Reinforcement Ratio Research Articles

Mechanical performance and reinforcing mechanisms of foamed concrete strengthened by carbon fibers

Foamed concrete (FC) is a lightweight and environmentally friendly building material that offers versatile applications in civil engineering. However, FC is inherently weak in withstanding tensile and compressive loads. While incorporating fibers into FC has been shown to resist crack propagation and enhance its mechanical properties, the specific mechanisms through which carbon fibers affect FC's tensile and compressive behaviors remain unclear. This study aims to address this gap by incorporating short-cut carbon fibers into FC to achieve a micro-reinforcement effect and enhance its compressive and tensile performance. The mechanical properties, failure modes, and microstructure evolution of carbon fiber-reinforced FC at different density levels, carbon fiber lengths, and contents were comprehensively explored. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was utilized to analyze crack propagation, and an optimal mix ratio experiment was conducted. The results demonstrate that incorporating carbon fibers effectively enhances the mechanical performance of FC, with a more significant impact on specimens with a density of 500 kg/m3. Furthermore, the maximum improvements in tensile and compressive strengths reached 250 % and 88.5 %, respectively. This study suggests that optimal reinforcement ratio can be achieved through mix ratio adjustments and curve fitting formulas, thereby optimizing the tensile and compressive performance of the specimens.

Structural behavior of S-UHPC-S composite wall strips with waved tie bars: Experiment, simulation, and design

In this paper, novel steel waved tie bar shear connectors were developed in conjunction with ultra-high-performance-concrete (UHPC) core to obtain lightweight, high-strength, and easy-construction steel-UHPC-Steel (S-UHPC-S) composite structures. To study the structural behavior of S-UHPC-S composite wall panels with waved tie bars subjected to out-of-plane loads, seven 1/2 scaled S-UHPC-S composite beams were extracted and tested under three-point bending. Test variables included longitudinal and transverse reinforcement ratios, and shear span ratio. Experimental results indicated that S-UHPC-S composite beams failed in flexure mode under the shear span ratios of 2.5 and 3.5 and in flexure-shear mode under the shear span ratio of 1.5. Increasing the longitudinal reinforcement ratio from 1.0 % to 1.5 % and 2.0 % increased the peak load capacity of the S-UHPC-S composite beams by 16.5 % and 43.6 %, respectively, but increasing the transverse reinforcement ratio had a marginal effect on the load resistance because the S-UHPC-S composite beams were dominated by flexure or flexure-shear failure mode. Full-scale models were built with the finite element (FE) software LS-DYNA. After being validated with the test results, the FE model is used to conduct extended studies. Numerical results indicate that the contribution proportion of each component to the bending moment capacity of the S-UHPC-S composite beam can be sorted in a descending order, namely, steel faceplates > UHPC > ribs > tie bars. A method was proposed to predict the failure mode of the S-UHPC-S composite beams in accordance with shear span ratios and mechanical reinforcement ratios. Finally, computation methods for flexure strength and the maximum stud spacing were developed.

Restraint effect of steel bar on early-age shrinkage of steel bar-mortar composites

Time-space-dependent stress and strain distribution within steel bar-mortar composites is key for shrinkage and cracking prediction of Reinforced-Concrete (RC) members. A novel system was designed to investigate the restraint of steel bars on the early-age shrinkage while digital image correlation was also employed to analyze spatial strain distribution. The measured restraint degree increases with the reinforcement ratio and maintains stable after about 36 h. Restraint effects is interfered by micro-cracks, because of which the calculated restraint degree matched the measured one better after being modified by a coefficient concerning reinforcement ratio. The overall restrained stress shows a three-stage process affected by the bonding evolution. The strain spatially undergoes a three-region distribution along the steel bar induced by the shear transfer and a two-region distribution on the cross-section aligning with the interface gradient. This study demonstrates a quantitative analysis on the steel bars restraint parameters and its evolution.

Seismic Performance Analysis of the Internal Joint in the New Demountable Fabricated Concrete Frame with Prestressed Mortise–Tenon Connections

This paper proposed a novel demountable fabricated joint in frame, which is connected by the prestressed and mortise–tenon connection. The prefabricated components of the demountable structures are designed to be reused, and the joint presented in this paper will promote the sustainable application of prefabricated components in future. The damage process and damage pattern of the internal joints under the horizontal load were analyzed using the refined numerical analysis model based on ABAQUS 6.14. Parametric analyses were conducted simultaneously for five parameters: axial compression ratio, the area and effective initial stress of unbonded prestressed strands (UPSs), the local reinforcement ratio in the core zone of the demountable joint, and the friction coefficient between the interface of concrete. The results showed that the demountable joint exhibits excellent energy dissipation potential under horizontal loads, but the damage was concentrated in the core zone. The deformation of the joint mainly consisted of the self-deformation of the prefabricated components, including bending, bearing and shear, as well as the relative slip deformation between the prefabricated components. The axial compression ratio has a more significant effect on the hysteresis performance compared to the areas of the UPSs and the reinforcement ratio. The initial effective stress of the UPS and the friction coefficient have relatively minor influence on the hysteretic performance of the joint. Finally, this paper recommends the design parameter values (axial compression ratio should not exceed 0.4, area of unbonded prestressed reinforcement should be not lower than Asn=0.02 and not higher than Asn=0.1, the initial stress of the UPS takes the value of 0.75fpu) and outlines optimization measures.

Study on the Shear Performance of the Interface between Post-Cast Epoxy Resin Concrete and Ordinary Concrete

The interface of fresh-aged concrete represents a critical vulnerability within monolithic assembled monolithic concrete structures. In this paper, the shear performance of the interface between post-cast epoxy resin concrete and standard concrete is studied using experimental methods and finite element analysis. The objective is to furnish empirical data that support the broader adoption of epoxy resin concrete in assembled structures. A direct shear experiment of 19 Z-shaped samples and a computation of 20 finite element models were completed. The results from both experimental and computational analyses provided insights into several factors influencing the shear performance at the interface. These factors include the pre-cast part of concrete strength, the friction coefficient of the interface, the longitudinal reinforcement ratio at the interface, the compressive strength of concrete in the post-cast part, and confining stress. The findings indicate that utilizing epoxy resin concrete for post-cast material, roughing the interface, and setting keyways can enhance the shear performance of the interface so that it equals or even exceeds the cast-in situ sample. Optimal shear results are obtained when the compressive strength of the post-cast epoxy resin concrete closely matches that of the pre-cast conventional cement. Moreover, increasing the depth of the keyways rather than their width is more effective in improving the shear capacity of the sample. It is recommended that the depth of the keyway should be at least 30 mm, and its width should be no less than three times the depth. As the longitudinal reinforcement ratio at the interface increases, there is an enhancement in shear capacity coupled with a reduction in deformative performance. It is advisable to maintain this ratio below 1.0% to balance the strength and ductility effectively.

Shear Behavior of High-Strength and Lightweight Cementitious Composites Containing Hollow Glass Microspheres and Carbon Nanotubes

In this study, an experimental program was conducted to investigate the shear behavior of beams made of high-strength and lightweight cementitious composites (HS-LWCCs) containing hollow glass microspheres and carbon nanotubes. The compressive strength and dry density of the HS-LWCCs were 87.8 MPa and1.52 t/m3, respectively. To investigate their shear behavior, HS-LWCC beams with longitudinal rebars were fabricated. In this test program, the longitudinal and shear reinforcement ratios were considered as the test variables. The HS-LWCC beams were compared with ordinary high-strength concrete (HSC) beams with a compressive strength of 89.3 MPa to determine their differences; the beams had the same reinforcement configuration. The test results indicated that the initial stiffness and shear capacity of the HS-LWCC beams were lower than those of the HSC beams. These results suggested that the low shear resistance of the HS-LWCC beams led to brittle failure. This was attributed to the beams’ low elastic modulus under compression and the absence of a coarse aggregate. Furthermore, the difference in the shear capacity of the HSC and HS-LWCC beams slightly decreased as the shear reinforcement ratio increased. The diagonal compression strut angle and diagonal crack angle of the HS-LWCC beams with shear reinforcement were more inclined than those of the HSC beams. This indicated that the lower shear resistance of the HS-LWCCs could be more effectively compensated for when shear reinforcement is provided and the diagonal crack angle is more inclined. The ultimate shear capacities measured in the tests were compared with various shear design provisions, including those of ACI-318, EC2, and CSA A23.3. This comparison showed that the current shear design provisions considerably overestimate the contribution of concrete to the shear capacity of HS-LWCC beams.

Research and Modification on the Park-Ang Damage Index for Railway Rectangular Piers

ABSTRACT This study addressed the issue of distortion in evaluating the seismic damage state of railway bridge piers using the original Park-Ang damage index. By constructing a parameterized co-simulation program with two finite element models, OpenSees and Abaqus, five sets of flexural failure and five sets of flexural-shear failure rectangular pier quasi-static test results were selected to validate the rationality of the calculation program. Four hundred and eighty parameterized calculations were conducted using this program. The combination coefficient β and critical damage index DI within the Park-Ang damage index were modified using nonlinear regression algorithm and convolutional neural network algorithm. The adaptability of the damage index calculation was ultimately verified through an engineering case study of a simply supported beam bridge. The research findings are as follows: 1) The main factor influencing β is the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, while the axial compression ratio, shear span ratio, volumetric stirrup ratio, aspect ratio, concrete strength, and steel strength are secondary parameters influencing β. 2) Compared to the nonlinear regression algorithm, the convolutional neural network algorithm can better establish a calculation model between pier structural parameters and β, clarifying their relationship. 3) It is recommended to use critical values of 0.11, 0.29, 0.49, and 1.00 for assessing pier damage as no, slight, moderate, severe, and collapse damage when using the damage index calculation model. 4) The Park-Ang index corrected by convolutional neural networks demonstrates improved accuracy and computational stability, making it suitable for practical assessment of seismic damage in bridge structures.

Optimization of UHPC beams under flexural loading: A numerical and experimental investigation

Ultra-high-performance concrete is a material with enhanced mechanical properties compared to conventional concrete. These characteristics make it possible to conceive structural elements with reduced cross-sections and lower reinforcement ratios (RR) to withstand the same load capacities as conventional concrete elements. However, UHPC beams with low RRs exhibit low ductility indexes due to localization phenomena. The proposed methodology uses a genetic algorithm routine to generate an optimized cross-section to reduce UHPC consumption, decreasing the RR. The optimization methodology was based on finite element models to increase load capacity while maintaining a target minimum ductility. The experimental program tested three reference rectangular beams with different RRs and one beam with an optimized cross-section. The tested beams were then modeled using the finite element method in the Abaqus software through a modeling technique that considered the variability of the material properties by dividing the element’s volume into parts with different material properties. The results showed that changing the cross-section’s format can increase load-bearing capacity while maintaining target ductility.

Regression prediction model for shear strength of cold joint in concrete

The shear resistance of cold joint in concrete is influenced by various design parameters. Traditional mechanical models typically consider only a limited number of parameters to predict the shear strength of cold joints. This research aims to explore the complex nonlinear relationship between design parameters and cold joint shear strength using statistical method and machine learning technology. The goal is to develop a more accurate, reliable, and engineering applicable regression model for predicting shear strength. A dataset of 546 Z-shaped shear specimens characterizing cold joint in concrete was constructed, involving a total of 16 variables that may affect shear performance. Correlation analysis and recursive elimination were adopted to eliminate correlated and insignificant variables based on their importance. Multiple linear regression (MLR), random forest regression (RFR), and support vector machine regression (SVR) prediction models for cold joint shear strength were established based on rigorously screened variables and comprehensively evaluated using multiple methods. It was found that the most significant factors influencing the shear strength of cold joints are concrete strength, interface shear key, product of interface reinforcement strength and its reinforcement ratio, normal stress, fiber length of new concrete, casting method of the new concrete, and product of the fiber length and its tensile strength of old concrete. The MLR, SVR, and RFR models all exhibited superior performance relative to traditional mechanics-based models with regard to shear strength prediction of cold joints. The RFR model is recommended for predicting the shear strength of cold joints due to its superior evaluation indexes in comparison to the MLR and SVR models, and variable sensitivity analysis shows that it does not yield common-sense errors.

Improving shear behavior of rubberized concrete beams through sustainable integration of waste tire steel fibers and treated rubber

This study investigates the innovative and sustainable use of crumb rubber (CR) and waste tire steel fibers (WTSF) in reinforced concrete beams. By addressing the concern of reduced shear capacity in rubberized reinforced concrete (RC) beams, the paper presents a sustainable approach that integrates WTSF and a hybrid treatment of CR involving temperature and fly ash. Six different concrete mixtures were developed, incorporating 15 % and 25 % CR as a replacement for natural fine aggregates, both with and without treatment, along with the addition of WTSF. The experimental program assessed the workability, mechanical properties, including compressive and split-tensile strength, and conducted four-point loaded flexural tests on rubberized RC beams designed to fail in shear, in order to investigate their shear behavior.A numerical study further analyzed this hybrid treatment approach across various parameters, including concrete mixture compositions, types of tensile reinforcement (conventional steel or Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer, GFRP), transverse reinforcement types (conventional steel or GFRP), longitudinal reinforcement ratios, and the combined effects of treated rubber and WTSF. Key findings include a 10 % higher compressive strength in the 25 % treated rubberized concrete mixture (TRC25) compared to the 15 % untreated rubberized concrete (URC15). Tensile strengths were significantly enhanced, with treated rubberized concrete beams containing WTSF at 15 % and 25 % showing tensile strengths 195 % and 180 % higher than normal concrete (NC), respectively. The inclusion of treated rubber and WTSF significantly improved shear capacities, with both 15 % and 25 % rubber content mixtures demonstrating substantially higher shear capacities than normal concrete. Toughness measurements indicated that treated rubberized concrete beams with WTSF at 15 % and 25 % rubber content showed toughness levels 15 to 18 times higher than NC. Beams reinforced with GFRP showed up to a 31 % higher load capacity and greater deflection before failure compared to those with conventional steel reinforcement. The study highlights a beneficial shift from shear to flexural failure modes due to the combined effects of treated rubberized concrete and WTSF incorporation.

Dynamic analysis of fractional poroviscoelastic reinforced subgrade under moving loading

This paper conducts the dynamic analysis of fractional poroviscoelastic reinforced subgrade under moving loading. Based on the Biot theory and transversely isotropic (TI) parameter expression of the geogrid reinforced subgrade, the governing equations of the poroelastic reinforced subgrade are established in the wavenumber domain by the double Fourier transform. Considering the viscosity of the soil skeleton and the flow-dependent viscosity between the soil skeleton and pore water, the governing equations are extended to the fractional poroviscoelastic medium by introducing the Zener viscoelastic model, fractional calculus theory and the dynamic elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle. Combining boundary conditions and interlayer continuity conditions, the extended precise integration method (PIM) and double Fourier integral transform are employed to obtain the solution of fractional poroviscoelastic reinforced subgrade in the spatial domain. After the numerical validation, a sensitivity analysis of the relaxation time, permeability, reinforcement ratio and the load velocity are conducted.

The Consequence of the Involvement of Flexural, Compression, and Punching Reinforcement Upon Punching Strength

Flat slabs have an important role in concrete buildings due to their architectural flexibility and speed of construction. Punching shear is one of the most important phenomena to be considered during the design of reinforced concrete flat slabs, as this type of failure is brittle and does not predict previously raised alarms before failure. The main factors that affect punching strength in concrete are compressive strength, flexural reinforcement, and punching reinforcement in the form of stirrups, shear studs, or other shapes. This paper is part of a research program operated at the reinforced concrete laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, to evaluate the contribution of horizontal flexural reinforcement, horizontal compression reinforcement, and vertical punching reinforcement on the punching strength of reinforced concrete flat slabs. In this research, fifteen half-scale specimens are cast and tested. The specimens had dimensions of 1100×1100 mm and a total thickness of 120 mm. All specimens were connected to a square column of dimensions 150×150 mm and loaded at the four corners with a supported span of 1000 mm. The main parameters considered in this research included spacing between stirrups, width of the stirrups, number of stirrup branches, ratio of the compression reinforcement, and ratio of the tension reinforcement. During testing, ultimate capacity, steel strain, cracking pattern, and deformation were recorded. The experimental results were analyzed and compared against values estimated from different international design codes. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-09-014 Full Text: PDF

Study of Some Physical and Antibacterial Properties of Bio-based (PLA)/(PCL) Blend reinforced with ZrO2 Nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to produce flexible films by combining polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and enhance their strength by reinforcing them with different weight percentages (0.75, 1.5, and 2.25%) of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles (NPs) using a solvent casting process. The physical and antibacterial properties of the films were analysed to determine their suitability for use in food packaging. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the PLA/PCL films containing 2.25% by weight ZrO2 nanoparticles have a peak at an angle of 2θ = 17.18°, accompanied by smaller peaks. This confirms that these thin films have a semi-crystalline structure and that the molecules in the thin films are well dispersed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the film surfaces reveals that the pure PLA/PCL films exhibit a smooth surface, while the (PLA/PCL/ZrO2NPs) films have a rough surface. The thermal behaviour of the blends through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed fluctuations due to variations in the reinforcement ratio, resulting in changes in the glass transition and melting temperatures. These oscillations indicate changes in the level of crystallinity. ZnO2 has antibacterial properties that promote growth inhibition, making these films more effective in food packaging.

Electro-Mechanical Behavior of Copper-Based Electrical Motor Brushes

This study was mainly performed in order to examine the properties of electric motor brushes (EMB). EMBs are electrically conductive and work under wear conditions due to direct contact with the moving part (rotor) of electric motors. In accordance with the scope of the study, EMB characteristics were investigated in two different groups and reproduced with a new technique at the end of this phase. New EMBs were produced via varying proportions of copper matrix, graphene, and silicon carbide reinforcements. The composite-alloy powder elements were carefully squeezed by a cold and single-axis hydraulic press under a pressure of 500 MPa (±5 MPa) following 8 hours of mechanical alloying (MA). The molded composite product (sample) was sintered at 900° C for 1 hour in a reducing gas atmosphere. 100 kPa spring pressure was tested on each sample thrice with 8, 16, 24, and 32 m/s rotational speeds and densities of 4, 8, 12, and 16 A/cm2. Following this process, the electrical conductivity, porosity, hardness, wear loss, surface roughness, and temperature changes were investigated for each sample. It was determined that the electrical conductivity decreased with increasing reinforcement ratio and, in terms of electrical conductivity, affected the brushes’ properties negatively.

Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete One-way Slabs with Longitudinal Hollows

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete one-way slabs with longitudinal hollows. Hollow ratios (weight reductions) used in this work are 11.43% and 22.86%. Two longitudinal reinforcement ratios (ρ = 0.58 % and 1.03 %) and four steel fibers volumetric ratios (Vf = 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%), were used. Results show that slabs with longitudinal hollows having weight reduction up to 22.86%, show reductions in strength (ultimate load) up to 32% and toughness (energy absorption) up to 45% and higher deflections compared to corresponding solid slabs. However, these reductions lowered to 27.5% and 24.5%, respectively using 0.8% steel fibers or 6.3% and 25.5%, respectively by increasing longitudinal reinforcement from 0.58% to 1.03%. Furthermore, increasing longitudinal reinforcement from 0.58% to 1.03% along with using 0.4% steel fibers in a hollow slab gives a strength gain of 17.5% with a reduction in toughness of only 9.8% compared to reference solid slab with 0.58% longitudinal reinforcement and 0% steel fibers. Results also showed that hollow slabs offer stiffer load-deflection behavior (lower deflections) and less maximum crack width as longitudinal reinforcement and/or steel fibers.

Assessment of Ductility Demand-Based Blast Damage to Reinforced Concrete Columns under Blast Loads

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of various structural variables on the blast damage to reinforced concrete columns. The selected primary variables were the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, transverse reinforcement ratio, and axial load ratio, with the analysis based on the ductility demand to assess the blast damage. A parametric study based on finite element analysis was performed to analyze the effects of these variables. The results revealed that an increase in the longitudinal and shear reinforcement ratios significantly decreased the level of damage sustained by the columns under blast exposure, whereas an increase in the axial load ratio resulted in a comparatively lower reduction in damage. Columns with higher transverse reinforcement ratios experienced more severe damage owing to compression-induced brittle failure as the axial load ratio increased. This study provides guidelines for the appropriate selection of design variables to mitigate blast damage in columns.

Improvement of wear-resistant and thermal conductivity of aluminum matrix composite reinforced AL2O3/SiCw/Mg powder

Technological progress demands the development of materials that have special characteristics such as high strength, stiffness, light weight, and good thermal conductivity at a low price. The development of hybrid metal matrix composites is the most important field in advanced materials science engineering. This research determines about aluminum matrix composites (AMC) reinforced with alumina (Al2O3), Silicon carbide whisker (SiCw), and magnesium (Mg) addition. The matrix is made of 90 % pure aluminum powder, and commercially available reinforcing materials include Al2O3, SiCw, and Mg. Objectives include variation of reinforcement fraction and matrix, sintering holding temperature and time. The selection of the sample making process using powder technology followed by the sintering process at different temperatures namely 350, 450 and 550 °C with variations in holding time of 1, 2 and 3 hours. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of variations in the fraction of reinforcement and sintering treatment on the properties of wear resistance, hardness and thermal conductivity of aluminum matrix composites. The results showed that the composition ratio of reinforcement to aluminum in sintering treatment significantly affected the mechanical properties. The wear resistance of the material shows excellent performance, namely wear resistance of 0.000065 gr/s, hardness of 45.234 VHN and thermal conductivity of 184.855 Watt/m °C, at a reinforcement composition combination of 10 %AL2O3, 10 %SiCw and 20 %Mg and a sintering temperature of 550 °C. This indicates that the Aluminum matrix composite reinforced with Al2O3/(SiCw/Mg) is able to support the friction load due to its low wear rate, good hardness, and good thermal conductivity. This material is very suitable to be used as tribology material, brake element, especially brake drum

Local structural behaviour of the outer containment of an NPP against hard missile impact

An aircraft crash and missile impact on a nuclear containment structure is currently described as an event beyond design basis; however, soon, it will be qualified as a primary design criterion. In the present study, the structural and dynamic behaviour of the outer containment of a nuclear power plant (NPP) has been studied to substantiate its structural integrity against the rigid missile impact. Scaled experiments (at a 1:4 and 1:3 ratio with respect to shell thickness) have been performed to study the localized behaviour of the containment structure against 10 and 20-kg rigid steel projectiles. The reinforced cement concrete (RCC) targets of thicknesses 150 and 200 mm have been subjected to impact at incidence velocity close to the landing and taking of velocity of the aircraft. The flexural reinforcement ratio was considered 1.25 % for a 150 mm thick target and 1.53 % for a 200 mm thick target. The effect of shear reinforcement on the penetration and perforation resistance has been studied for a 200 mm thick RCC target. A detailed post-test examination was conducted to evaluate the localized physical damage characteristics such as spalling and scabbing of concrete, penetration, perforation, crack propagation, and the damage induced in both flexural and shear reinforcements. The mechanics of deformation and failure modes of the target were investigated under varying incidence velocities, 60–115 m/s. The reinforcement characteristics under dynamic loading, such as strain time histories, strain rate sensitivity, and dynamic material properties, were also investigated. The presence of transverse reinforcement in 200 mm thick targets improved the ballistic performance by 12.50 %. Furthermore, the transverse reinforcement also played a crucial role in restricting the bending of the rear face flexural reinforcement and controlling the rear face damage propagation.

Seismic damage assessment of hybrid tenon-mortise-in-situ UHPC connection piers

Based on the proposed static test carried out on one whole cast-in-place pier specimen and three assembled pier specimens with different connection modes, the damage process of the four specimens under horizontal reciprocating load is analyzed and their damage conditions are evaluated by using the damage classification methods and different damage models commonly used at home and abroad, and the damage modes of the three assembled piers differ to different extents from that of the whole cast-in-place specimen. Compared with the whole cast-in-situ specimen, the damage modes of the three assembled piers have different degrees of difference, and the damage value of the specimen with splice joints located in the pier body is smaller than that of the other assembled piers under the same displacement amplitude; parameter expansion analysis is carried out on the UT-2 specimen to study the effect of different parameter changes on the damage performance under the proposed static cyclic loading. The results show that the larger the axial pressure ratio is, the larger the damage is. The larger the length to slenderness ratio, the smaller the damage. When the hoop ratio is from 0 % to 0.262 %, the damage value changes obviously. When the longitudinal reinforcement ratio is between 0.7 % and 1.94 %, the abutment damage decreases with the increase of longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The ratio of the cam width to the abutment section length is suggested to be 0.49–0.69. The related research can provide reference for the engineering design and seismic damage assessment of assembled RC abutments.

Analysis of axial force variations and seismic performance of subway station columns under earthquake loading

Central column failure is a predominant seismic damage mode in subway station structures. During seismic events, the central columns’ vertical compressive force, as indicated by the axial compression ratio (ACR), undergoes continuous variations, significantly impacting both their failure modes and the seismic performance. This study involved establishing a finite element model of a subway station and conducting time history analyses to identify the distinct variation patterns of ACR in central columns for various seismic design scenarios. Based on these summarized patterns, appropriate ACR variations were designed for the columns, and the validity of the column model was confirmed using experimental data, enabling analyses of their failure modes and hysteresis characteristics under cyclic loads. Lastly, a sensitivity analysis of the parameters associated with the central columns was performed. The results demonstrated that the horizontal displacement and the ACR of the top of the central column were asynchronous, the frequency of the latter was 1.4–3.8 times that of the former, and the amplitude of the ACR was 0.08–0.68. When the frequency of the variable ACR was odd times, the damage and hysteresis curve of the column showed obvious asymmetry and harmfulness, and it exacerbated the damage to the core concrete of the column. Compared to applying a constant ACR, the bearing capacity and energy dissipation of the column were even reduced by about 50 % and 74 %, respectively. The specimens with the upper limit value of 0.95 of variable ACR had even more adverse effects on the damage and hysteresis behavior of the column than the scheme with a constant ACR of 0.95. In addition, the even multiple frequency of variable ACR had a limited effect on the seismic performance of the column, but the harm caused by the large amplitude variation of variable ACR could not be ignored. As to the impacts of structural parameters under cyclic loadings, elevating the longitudinal reinforcement ratio and decreasing the stirrup spacing within the central columns would substantially enhance energy dissipation capacity, with a maximum increase of about 69 %. Meanwhile, for columns with the same cross-sectional area, square columns exhibited superior hysteresis behavior compared to their circular counterparts. The findings of this study could provide guidance for the engineering design of the central columns.