacement of −8 mm, and the abutment cracked at a displacement of 50 mm. The failure mode of the specimen changed from severe damage to the pile top under a small displacement to damage to both the abutment and pile top under a large displacement. Compared with the IAP specimen, the initial stiffness under positive horizontal displacement (39.2%), residual force accumulation (22.6%), residual deformation (12.6%), range of the elastoplastic stage in the skeleton curve, and stiffness degradation of the GIAP specimen were smaller; however, the initial stiffness under negative horizontal displacement (112.6%), displacement ductility coefficient (67.2%), average equivalent viscous damping ratio (30.8%), yield load (20.4%), ultimate load (7.8%), and range of the elastic stage in the skeleton curve of the GIAP specimen were larger. In summary, the seismic performance of the GIAP–soil system was better than that of the IAP–soil system. Therefore, to accurately reflect the seismic performance of GIAP–soil systems in IABs, it is suggested to consider the influence of the girder.

Research on the Connection Technology of Assembled Monolithic Residential Wallboard

In this paper, a novel technique for connecting residential shear walls to floor slabs is investigated. Shear wall structures with two different connection methods were established and numerically analyzed using ABAQUS (2024) finite element software. The two structures were connected by sleeve grouted connections (hereinafter referred to as the original structure) and profile + bolted connections (hereinafter referred to as the new structure). Numerical analyses yielded a positive maximum load for the new structure 1.41 times that of the original structure and a negative maximum load 1.12 times that of the original structure. The ratio of the ultimate tensile strength (load value corresponding to the peak point) to the yield strength (load value corresponding to the yield point) of the two structures (strength-to-yield ratio) was in the range of 1.15–1.27. The original structure was 2.62 times more ductile in the negative direction and 2.24 times more ductile in the positive direction than the new structure. The stiffness degradation of the new structure was greater in the later stages of loading, and that of the original structure was greater in the early stages of loading. The original structure had 1.08 times the energy-consuming capacity of the new structure. The cost of labor and materials for the original structure was approximately 1.50 times the cost of the new structure. The results of the data analysis showed that, compared to the original structure, the new structure had comparable performance in terms of strength-to-flexure ratio, ductility, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation capacity. However, the new structure was more advantageous in terms of load-bearing capacity and required lower construction costs than the original structure. Therefore, the connection nodes designed in this paper are of great significance for engineering practice.

Flexural behavior of UHPC wet joints for precast bridge deck panels

Over the past decade or so, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has been increasingly used for wet joints of bridge deck panels (BDPs) in bridge superstructures. To evaluate the flexural performance of UHPC wet joints for precast bridge deck panels, a total of seven BDPs were designed, including one monolithic cast-in-place bridge deck panel (MCIPBDP), one precast bridge deck panel (PBDP) with NC wet joints, and five precast bridge deck panels (PBDPs) with UHPC wet joints. The design parameters included reinforcement types (straight bars and U-bars), U-bar lap details (contact lap splice and non-contact lap splice), filling materials (UHPC and NC), and joint widths (150 mm, 200 mm, 250 mm, and 500 mm). Three-point bending tests were performed to evaluate the flexural performance based on the failure mode, load-deflection curve, cracking width in the wet joint region, and stiffness degradation. The experimental results showed that it is feasible to replace 500-mm-width NC wet joints with 200-mm-width UHPC wet joints for PBDPs with U-bars. UHPC wet joints, with a width of 250 mm, effectively prevented straight bars from slipping. As the width of UHPC wet joints decreased, the failure mode shifted from shear failure to bending failure. In addition, the cohesion-friction hybrid model was proposed to simulate the behavior of joint interfaces. The FE analysis results demonstrated that the FE model and modeling method have high accuracy and general applicability. Finally, the flexural capacity calculation formula was developed according to the strut-and-tie model. The theoretical calculation results were in good agreement with test results.

Stiffness degradation and mechanical behavior of microfiber-modified high-toughness recycled aggregate concrete under constant load cycling

The mechanical properties of High-Toughness Recycled Aggregate Concrete (HTRAC) were investigated in this study as an innovative and environmentally friendly construction material, along with its potential applications in structural stability. Small-scale specimens with six levels of micro-steel fiber content were made, and a series of cyclic tests with constant loads were carried out. Using In-Situ 4D CT technology, the damage characteristics of the microstructure of HTRAC and the reinforcing effects of fibers on key mechanical parameters (peak stress, peak strain, ultimate strain, post-peak modulus, and toughness indicators) were analyzed. A comprehensive fiber reinforcing factor calculation model was proposed to assess its contribution to strength, deformability, and toughness, and the correlation between the number of cyclic loadings and stiffness degradation was also quantified. it is confirmed that HTRAC exhibits a significant advantage in toughness compared to traditional recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). The findings of this study provide crucial technical support for the further development and application of HTRAC, indicating its promising prospects in the field of sustainable construction materials

Seismic performance on PSPC beam - concrete encased CFST column frame with a built-in reduced beam section

The concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) column is widely used to connect with a steel beam owing to the quick dry connection and acceptable seismic performance. Therefore, a partially steel-reinforced precast concrete (PSPC) beam with an embedded H-beam was developed to combine the merits of both the prefabrication in the precast concrete beam and the quick assembly in the steel beam. In this study, the developed beam was proposed to connect the concrete encased CFST column with a reduced beam section. A half-scaled frame substructure specimen with two floors and two bays was designed and tested under the cyclic loading to investigate the seismic performance. A series of seismic properties were analyzed, including the failure phenomena, hysteretic performance, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation capacity. The dog-bone configuration was found to benefit the beam hinge failure mechanism and an acceptable deformation capacity (the ductility coefficient up to 2.77). The function of the H-beam contributed to stable energy absorption (the equivalent damping coefficient from 0.33 to 0.37). Finally, the proposed frame was compared with a reinforced concrete frame and a steel-reinforced concrete frame through numerical analysis. The partial steel-reinforced configuration had a positive influence on the bearing capacity, hysteretic performance, and safety storage. In addition, it could improve the cost-effectiveness with little decrease in the bearing capacity.

Basic Study on the Proposal of New Measures to Improve the Ductility of RC Bridge Pier and Their Effectiveness

To enhance the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) elements, it is essential to consider both strength and ductility post-yielding. This study proposed a novel method to improve the ductility of RC piers by using preformed inward-bending longitudinal reinforcements at the plastic hinges. Two full-scale model tests of standard and ductility-enhanced (DE) RC piers and numerical simulations were conducted. The lateral reversed cyclic loading experiments were conducted to assess the effectiveness of this new approach. The performance was evaluated regarding failure mode, plastic hinge distribution, hysteretic properties, normalized stiffness degradation, normalized energy dissipation capacity, bearing capacity, and ductility. Non-linear finite element method (FEM) analyses were also carried out to investigate the usefulness of the proposed method by DIANA, and simulation was validated against the experiment results by hysteretic curves, skeleton curves, failure mode crack pattern, ductility coefficient, and bearing capacity. The results indicated that the proposed method enhanced bearing capacity, resistance to stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and ductility. Additionally, it was observed that the preformed positions and curvature of the main steel bars influenced the plastic hinge location and the buckling of longitudinal reinforcements. FEM analysis revealed that it might be reasonable to deduce the other factors that influenced the ductility of the specimens by using the same material parameters and models.

Effect of Vertical Location of Post-Opening on Seismic Behaviour of RC Shear Wall: Experimental and Numerical Analysis

The seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls with post-openings is critical in civil engineering. This study investigates the influence of post-opening positions on the seismic behaviour of RC shear walls through both experimental and numerical approaches. Four shear wall specimens with varying positions of post-openings were subjected to pseudo-static tests. Additionally, Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations were employed to further analyse the structural responses of shear walls with post-openings. The results show that the vertical position of post-openings significantly affects the failure mode, peak bearing capacity, and overall seismic performance. Peak bearing capacity reductions were observed, with central and bottom openings diminishing capacity by up to 17.5% and 15.1%, respectively, while top openings had a minimal impact. Openings also influenced pre-crack initiation, yielding behaviour, and stiffness degradation, with central openings causing the most significant effects. The ductility and energy dissipation capacities of the shear walls were also affected by opening positions. Bottom post-openings led to a maximum ductility reduction of 18.4%, while top openings increased ductility by up to 24.6%. Energy dissipation capacity decreased with lower post-opening locations, with central and bottom openings reducing capacity by 78.9% and 63.0%, respectively. These findings emphasize the importance of considering opening location in the seismic design of RC shear walls to optimize structural performance.

Seismic performance of precast concrete shear wall with treatments of connecting reinforcement defects in grouted sleeves under combined axial tension and cyclic horizontal load

With the purpose of investigating the influence of connecting reinforcement defect in grouted sleeves and corresponding strengthening schemes on the seismic performance of precast concrete shear walls under combined in-plane axial tension and cyclic horizontal load, four full-scale precast concrete shear wall specimens and one monolithically cast-in-place concrete shear wall specimen as a reference, were designed and tested. The seismic performance, including failure mode, seismic load bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity, of all specimens were selectively emphasized. The test results revealed that under combined axial tension and cyclic horizontal load, the precast shear wall with reliable connecting via grouted sleeves technology would achieve the satisfactory seismic performance, approximately parallel to that of monolithically cast-in-place shear wall. However, the ultimate seismic load bearing capacity and ultimate deformation of precast shear wall with reinforcement connection defect in grouted sleeves decreased by around 44.1%, 171.6% respectively, compared with that of precast shear wall with reliable connecting via grouted sleeves. In terms of strengthening specimens, the seismic load bearing capacity, peak deformation, flexural stiffness and energy dissipation basically recovered to the identical level of seismic performance with monolithical shear wall under coupling action of axial tension and cyclic horizontal load. Differently, the post-peak deformation ability of strengthening specimens severely decreased due to the stress concentration and further premature fracture of steel rebars resulting from the presence of UHPC in strengthening region. Finally, the portion of shear deformation and failure mechanism of precast concrete shear walls with reinforcement defect in grouted sleeves, and those employing different strengthening schemes were well discussed and analyzed under coupling action of axial tension and cyclic horizontal load as well.

Characteristics of rock strength failure and identification of hazardous areas in the roof of deep mining stope

The roof of deep mining stopes is notoriously unstable and challenging to manage due to high in-situ stress and deteriorating rock conditions. To address this issue, a comprehensive approach was employed, incorporating indoor physical experiments, numerical simulations, and field tests to investigate the stope roof rock composition characteristics and strength failure modes in the Laoyingshan deep coal mine. The study revealed the distribution characteristics of the high in-situ stress field in this mining area and delineated different levels of hazards in the roof. The results indicate that, under identical lithological conditions, the mineral composition of deep rock formations is complex. Changes in some mineral components and properties were observed, leading to increased expansiveness and water absorption in clay minerals such as sodium montmorillonite and kaolinite within the basic roof layer. In simulated tests of surrounding rock strength in deep mining stopes, as stress levels approached 2 MPa, the damage factor increased, showing a trend of localized concentration. Internal damage began to exhibit noticeable spatial evolutionary expansion patterns and gradual nucleation. When stress exceeded 8 MPa, rocks transitioned from macroscopic fracture surfaces to microscopic fragmentation zones, with a sudden decrease in stiffness degradation values, internal instantaneous collapse, and phenomena akin to “rock burst” under high stress disturbance. In-situ stress testing determined that the stress field in the deep mining zone of Laoyingshan is in a thrust fault stress state, with horizontal stress predominance. The maximum stress direction is predominantly southwest-northeast, with stress magnitude reaching 25.49 MPa. By arranging post-mining and pre-mining borehole observation stations and utilizing image grayscale fracture recognition technology in MATLAB, the roof was classified into four danger levels: “extremely broken,” “broken,” “significant fractures,” and “minor fractures.” Main control measures for coupling grouting in deep-shallow zonation rigidity were proposed based on these classifications.

Cyclic Performance of Reinforced Concrete Columns Strengthened with Basalt-Fibre-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (BFRCM)

The purpose of this experimental investigation was to confirm whether the Basalt-Fibre-Reinforced Cement Matrix (BFRCM) effectively enhances the cyclic performance of columns made of reinforced concrete (RC). The BFRCM system, which comprises basalt fabric mesh reinforced with a cementitious matrix containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibre, has significant practical implications. In the testing phase, concrete and steel reinforcement were used to create RC column specimens, which were then strengthened with three, four, and five layers of BFRCM. The horizontal cyclic and constant axial loads were applied and tested to evaluate the performance of RC columns with and without strengthening. By improving the energy dissipation by approximately 9 to 32% and increasing stiffness by roughly 24 to 44%, the column specimen with three, four, and five layers of BFRCM performed better than the control specimen. Furthermore, incorporating short fibre into the matrix effectively improved the tensile properties of the FRCM systems and decreased the shrinkage-induced cracks. The increased stiffness indicates that the column with BFRCM has better structural strength because it can sustain higher loads with less deflection. The thorough comparative analyses examined the RC column specimens’ failure modes, hysteretic responses, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation, providing a reliable basis for the conclusions. The test results confirmed that the BFRCM effectively enhanced the seismic capabilities and has been promised a way to strengthen RC elements, providing valuable insights for civil engineering and materials science.

Study on seismic performance of prestressed fabricated reinforced concrete frame structure assembled by steel sleeves

This paper introduces a novel type of prestressed fabricated reinforced concrete frame (PSFRC frame) structure, which utilizes steel sleeves for assembly. The PSFRC frame incorporates prestressed tendons, stiffened steel sleeves, and high-strength bolts, resulting in improved bearing capacity and assembly efficiency. To assess the seismic performance of the PSFRC frame joint, experimental tests were conducted on one reinforced concrete (RC) joint and two PSFRC frame joints under cyclic loading. Hysteresis analysis and elastic-plastic time-history analysis were also performed using a finite element model. The experimental results showed that the PSFRC edge joint reached a peak load of 89.30 kN, while the PSFRC middle joint exhibited a capacity of 169.95 kN, which was 58.87 % higher than that of the cast-in-place specimen XJ (107.87 kN). The hysteresis curves of the PSFRC joints demonstrated significant fullness, with the equivalent damping coefficient of the PSFRC joint being increased by 11.56 % compared to the RC joint. Additionally, a simulation method using ABAQUS software was proposed to investigate the seismic response of the integral structure of the PSFRC frame. Finite element models for both PSFRC and RC frames were established, and their seismic performance was analyzed under cyclic loading and the El Centro seismic wave. Various parameters including peak loading capacity, stiffness degradation, peak acceleration value, inter-storey drift ratio, and concrete damage value were considered. The finite element analysis results revealed that the load-carrying capacity of the PSFRC frame (435.33 kN) was approximately 30 % higher than that of the RC frame (386.48 kN). Furthermore, at the peak acceleration of 600 gal, the maximum inter-storey drift ratio of the first floor for the PSFRC frame was 1/58, which was below the limit value of 1/50. The plastic hinge position at the beam end of the PSFRC frame was further from the core area, aligning with seismic design objectives. This research provides valuable insights into the design of fabricated building structures and methods for analyzing seismic performance.

Seismic Performance of Precast Concrete Bridge Piers with Built-In Steel Tube Connection Key

Investigating the seismic behavior of precast concrete bridge piers is crucial in the design process due to the complex stress distribution in the connecting components. To demonstrate the seismic behavior of precast concrete bridge piers with hybrid joint connections, three bridge piers were designed with a scaling ratio of 1:8 and then tested under low cyclic loading conditions. The tests involved varying shapes of steel tube connection keys as parameters. This study involved examining failure modes and crack development, as well as analyzing the hysteretic performance, deformation capacity, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation of the specimens. Furthermore, a finite element model was developed using ABAQUS, and the validity of the modeling approach suggested in this study was confirmed through tests. The results indicate that the precast piers exhibit reduced concrete damage at the joints. The enhanced strength of the joints is attributed to the incorporation of steel tube connection keys. The circular steel tube connection key integrated into the precast bridge pier offers a superior bearing capacity, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation compared to the cross-shaped steel tube connection key. The presence of the built-in circular steel tube connection key in the precast bridge pier suggests that it complies with the seismic structural measures and is consistent with the design principle of “strong joint and weak member”.

Study on the performance of cast-in-situ concrete wet joints in PCSBs under cyclic loading

The closure section of precast concrete segmental bridges (PCSBs) usually adopts the wet joint, the regular longitudinal reinforcement is discontinuous, which makes the section the vulnerable part. To study the performance of the wet joint in the closure section under cyclic loading, six specimens considering loading mode, interface treatment method, setting of regular reinforcement and prestressing are tested. Results show that the damage of the wet joint accumulates and the plasticity develops under cyclic loading, the specimens undergo residual deformation, strength attenuation and stiffness degradation. Increase in prestressing level can delay the cracking, the cracking load of specimens with a prestressing level of 8MPa and 10MPa is 21.9% and 32.8% respectively higher than that of the specimen with a stress level of 6MPa, and the results also confirm that excessive prestressing level cannot significantly improve the shear strength of the specimens. When the controlled displacement is small, the residual deformation of the specimen is small and the strength attenuates slowly; with the increase in controlled displacement, the residual deformation of the specimen increases and speeds up, the strength decreases continuously, and the development of the crack tends to be stable, leading to the leveling off of degradation of the stiffness.

Experiments and FE Modeling on the Seismic Behavior of Partially Precast Steel-Reinforced Concrete Squat Walls

This paper proposed an innovative precast steel-reinforced concrete (PPSRC) squat wall to simplify on-site construction. In PPSRC squat shear walls, the hollowly precast RC wall panel can be assembled on-site through the pre-erected steel shapes, and the boundary cores will be filled using fresh concrete together with the slab system. The seismic performance of PPSRC squat walls, influenced by different construction techniques (cast-in-place vs. precast) and steel ratios, was examined through pseudo-static experiments on three specimens. Some key performance indicators, including hysteretic behavior, skeleton curves, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation, and load-carrying capacity, were analyzed in detail. The test results indicated that all the PPSRC squat walls failed in typical shear failure, and no significant slippage between the precast and fresh concrete sections was observed during the loading process, indicating that the composite action could be fully achieved via the novel throat connectors. In addition, the PPSRC squat walls could achieve comparable seismic performance compared with that of cast-in-place SRC shear walls (the peak load of the PPSRC squat wall only increased by 0.26% compared with the control specimen), and the load-carrying capacity and deformability could be enhanced by increasing the steel ratio in the boundary elements. Finally, an elaborate finite element model was developed and validated using ABAQUS software. The parametric analysis of the concrete strengths of precast and cast-in-place parts and the axial load was conducted further to investigate the seismic performance of PPSRC squat walls.

Experimental study on seismic performance of glulam structural columns with anchored connections

In current timber structures, the low initial stiffness, and weak bending resistance of the connections result in significant structural deformation and failures. To improve the mechanical capabilities of timber structural joints, a novel timber-component anchorage system with robust bending resistance was introduced. Thirteen scaled-down specimens of glulam columns with anchored connections were meticulously fabricated for testing, scaled at a ratio of 1/2. Cyclic loading tests were conducted, considering three types of the volume compression percentage of confined wood perpendicular to the grain; and five axial-load levels. Subsequently, various seismic performance aspects of glulam columns with anchored connections were examined, including the failure mode, hysteresis behavior, envelope curve, strength degradation, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and critical points. During the analysis, the influence of the P–Δ effect on the results was discussed and a damage-based hysteretic model was presented. Finally, a comparison of the mechanical performance for various types of timber structural joints was conducted. The findings revealed that the failure mode of the anchored glulam columns occurred as cracking perpendicular to the grain, and the anchored columns exhibited superior bending resistance and overall seismic performance.