Ultimate Load Capacity Research Articles

An experimental study on RC beams shear-strengthened with Intraply Hybrid U-Jackets Composites monitored by digital image correlation (DIC)

Reinforced concrete (RC) beams are commonly strengthened using steel stirrups, but these materials have limitations such as added weight and susceptibility to corrosion. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) offer a promising alternative to steel stirrups with high mechanical performance, low density, and resistance to corrosion and chemicals. In particular, Intraply Hybrid Composites (IRCs), which comprise multiple fibers oriented in different directions within a single matrix, have recently gained attention in the construction industry. Cakir et al. [1] investigated the use of three types of IRCs (Aramid-Carbon (AC), Glass-Aramid (GA), and Carbon-Glass (CG)) for strengthening 2-meter-long RC beams (the ratio of shear span (a) to effective depth (d) equals 3 (a/d = 3)) against shear fractures. In this study, the effects of these IRCs on the shear strength of 1.5-meter-long RC beams (a/d = 2) without transverse reinforcement were examined. In this scope, four-point bending tests were conducted on the beams after U-shaped IRC strengthening, and the impact of IRCs on shear strength was evaluated using both digital image correlation and classical measurement equipment such as strain gauges and linear variable differential transducers. The maximum load measured in RC1.5 was 194.50 kN, while the ultimate load capacity reached 265 kN in AC1.5, 246 kN in GA1.5, and 229 kN in CG1.5 after strengthening, representing increases of 36%, 26%, and 18%, respectively, compared to RC1.5. Additionally, the maximum mid-span deflections were determined as 30.40 mm, 16.10 mm, 22.20 mm, and 36.40 mm for RC1.5, AC1.5, GA1.5, and CG1.5, respectively. Moreover, the experimental results were compared with the predictions obtained from the international codes. It should be noted that the failure modes of RC beams are directly affected by the type of IRCs used, highlighting the significant contribution these materials can make to the structural behavior of RC beams.

Crack propagation, failure and ultimate load capacity of the grout layer in the prestressed anchor bolt foundation of wind turbine tower

The finite element (FE) analyses based on linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) for the crack propagation and failure of the grout layer in the wind turbine foundation with pre-stressed anchor bolts are presented. Firstly, one half-symmetric planar numerical model is developed. According to the linear elastic analytical results, one initial crack is set to be the zone of the maximum tensile streess and its direction is perpendicular to the direction of the maximum principle tensile stress. The crack will propagate in the direction of the zero mode-II stress intensity factor during the failure of the grout layer. The numerical simulations with different prarmeters are performed. The histories of mode-I stress intensity factor are analyzed and design formulas predicting the failure and ultimate load capacity of the grout layer are proposed based on parametric studies. The increasing width or the decreasing depth of the grout layer can significantly mitigate the failure. One case study of the grout layer with the typical size and the corresponding fatigue analyses are carried out. The numerical results show that the proposed equation can agree well with the cracking status and failure of the grout layer in practical engineering and help predict the fatigue life of the grout layer under the certain intial crack length.

Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation of axial tensile behavior of pipe joints based on bi-linear cohesive bond-slip model

PurposeDue to its inexpensive production costs, low stress concentration and maintenance-friendliness, the adhesive bonded pipe joint is frequently utilized for pipe connection. However, further theoretical analysis is needed to understand the debonding failure mechanism of such bonded pipe joints under axial tension.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, based on the bi-linear cohesive zone model, the integrated closed-form solutions were derived by considering the axial stiffness ratio and failure stage to determine the relative interfacial slip, interfacial shear stress and relationship of tension–displacement in the bonded pipe joint.FindingsAdditionally, solutions for the critical bonded length and the ultimate load capacity were put forth. Besides, the numerical study was conducted to verify the theoretical solutions regarding the load–displacement relationship. The interfacial shear stress distribution at different failure stages was presented to understand the interfacial shear stress transmission and debonding process. The effect of bonded length on the ultimate load and ductility of pipe joints was also discussed.Originality/valueThe findings in this study can give a reference for the design of bonded pipe joints in their actual engineering applications.

Flexural Response of Prestressed FRP Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beam under Static Load

The motive of building sustainable structures and strengthening the structural members is important to overcome the problems associated with poor initial design and/or construction, accidental events, and degradation related to the environment. This paper aims to assess the flexural behavior of a prestressed basaltic fiber-reinforced polymer- (FRP-) strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beam under static load through the finite-element method using ABAQUS CAE that is validated with experimental results from relevant literature. To achieve the desired objective, 18 models were prepared based on prestressing level, thickness of basalt FRP (BFRP), width of BFRP, length of BFRP, bond between concrete and BFRP, and type of FRP as study parameters. The results indicate that the use of prestressed BFRP is efficient in strengthening the flexural strength of the RC beam. Compared to nonstrengthened specimens, the flexural capacity of the specimens strengthened with BFRP at prestressing levels of 0%, 15%, 35%, and 45% show enhancement of 6.09%, 9.17%, 13.89%, and 17.57%, respectively. While increasing the width, length, and thickness of the prestressed BFRP section, increased yielding and ultimate load capacity of the specimen have been obtained; however, the ductility has been reduced up to 13.87% with increasing the BFRP thickness. The result also shows that the specimen strengthened with prestressed BFRP has better ductility than the prestressed carbon FRP (CFRP)-strengthened specimen; however, the model strengthened with prestressed CFRP has shown higher load-carrying capacity. It is also noticed that a cohesive bond better suited the experimental specimen than the fixed interference of the concrete surface, and relative to the cohesive bond, the fixed interference has shown a 17.4% higher ultimate load carrying capacity.

Hollow cylinder with thermally induced gradient of the yield strength: The gain in loading capacity under pressure

Plane strain problem of a thick-walled cylindrical pipe under internal and external pressures, made of elastic–perfectly plastic material with a radial dependence of the yield stress (produced, e.g., by one-sided accelerated cooling) described by a polynomial function is considered in the framework of small deformations theory, using the von Mises yield criterion. It is found that, at the fixed wall thickness and strength gradient, the gain in the ultimate loading capacity depends on the magnitude of the gradient but its dependence on the gradient direction, as well as pipe radii is rather weak. At the same time, the onset of yielding strongly depends on all the mentioned parameters. It is also shown that one-sided accelerated cooling enhances the loading capacity of the pipes, as compared to the normalized state whereas comparison with the steel that has experienced quenching with tempering may produce diverse results.

Axial compressive behaviour and physical characteristics of high strength self-compacting geopolymer concrete (HSGC) columns exposed to elevated temperature

The growing demand in the utilization of the cement has increased carbon emissions, necessitating the adoption of new technologies that are eco-friendly. Geopolymer concrete (GC) is a viable alternative to traditional cement-based concrete, with superior mechanical properties and sustainable performance. However, research on the elevated temperature exposure of geopolymer paste, mortar, and concrete is limited, particularly with respect to high-strength and self-compacting geopolymer concrete. This study aims to investigate the performance of high-strength self-compacting geopolymer concrete (HSGC) at room temperature and elevated temperatures up to 1029 ℃. The investigation is carried out consisting of two strength grades: normal strength GC and HSGC. Tests are conducted on both HSGC cube and column specimens to examine the residual compressive strength (CS) and axial compression performance of the concrete before and after exposure to elevated temperature. The fresh physical characteristics of HSGC are examined following EFNARC guidelines. Post-fire performance is analysed through physical observation, surface modification, crack pattern, weight loss (WL), and residual CS of HSGC samples. Load-Moment (P-M) interaction curves are developed to predict the ultimate load and ultimate moment capacity of the HSGC columns before and after exposure to elevated temperature. The ductility of heated and unheated HSGC columns is found to be almost same. Microstructural analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) are performed to examine the internal morphology of the HSGC samples before and after exposure to elevated temperature. Furthermore, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to compare the cost of HSGC production with conventional cement-based concrete. The analysis indicates that HSGC emits 6.15% less CO2-e than its counterpart cement-based concrete.

Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Columns Using Ultra-High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Jacket

The use of Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) increased in the field of civil engineering throughout the last few decades. UHPFRC is being used considerably on a large scale in megastructure applications. High compressive and tensile strength permits reconstruction and optimization of the structural members. At the same time, its improved durability properties make it easier to extend the life of the design and can be used as thin layers, cladding, repairs, and column coverings. Although UHPC has an extremely high compressive strength, it exhibits very brittle fracture behavior compared to normal strength concrete (NSC). Since the ductility and fracture toughness of UHPC can be enhanced by adding fibers, the addition of fibers to production adds innovative features to UHPFRC structures and opens up new application areas for UHPFRC. The aim of this study is to investigate the axial behavior of square reinforced concrete (RC) columns strengthened with UHPFRC jackets. Nineteen specimens were cast (1000 mm in height and a cross-sectional area of 150 × 150 mm, whose interface treatment methods were prepared through vertical grooving (VG), horizontal grooving (HG), and without grooving (NG), with the jacket thickness (20 mm and 40 mm) and the number of strengthened sides of the column (two, three, and four sides). The results show a brittle failure for all strengthened specimens. The UHPFRC-reinforced RC columns with vertical grooving (VG) showed a higher ultimate load capacity compared to the columns with horizontal grooving (HG) and the columns without grooving (NG). The horizontal grooving (HG) gives a better result than the jacket without grooving (NG) and increases the cohesion area between the jacket and the column for two and three of the RC columns’ strengthened sides. But, in the case of strengthening the columns on four sides, the effect of confining the jacket to the column appears, and the grooving causes weakness in the body of the original column so that the jacket without grooving (NG) gives a better result than the jacket with horizontal grooving (HG).

Structural Strengthening of Insufficiently Designed Reinforced Concrete T-Beams using CFRP Composites

This study aims to compare the response of reinforced concrete (RC) T-beams strengthened with carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite with that of non-strengthened control beams when subjected to monotonic two-point loading until failure for flexural once and shear again. The experimental programme tested eight RC T-beams, which included two reference beams without strengthening and six strengthened beams. The eight beams were divided into two main groups according to strengthening (flexural and shear). Experimental analysis was performed to study the effect of the CFRP laminate width in the flexural group and the spacing of CFRP U-wrap sheets in the shear group on the ultimate load capacity, load-strain relationship, and load-deflection relationship. Results show that increasing the width of the CFRP laminate in the flexural group improves the ultimate strengths to approximately 9.5%, 35%, and 41% for beams with CFRP laminate widths of 50, 100, and 150 mm, respectively, compared with the reference non-strengthened beam. The stiffness of the beams increases in direct proportion to the width of the CFRP laminate. In the meantime, decreasing the spacing of the CFRP laminate in the shear group increases the ultimate strengths to approximately 13.2%, 17.7%, and 23.5% for beams with CFRP U-wrap sheet spacings of 166, 125, and 100 mm, respectively, compared with the reference non-strengthened beam. Therefore, the spacing of the CFRP sheet is inversely proportional to the stiffness of the beam. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-08-05 Full Text: PDF

Experimental and numerical studies on shear behavior of prefabricated bridge deck slabs with compact UHPC wet joint

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) as a joint material for precast bridge decks might reduce the width of the joint and improve its connection performance and durability. This study proposes a type of compact UHPC wet joint based on the mechanical properties of UHPC and the force characteristics of transverse joints in prefabricated bridge decks. The shear behavior of the novel joint was investigated through experimental study and numerical simulation. In addition, the shear properties of compact UHPC wet joints were compared with epoxy joints. The results indicated that the shear resistances of compact UHPC joints are comparable to those of epoxy joints. The failure process of the precast bridge deck with new joint might be divided into three stages: elastic stage, working stage with cracks, and yield stage. No interface cracks or reinforcement slippage was observed throughout the loading process, indicating that the UHPC joint and the epoxy joint exhibited adequate shear resistance. The ultimate load capacity and corresponding mid-span deflection of UHPC joint specimens were respectively increased by 8.6 % and 75.0 %, when compared with the epoxy joint specimens. Finite element analysis reveals that the transverse shear transfer range of the compact UHPC joints is within 57.1 %. Bending failure due to the yielding of the transverse reinforcement at the bottom of the precast bridge deck is the primary failure mode for both specimens. Moreover, the stresses applied to the deck system have good continuity at the joint.

A New Top-Mounted Shear-Hinge Structure Based on Modal Theory and Rubber-Pad Damping Theory

Steel-spring floating-slab tracks (SSFSTs) are widely used as efficient vibration-damping beds, and in China, they are mainly used in subways and municipal railroads. The shear hinge is an important component that improves the stability of the line, and field research has found that the top-mounted shear hinge (TMSH) undergoes varying degrees of damage, which indirectly affects the safety and stability of line operation. In this work, we studied the causes of damage to TMSHs, designed a new TMSH structure with a rubber-pad layer installed based on modal theory and rubber-pad vibration-damping theory, and proved that the new structure can reduce the occurrence of damage by comparing it with the original TMSH structure. The main aspects of this study are as follows: Firstly, the ultimate load capacity of the existing and new TMSH structures was checked by establishing a refined finite-element model. Then, modal analysis and frequency-response function analysis were carried out based on modal theory and frequency-response function theory to reveal the causes of TMSH damage and prove that the new structure can effectively delay damage. Finally, the modal and vibration patterns of the two structures were obtained via indoor hammering tests and compared with the simulation results. The results show that the two TMSH structures are in line with the strength requirements, and the existing TMSH damage mainly results from the resonance between its natural frequency and the high-excitation frequency of the floating slab under long-term cyclic train loading, causing high-frequency vibration fatigue damage. It is also demonstrated that the new structure can effectively reduce the natural frequency of the TMSH so that its value is located in the region of low vibration on the floating slab. The excitation vibration levels of the TMSH mounted on the curved section of the 4.8 m floating slab and the 3.6 m floating slab were reduced by 9 dB and at least 3 dB, respectively. After adding rubber pads located in the 400–3000 Hz floating-slab high-vibration-level region of the TMSH damage-prone parts, the amplitude reduction, including lateral excitation of damage-prone parts, resulted in a vibration amplitude reduction of more than 30 dB. However, the vertical excitation of the mid-end and rear-end bolts slightly increased their amplitudes, whereas the shear-rod amplitude was reduced by 48 dB, and the front-bolt amplitude was reduced by 5.28 dB. The natural frequency and vibration pattern obtained from the hammering test were consistent with the simulation results, and the reliability of our conclusions was verified from both experimental and simulation perspectives.

Experimental study on using recycled polyethylene terephthalate and steel fibers for improving behavior of RC columns

In this research, the behavior of RC columns reinforced with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers and steel fibers (SFs) was experimentally investigated. The experimental work included testing of 8 columns with the dimensions of 150 × 150 × 1000 mm subjected to the axial loading up to failure. Three volume fractions (1%, 2%, and 3%) were considered for both PET fibers and SFs. The axial/lateral displacements of the columns and the transverse/vertical strains versus the loads of the bars were recorded. The peak load, yield load, failure mode, ductility, and stiffness of the columns were studied in detail. The effects of plastic fibers (PFs) and SFs on the concrete characteristics were experimentally examined. Using 2% SFs in the mix increased the compressive strength, tensile strength, and toughness of concrete by 12.7%, 87.6%, and 304.8%, respectively. Furthermore, enhancement rates of the ultimate load capacity, stiffness, and ductility of the columns with 2% SFs were 15.6%, 72.6%, and 34.29%, respectively. The ultimate load capacity, initial stiffness, and ductility of the columns reinforced with 1% PF fiber were 9.43%, 62.6%, and 19.4%, respectively, greater than those of the columns without fibers. The columns’ capacity was decreased with increasing SFs and PFs over 2%. An equation from ACI was used to predict the columns’ capacity and the results agreed well with the experimental results.

Effect of Fire Flame (High Temperature) on the Behaviour of Axially loaded Reinforced SCC Short Columns

Experimental research was carried out to investigate the effect of fire flame (high temperature) on specimens of short columns manufactured using SCC (Self compacted concrete). To simulate the real practical fire disasters, the specimens were exposed to high temperature flame, using furnace manufactured for this purpose. The column specimens were cooled in two ways. In the first the specimens were left in the air and suddenly cooled using water, after that the specimens were loaded to study the effect of degree of temperature, steel reinforcement ratio and cooling rate, on the load carrying capacity of the reinforced concrete column specimens. The results will be compared with behaviour of columns without burning (control specimens). The results showed that, the ultimate load capacity of columns exposed to fire decreases with increasing the fire flame temperature. At burning temperature 300 Co , 500 Co and 700 Co , the average residual ultimate load capacity for gradually cooled specimens were 91%, 81% and 71% respectively. By increasing the ratio of longitudinal reinforcement 44% , the maximum improvement in the ultimate load capacity was 24% and 17% for the gradually and sudden cooling respectively at Co 500 . For the same longitudinal reinforcement ratio and fire burning temperature, the ultimate capacity for the sudden cooling specimens was less than that of gradually cooled specimens by about 10%.

The Machine-Learning-Based Prediction of the Punching Shear Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Flat Slabs: An Advanced M5P Model Tree Approach

Reinforced concrete (RC) flat slabs are widely employed in modern construction, and accurately predicting their load-carrying capacity is crucial for ensuring safety and reliability. Existing design methods and empirical equations still exhibit discrepancies in determining the ultimate load capacity of flat slabs. This study aims to develop a robust machine learning model, specifically the M5P model tree, for predicting the punching shear capacity of a RC flat slab without shear reinforcement. A comprehensive dataset of 482 experimentally tested flat slabs without shear reinforcement was gathered through an extensive literature review and utilized for the development of the M5P model. The model takes into account influential parameters, such as slab thickness, longitudinal reinforcement ratios, and concrete strength. The performance of the proposed M5P model was compared with existing design codes and other empirical models. The comparison highlights that the developed M5P model tree provides a more accurate and reliable prediction of the punching shear capacity of RC flat slabs. This study contributes to the advancement of structural engineering knowledge and has the potential to improve the design and safety assessment of concrete flat slab structures.

Flexural behaviours of pretensioned prestressed concrete-UHDC composite beams reinforced with CFRP bars

Prestressing fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is widely acknowledged as an effective method for exploiting their high strength. However, compared to FRP reinforced concrete structures, prestressed FRP reinforced concrete structures exhibit weaker deformation capacity. To address this issue, ultra-high ductile concrete (UHDC) was employed to enhance the flexural behaviours of pretensioned prestressed concrete (PPC) beams reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars, while additional aluminium alloy ribs (ARs) were utilized to ensure proper anchorage. A total of eight beams were designed and tested, consisting of four PPC beams and four PPC-UHDC composite beams, which featured different types of CFRP bars, reinforcement ratios and UHDC placement. The test results revealed that the CFRP-reinforced PPC-UHDC composite beams exhibited significantly improved flexural performance in terms of cracking load, ultimate load and ultimate displacement. For specimens with lower reinforcement ratio, the UHDC effectively controlled the cracks and promoted uniform strain in the CFRP bars, leading to increased ultimate load capacity and ultimate displacement. For specimens with higher reinforcement ratios, the flexural performance was comprehensively improved when the UHDC was placed in the compression zone. Numerical analysis was conducted to further investigate the flexural behaviours of PPC-UHDC composite beams under various conditions.

Experimental and numerical investigation on concrete filled steel tube columns reinforced with diagonal stiffeners under axial loading

In modern construction use of composite sections such as CFST columns was improved because of their numerous benefits in construction processes. However, some disadvantages like buckling of steel tube, poor corrosion and fire resistance necessitates the stiffening measures to be adopted. In this study, a novel stiffening scheme was proposed to use with unstiffened CFST column. The stiffening scheme is named as diagonal stiffeners which comprises diagonal stiffeners attached at diagonally opposite ends of steel tube. The stiffeners can be provided in three formats viz, binary, tertiary, and quaternary arrangement. In this paper the response of diagonal stiffeners CFST columns under axial compression was investigated through experimental program. The findings of the analysis were collected with regard to ultimate capacity, load vs strain response, and load vs deformation behavior. Further, to explore the performance of suggested stiffener arrangement, a FE model was developed in ABAQUS and validated through experimental findings. A parametric examination was conducted to evaluate the influence of diameter of stiffeners, number of stiffeners and its yield strength on the ultimate load capacity, load vs strain behavior, axial stress distribution in concrete, lateral deformation of column, and Poisson’s ratio of outer steel casing. Results of the analysis showed that CFST columns strengthened with proposed stiffening arrangements showed approximately 15–25 % higher ultimate load capacity than unstiffened CFST section. Also, using the diagonal stiffeners improved the pre-peak and post-peak behavior of column section. The local buckling of outer steel casing was eliminated and ductility of column section improved. It was deduced that stiffened CFST columns had better confining pressure on concrete infill and composite interaction between outer steel casing and infill concrete was enhanced. The prediction formula to anticipate axial load capacity was also established and can be employed to design of CFST with diagonal stiffeners.

Mechanical behavior of CFRP confined seawater sea-sand recycled concrete-filled circular aluminum-alloy tube columns under axial compression

This paper presents an experimental study and theoretical analysis of the mechanical behavior of CFRP-confined seawater sea-sand recycled concrete-filled circular aluminum-alloy tube short columns (CFRP-CFAT) under axial compression. A total of 12 circular cross-section specimens were tested, including 4 concrete-filled circular aluminum-alloy tube (CFAT) specimens and 8 CFRP-CFAT specimens. The effects of the number of CFRP layers, the thickness of the aluminum tubes, and the strength of the concrete were investigated. The test results indicate that CFRP can effectively delay or even suppress the local buckling of aluminum alloy tubes and significantly improve the ultimate load capacity of the specimens, and the enhancement is approximately linear with the number of CFRP layers. Based on the experimental results, a modified axial strain-lateral strain response model for core concrete is proposed. In addition, a new analysis-oriented model applicable to circular CFRP-CFAT short columns is established and compared with the test results for verification. Meanwhile, the CFRP-CFAT ultimate load-bearing capacity calculation method is proposed based on the superposition theory and the analysis-oriented model. The predicted results are in high consistency with the experimental results.

Experimental investigation and numerical analysis on the stability of curved CFRP thin-walled pipe truss

This paper investigates the stability performance of a large-scale carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRP) truss used in the keel structure of a stratospheric airship. An ultimate load-bearing test was performed on an approximately 4 m long curved CFRP thin-walled pipe truss, which was reduced to sliding supports at both ends to simulate force conditions in the normal service phase. A modified initial geometric imperfection (GI) simulation method was employed to conduct a linear and nonlinear finite element (FE) buckling analysis of the structure, considering the composite lay-up of the thin-walled pipe. Parametric analysis studies were also conducted to improve simulation accuracy and lightweight design. Results show that the structure exhibits linear behavior under the ultimate load level, with failure occurring at the span position of the lower chord. The FE model predicts the ultimate load capacity and stiffness of the structure accurately, and the parametric analysis reveals the significance of choosing a reasonable imperfection form and amplitude for the FE analysis, as well as the significant effect of ply orientation on structural performance. This study provides valuable insights into the design and optimization of CFRP trusses used in the keel structure of stratospheric airships.

Structural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Hollow Core Slabs Cast with Self-Compacting Concrete Containing Recycled Concrete as Coarse Aggregate

This paper investigates the possibility of recycled aggregate use in concrete slabs with hollow cores. The main variables considered in the experimental study for the slabs were the recycled aggregate percentage and the hollow core number. Six slabs with dimensions of (1000 × 500 × 120) mm was fabricated and tested. The results showed that the addition of recycled aggregate in the concrete slabs affected the ultimate strength, ductility, and energy absorption of the concrete members. An increase of the recycled aggregate percentage to 25 % decreased the ultimate strength capacity by 3.54 %, but the increase of recycled aggregate to 50 % led to a decrease in the ultimate strength of about 6.64%. The existence of a hollow core reduced the cracking and ultimate load capacity of the RCA slabs, and this reduction was according to the core number which the fabrication of more cores caused more decrement. The ductility and energy absorption were decreased when the replacement ratio of the recycled aggregate increased. Also, the core number affected the ductility and energy absorption. The energy absorption was the most property affected by the core number increase which caused an average reduction of 71.5 % when the core number increased from two to three hollow cores.

The Influence of a Damaged Concrete Cover on the Behavior of a Simply-Supported Beam

The concrete cover is a part of the concrete that provides the required protection for the reinforcing steel within the required element from external effects. This concrete cover can be damaged for an assortment of reasons, one of which is environmental factors. As a result, this research focused on the effect of worn concrete covering on the structural response of beams. Moreover, the possibility of repairing or replacing this concrete cover with a cement material was done by testing seven beams with the exact dimensions (2700 mm long, 250 mm deep, and 140 mm wide). The first specimen was a control specimen, while in the remaining specimens, a part of the concrete cover was removed in the midspan region with a length of 600 mm and in different formats. The part below the neutral axis (tension zone) was removed in the first two specimens. The part above the neutral axis (the compression zone) was removed in the second two specimens. The whole cover was removed within the specified distance for the other two specimens. In one out of every two of these six specimens, the removed concrete cover was replaced with cementitious material. A flexural test was performed for all specimens, and the conclusion was reached that damaging or removing the concrete cover from the tensile region (below the neutral axis) is less harmful than from the compression region since the beam is often designed as a cracked section. Also, removing the concrete cover from the compression region gives cracks a greater width than removing the concrete cover from the tension region at the same loading level. In the case of replacing the concrete cover with a cementitious one, if the replacement is in the compression zone, it will result in cracks when loading with a width greater than that of the rest of the cases. For specimens that removed their concrete covers from the tension zone, compression zone, and the whole section, the failure loads decreased by 39%, 20%, and 23%, respectively, concerning the control beam. In contrast, all these specimens were repaired with cementitious materials, with an ultimate load capacity approximately equal to the control beams. From these results, any damaged concrete cover for beams in any zone with cementitious materials having high strength and a good bond with old concrete sections can be repaired. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-07-09 Full Text: PDF

Evaluation of corrosion management strategies for steel truss bridges based on ultimate load capacity and lifetime direct cost

This study focuses on the time-dependent advanced structural analysis of coated steel truss bridges exposed to atmospheric corrosion, considering different corrosion management strategies to determine the optimum choice. Three different types of steel truss bridges having the same span but different geometries were selected from the literature, and different types of coatings and their contributions to corrosion protection were examined first. Next, preventive maintenance alternatives were evaluated considering ultimate load capacity and lifetime direct costs. Full repainting was applied to the bridge for different repetitive time intervals, and time-dependent advanced analyses were performed. On the other hand, a new approach of selection-based member repainting was proposed, and critical members that required repainting were selected based on time-dependent advanced analyses in each maintenance period. Likewise, selection-based member replacements using conventional carbon steel or corrosion-resistant A709-50CR steel were performed as an alternative maintenance strategy. Finally, the ultimate load capacity and lifetime direct cost for all maintenance strategies were evaluated using multi-criteria decision-making methods, and the optimum solution for each type of steel truss bridge was determined.