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It is very tiresome for a practiser to detect the best feasible sizing design of structural members including reinforced concrete columns that is a highly nonlinear and complicated structural engineering optimization problem. This is due to such a design is practically conducted via conventional trial-and-error computing methods in which resistance to external loads, cost efficiency, and aesthetic factors, etc. have to be considered. This study focuses on minimizing the design cost of primarily proposed reinforced concrete column design problem via three overnew swarm-based optimizers such as Coati Optimization Algorithm, Fox Optimizer and Pelican Optimization Algorithm (POA) that are firstly utilized for this purpose. In this regard, the type of steel rebar distribution, the characteristic strength of the concrete, the height and width of the column section, and the number and diameter of the rebars are treated as discrete design variables of the newly proposed complex reinforced concrete column design cost optimization problem. In solution, the design requirements specified in practice code provisions should also be met. Here, Turkish Building Earthquake Code 2018 specifications are considered as practice structural design constraints. Consequently, the algorithmic performances of three overnew swarm-based metaheuristic optimization algorithms are compared and evaluated in detail. Amongst them, the POA shows most fruitful algorithmic design solution performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an efficient and reliable method is developed for assessing the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures by using the dynamic concentrated plastic beam–column element. Firstly, the beam–column element considering the dynamic effect caused by strain rate sensitivity of RC materials and the epistemic uncertainties in structural parameters is proposed, in which the mechanical behavior of plastic hinge is described by the damage index-based hysteretic model. Moreover, a simplified approach is employed to consider the strain rate-sensitivity of RC materials. Then the computation procedure for probabilistic seismic analysis of RC frame structures is illustrated based on the proposed element. The change in strain rate at each time step is considered by modifying the hysteretic model, which is further used in updating the matrices in dynamic equations. Finally, the probabilistic seismic response and damage analyses of a shaking table test RC frame structure are performed and the proposed method is validated with the experimental data. Furthermore, the influences of structural uncertainties on the analytical results of maximum drift ratio and collapse probability are discussed. It is indicated that both the dynamic effect and structural uncertainties need to be seriously taken into account for obtaining a more reliable seismic response and collapse assessment of RC frame structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering slope stability issues typically exhibit the impact of deteriorating durability on the susceptibility of slopes to failure. A thorough investigation was essential to explore theoretical and experimental aspects of slope durability degradation and its implications on long-term stability. Hence, a durability model was developed to accommodate slope stabilization using reinforced concrete (RC) support structures. This model was grounded in classical durability principles for RC structures. Subsequently, a model test was conducted to compare the responses of a standard slope model with a weakened counterpart subjected to environmental impacts. According to the proposed methodology for slope durability and stability, a case study involving future durability and stability predictions was performed. It was found that the theoretical solutions for the carbonation or neutralization (CN) velocity, depth, and penetration time agreed well with model test results. The slope surface displacements of the weakened slope with deteriorating coefficients between 0.6 and 0.9 were 4 to 8 times those of the standard slope, demonstrating significant degradation in stability. The case study indicated a steady reduction in the safety factor, at a rate of 2.3 to 2.4‰ per year throughout the slope's service life. Finite-element-based predictions also suggested the potential for corrosion of slope anchor bolts within 20 years and breakage within 30 years, at an average rate of 7.5‰ per year in the ultimate bearing capacity. These findings highlight the need for timely maintenance and reinforcement interventions to ensure the long-term durability of operational slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), crucial for the resilience of transportation infrastructure owing to its continuous steel reinforcement, confronts a critical challenge in the form of spalling—a distress phenomenon posing a threat to pavement durability and overall structural integrity. The detachment or breakage of concrete from the surface compromises CRCP's functionality and raises safety concerns and escalating maintenance costs. To address this pressing issue, our study investigates the multifaceted factors influencing spalling, employing a comprehensive approach that integrates statistical and machine learning techniques for predictive modeling. Descriptive statistics meticulously profile the dataset, emphasizing age, thickness, precipitation, temperature, and traffic parameters. Regression analysis unveils key relationships, emphasizing the significance of age, annual temperature, annual precipitation, maximum humidity, and the initial International Roughness Index (IRI) as influential factors. The correlation matrix heatmap guides feature selection, elucidating intricate interdependencies. Simultaneously, feature importance analysis identifies age, Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT), and total pavement thickness as crucial contributors to spalling. In machine learning, adopting models, including Gaussian Process Regression and ensemble tree models, is grounded in their diverse capabilities and suitability for the complex task at hand. Their varying predictive accuracies underscore the importance of judicious model selection. This research advances pavement engineering practices by offering nuanced insights into factors influencing spalling in CRCP, refining our understanding of spalling influences. Consequently, the study not only opens avenues for developing improved predictive methodologies but also enhances the durability of CRCP infrastructure, addressing broader implications for informed decision-making in transportation infrastructure management. The selection of Gaussian Process Regression and ensemble tree models stems from their adaptability to capture intricate relationships within the dataset, and their comparative performance provides valuable insights into the diverse predictive capabilities of these models in the context of CRCP spalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fully embedded and spatially diffuse sensors are central to the advancement of civil and construction engineering. Indeed, they serve as an enabling technology necessary for addressing the current challenges associated with through‐life management and structural health monitoring of existing structures and infrastructures. The need to identify structural issues early on has driven the integration of such embedded sensing capabilities into construction materials, turning passive structures into proactive, self‐aware “entities,” commonly referred to as Smart Structures. The economic rationale behind this endeavor is underscored by the vital significance of continuous monitoring, which enables prompt anomaly assessment and thus mitigates the risks of potential structural failures. This is particularly relevant for road and rail infrastructures, as they represent a substantial and enduring investment for any nation. Given that a large majority of these large infrastructures are composed of concrete and reinforced concrete, both academics and construction companies are continuously researching micro‐ and nano‐engineered self‐sensing solutions specifically tailored for this building material. This comprehensive review paper reports the latest advances in the field of self‐sensing concrete as of 2024, with an emphasis on intrinsic self‐sensing concrete, that is, electrically conductive functional fillers. A critical analysis and a discussion of the findings are provided. Based on the perceived existing gaps and demands from the industry, the field's future perspectives are also briefly outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn order to study the seismic performance of Reinforced Concrete columns strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer-steel tube self-compacting concrete, seven strengthened columns and one unstrengthened column were designed and manufactured with the main parameters of axial compression ratio, self-compact concrete strength, steel tube shape and steel tube thickness. The hysteresis curve, skeleton curve, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, stiffness, steel tube surface and steel bar strain variation of the specimens were analyzed. The test results show that the strengthened part of the specimen has good cooperative working ability with the RC column, and the failure process and failure mode of the specimen are similar to those of the concrete filled steel tube. Under the action of horizontal reciprocating load, the concrete at the bottom of the strengthened column is cracked; with the increase of horizontal displacement, the hysteresis curve becomes full and the energy dissipation capacity increases. The finite element software ABAQUS is used to model and analyze the specimens. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. It is proved that the simulation is reasonable and effective in unit selection, contact setting, meshing and material constitutive selection. The hysteresis curve, skeleton curve and failure mode of each specimen are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drilled shafts with a larger diameter than columns are frequently adopted as the foundation of highway bridge columns due to their superior economic efficiency and lower impact on existing facilities in the urban built‐up area. Different section dimensions lead to a socket connection between the column and the oversized shaft and a noncontact lap splice of their longitudinal bars. The force‐transfer mechanism and failure process of column‐to‐drilled shaft connections were deeply revealed in this study. Detailed FE models were developed at the Diana platform and validated against previous experimental results. Subsequently, a parametric study investigated the effect of the shear span‐to‐depth ratio, diameter ratio of shaft‐to‐column, column embedment depth, and shaft stirrup ratio. Finally, a modified strut‐and‐tie model (STM) was proposed to design stirrups of the transition region efficiently considering the experimental failure mechanism. Results indicate that the numerical models built in the Diana platform can precisely simulate the mechanical behavior of column‐to‐drilled shaft connections. The failure mechanism of column‐to‐drilled shaft connections is shaft stirrups yield at the compressive side induced by extrusion between the embedded column and shaft. The lateral loading capacity of column‐to‐drilled shaft connections increases with the increase of shear span‐to‐depth ratio, diameter ratio of shaft‐to‐column, column embedment depth, and shaft stirrup ratio. The modified STM is able to reveal the variation tendency of shaft transverse reinforcement demand with the various design parameters and give an average stirrup stress ratio of 1.20 and a coefficient of variation of only 8.31%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the operating speed of trains in modern railway networks can induce greater actions on the infrastructure than was previously the case. This is due, in particular, to the occurrence of the resonance phenomenon in railway bridges, which is the focus of this paper and was not traditionally considered as a concern. In this context, the vibrations experienced by bridges, both vertical accelerations and displacements, are limited by design regulations to ensure that the safety of train passages over bridges and the comfort of passengers are guaranteed. However, previous studies have shown that the conventional dynamic design methods do not always result in conservative designs, nor is the achieved safety always consistent. Therefore, a probabilistic approach is adopted in this study to optimize the cross-section properties of various railway bridges in a wide design range including section types, span lengths, and number of spans. For this purpose, an iterative line search-based optimization problem is formulated to minimize the thickness of the cross-sections under consideration and consequently the linear mass of the bridges. Meanwhile, the associated failure probabilities of the above dynamic limit states are constrained to be less than the desired level of safety by incorporating them into the optimization constraint. In this regard, First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) is adopted to perform reliability analyses. Thus, the obtained results are presented in the form of design curves that may assist designers to select minimum cross-section dimensions satisfying the desired level of safety in terms of dynamic limit states. This objective can be achieved using the proposed design curves without the need to construct associated complex computational models and perform computationally expensive dynamic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of high temperature and carbon fiber-bar reinforcement on the dynamic mechanical properties of concrete materials, a muffle furnace was used to treat two kinds of specimens, plain and carbon fiber-bar reinforced concrete, at high temperatures of 25, 200, 400 and 600 °C. Impact compression tests were carried out on two specimens after high-temperature exposure using a Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test setup combined with a high-speed camera device to observe the crack extension process of the specimens. The effects of high temperature and carbon fiber-bar reinforcement on the peak stress, energy dissipation density, crack propagation and fractal dimension of the concrete were analyzed. The results showed that the corresponding peak strengths of the plain concrete specimens at 25, 200, 400, and 600 °C were 88.37, 93.21, 68.85, and 54.90 MPa, respectively, and the peak strengths after the high-temperature exposure first increased slightly and then decreased rapidly. The mean peak strengths corresponding to the carbon fiber-bar reinforced concrete specimens after high-temperature action at 25, 200, 400, and 600 °C are 1.13, 1.13, 1.21, and 1.19 times that of plain concrete, respectively, and the mean crushing energy consumption densities are 1.27, 1.31, 1.73, and 1.59 times that of plain concrete, respectively. The addition of carbon fiber-bar reinforcement significantly enhanced the impact resistance and energy dissipation of the concrete structure, and the higher the temperature was, the more significant the increase. An increase in temperature increases the number of crack extensions and width, and the high tensile strength of the carbon fiber-bar reinforcement and the synergistic effect with the concrete material reduce the degree of crack extension in the specimen. The fractal dimension of the concrete ranged from 1.92 to 2.68, that of the carbon fiber-bar reinforced concrete specimens ranged from 1.61 to 2.42, and the mean values of the corresponding fractal dimensions of the plain concrete specimens after high-temperature effects at 25, 200, 400, and 600 °C were 1.19, 1.21, 1.10, and 1.11 times those of the fiber-reinforced concrete specimens, respectively. The incorporation of carbon fiber-bar reinforcement reduces the degree of rupture and fragmentation of concrete under impact loading and improves the safety and stability of concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translation abstract Life cycle assessment of concrete made of 100 % recycled aggregate compared to normal concreteThe construction sector accounts for a significant proportion of the consumption of natural resources and is also the source of the largest waste streams. The aim must therefore be to improve the circular economy in the construction sector. In this context, the Institute for Materials and Building Research (IMB) at Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM) has investigated the use of recycled aggregates beyond the technical building regulations up to 100 % including recycled sand for the production of structural concrete. The first applications of concrete with 100 % recycled aggregate (100 % RC concrete) have already been completed and are presented in this issue. Based on the findings from the research and construction projects, life cycle assessments were performed in which 100 % RC concrete (circular system) was compared with normal concrete (linear system) for the application case C30/37 XC4/XF3 (CEM II/C‐M (S‐LL)). The life cycle assessments of the two product systems were prepared in the form of nomograms so that input parameters such as transport services can be adjusted and a graphical evaluation of GWP can be carried out. This makes it easy to elaborate recommendations for the use of 100 % RC concrete with regard to reducing the environmental impact (GWP) in specific applications based on the life cycle assessments carried out. Other cements can also be taken into account after a simple conversion. The analyses show that the circular system has a slightly lower GWP when assuming the same transport distances and the same cement content but a slightly higher superplasticizer content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the shear strength prediction of Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (FRC) beams reinforced with Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars and without stirrups through the application of Machine Learning (ML) techniques. The utilisation of FRP bars, particularly Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Basalt Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) bars, has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional steel reinforcement due to their superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Moreover, the incorporation of macro- and micro-discrete fibres into concrete compositions enhances both shear and flexural behaviour while reducing crack propagation induced by tensile stresses. The primary objective of this research is to develop accurate predictive models for the shear capacity of FRP-reinforced concrete beams, considering various influential parameters. Six different ML techniques, namely Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Random Forest Regression (RFR), are employed to analyse the complex interactions between input variables, such as fibre type, bar diameter, concrete compressive strength, beam dimensions and the resulting shear strength. By leveraging these computational approaches, we aim to overcome the limitations of conventional analytical methods and provide robust predictions for structural design and optimisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a numerical and experimental study aimed at the modeling and dynamic characterization of the reinforced concrete structure of the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome, designed and by Pier Luigi Nervi with Annibale Vitellozzi, and built by Nervi & Bartoli contractors in 1956‐57. An experimental dynamic testing campaign has been performed to obtain the modal properties of the structure, identified using operational modal analysis (OMA). The axial symmetry of the Palazzetto's dome, expected to exist in an idealized perfect dome, has been observed to occur experimentally by noting that rotated modes possessed nearly identical frequencies, evidenced by closely spaced double peaks in the power spectral density. This observation recognizes the remarkable precision of Nervi's construction methodology. A numerical 3D model has been developed by relying on detailed information about the structure gathered from various sources, including archival documents, on‐site testing, and surveying. The model has been calibrated by means of modal updating based on the experimental measurements collected in this study. The reconstruction of the dome using laser‐scanning and aerophotogrammetry has revealed a slight asymmetry in its thickness distribution (and consequently its mass distribution) that, when incorporated in the numerical model, has been shown to contribute to the experimentally observed frequency split. It is expected that, by tracking these closely spaced frequencies on top of the typical variations of natural frequencies in a health monitoring approach, further insight might be gained into the detection of possible damages and/or degradation of the structure and its components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study experimentally and numerically examines the performance of low‐strength reinforced concrete (LS RC) columns confined with external post‐tensioned metal straps (PTMS). Twelve square columns of cross‐section 125 × 125 mm and height 1500 mm were subjected to axial load, with eight columns being eccentrically loaded. Four columns were control specimens without confinement, and another eight were confined using a novel technique that provides active confinement through the PTMS. The main parameters investigated included the PTMS confinement ratio (ρv = 0.64% and 1.28%) and different eccentricities (e/b = 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0, where e = eccentricity). The results show that the capacity and axial displacement of the PTMS‐confined columns increased by up to 43% and 116% over unconfined control columns. Finite element analyses of the columns were carried out in Abaqus® to provide further insight into the behavior of PTMS‐confined columns. This study contributes towards developing cost‐effective confinement solutions for LS RC columns, thus encouraging the broader adoption of active confinement techniques in practical strengthening applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel corrosion is by far the biggest durability issue for many reinforced concrete bridge structures worldwide. The columns in these bridges can be critical, especially for seismic resistance. In this study, glass-fibre-reinforced-polymer bars were investigated as an alternative to steel for sustainable and resilient bridge construction. As lateral reinforcement is more susceptible to corrosion, and structures fully reinforced with fibreglass bars display softer responses with lower shear and flexural capacity, fibreglass spirals and longitudinal steel reinforcement were used in the tested columns. The experimental programme included the design, construction and seismic testing of full-scale (508 mm diameter) and half-scale (356 mm diameter) columns. The other variables investigated were the axial load and the amount and spacing of spirals. For both column sizes, fibreglass spirals provided increasing confining pressure to the concrete core with increased deformations. For the full-scale columns, no adverse size effects were observed in comparison to the half-scale columns. The columns produced large ductility and energy dissipation. Results from selected representative specimens are presented here to establish the feasibility of using fibreglass spirals in circular bridge columns. Resilience can thus be built into new columns through innovative durable fibreglass lateral reinforcement, with similar if not superior behaviour to steel-reinforced columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic resilience of structures and infrastructures is affected by damage accumulation phenomena, mainly related to the type of hysteresis. Specifically, pinching drives the cyclic response of several building materials, such as reinforced concrete and masonry. Structural systems affected by pinching phenomena are prone to exhibit a dramatic increment of their displacement response after multiple cycles (e.g. repeated earthquakes). The authors estimate a reinforced concrete pier's response using truncated incremental dynamic analysis by concatenating three earthquake scenarios. The authors adopted a Bouc–Wen class hysteresis model to simulate the reinforced concrete pier's cyclic response, matching its experimental cyclic response. The current analysis proved that ductility and resistance primarily drive the seismic response after a single earthquake. However, the performance after multiple earthquakes strongly depends on the pinching, degradation and drift accumulation, which are generally neglected in standard design practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic damage indices (SDIs) quantify damages in civil structures at local or global level due to seismic activities with the help of various demand and capacity parameters. Conventionally, SDI estimation requires complex and computationally demanding nonlinear time-history analysis (NTA) to find the values of the demand parameters. Nowadays, buildings are equipped with sensors to monitor their responses during seismic activity. Therefore, a novel method utilizing such recorded floor-displacement data of reinforced concrete (RC) plane frames along with local and global capacity-based parameters to predict combined global damage index (GDI) is presented here. Two different GDI formulas, depending on the type of capacity parameters, are developed following the proposed method. Multilinear regression analysis is performed to develop the proposed formulas such that they can predict the G D I PA calculated from hysteresis energy-based weighted average of modified Park and Ang local damage indices. The application of the new method does not need dynamic responses of RC frames obtained from NTA. However, for establishing the new method in the present study, the output of NTAs for different RC frames due to several design spectrum-compatible ground motions are used for training and validation. Also, the explicit expressions for the regression coefficients are provided in terms of some structural properties (e.g., fundamental period, total height) and local soil type for wider applicability. It has been found that the estimated GDI values using the proposed method can satisfactorily represent global damage states based on the limiting values of G D I PA for the RC frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan lying on a high seismic region, many residential buildings constructed during the Soviet Union are still in service. These buildings were not properly designed against earthquakes and special seismic detailing was not well considered according to the local design code. Therefore, this paper presents an analytical seismic assessment of two typical reinforced concrete moment frame residential structures constructed in this era, representing 812 buildings with almost identical construction materials, geometries, and structural details. Two-dimensional nonlinear models were developed for these buildings in each orthogonal direction based on the structural details collected from a Kazakh government agency. Incremental dynamic analyses were then performed using 24 historical strong ground motions with fault characteristics similar to those in the Almaty region. Structural global and local seismic responses were investigated. A new approach was proposed to define structural global inter-story drift limits at different damage states based on local seismic demands considering uncertainties of earthquakes and structural nonlinear dynamic responses. Based on these inter-story drift limits, the structural fragility curves were then developed to identify the damage probability of these buildings, which were further used to roughly estimate repair costs at different earthquake intensity levels. It has been found that these buildings are vulnerable to destructive earthquakes due to poor structural details. They possess a high probability of incurring extensive damage (high repair cost) or even collapsing (irreparable) at the earthquake intensity level, with a return period of 475 years or 2475 years, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine probabilistic seismic demand-based optimal intensity measures (IMs) for seismic fragility evaluation of corrosion-damaged reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers. Toward this goal, a methodology is presented to select optimal IMs based on four criteria: efficiency, practicality, proficiency and sufficiency. Thirty-eight intensity measures in five categories of (i) acceleration-related, (ii) velocity-related, (iii) displacement-related, (iv) hybrid, and (v) general IMs are studied. The methodology is demonstrated in a case study of an RC bridge with various corrosion levels. The finite element model of a reference bridge pier is developed and verified by experimental results. Incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs) are carried out on the studied corrosion-damaged bridge piers using 22 ground motion records selected employing the conditional mean spectrum (CMS) methodology. The outcomes of IDAs are then used to develop linear probabilistic seismic demand models (PSDMs) for each bridge pier with varying corrosion damage. The obtained results show the high sensitivity of optimal IMs on the corrosion level of RC bridge piers. For instance, while the optimal IMs for the pristine bridge pier are sustained maximum acceleration (SMA) and effective peak acceleration (EPA), for the severely corroded pier peak ground acceleration (PGA) and acceleration level containing up to 95% of the Arias intensity (A95) are the most optimal IMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong seismic events frequently strike Chile. The last three significant events that caused considerable damage and losses are the 2010 ( M w 8.8, Maule), 2014 ( M w 8.2, Iquique), and 2015 ( M w 8.3, Illapel) earthquakes. Therefore, reliable fragility curves are necessary to evaluate the threat of earthquakes to the built environment. This study aims to develop empirical fragility curves of Chilean houses using damage from the 2014 and 2015 earthquakes. The data from 9085 and 7431 damaged houses from the 2014 and 2015 earthquakes, respectively, was obtained by the government. The fragility curves were estimated for reinforced concrete, reinforced masonry, timber, and adobe houses. Additionally, the fragility curves were constructed using three different Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) maps to quantify the variation of the fragility parameters based on the selected PGA map and to identify which PGA map generates the highest correlation with observed damage. Additionally, fragility curves obtained in this study are compared with curves from other studies. The median θ values of the fragility curves obtained in this study are larger than those from other reported studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-salinity environments in salt lakes can significantly affect the durability of reinforced concrete. However, there needs to be more reports on the corrosion characteristics of the rebars under salt lake environments, which play a crucial role in studying the deterioration of concrete structures. This study meticulously investigated how temperature variations and changes in water-cement ratios affect the corrosion of rebars in high-salinity lake water conditions, which not only supplements the existing research gap in salt lake conditions but also offers insights for predicting the service life of concrete structures under such circumstances. Reinforced concrete specimens with water-cement ratios of 0.49, 0.54, and 0.60 were tested in both the atmospheric zone and dry–wet cycling zone at temperatures of 15 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C. A three-electrode system was utilized to monitor the corrosion potentials of the rebars, while the linear polarization method was employed to determine the polarization resistance. The time to corrosion initiation, threshold chloride concentration, and corrosion current density were determined and discussed. The results indicated that temperature and salinity did not significantly affect the corrosion potentials of rebars. However, corrosion initiation occurred much faster under salt lakes than in marine environments, with initiation times averaging around 100 days. Furthermore, it was found that the corrosion rate tended to increase as the temperature and water-cement ratio increased. Additionally, the rebars in the atmospheric zone exhibited lower threshold chloride concentration than those in the dry–wet cycling zone at temperatures of 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C, and higher temperatures corresponded to more significant differences in threshold chloride concentration between the two zones. Lower water-cement ratios were shown to delay corrosion initiation and increase the threshold chloride concentration, suggesting the effectiveness in mitigating rebar corrosion in high-salinity environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foundation scour has been a reason for several cases of river-bridge earthquake-induced failure during recent decades. However, practising engineers often do not consider its direct effect on the seismic design procedure of such structures. The cavity around a bridge foundation is a random phenomenon depending on several uncertain parameters. This study provides a probabilistic platform to investigate the effect of random scouring on the seismic performance of a particular bridge. The procedure is implemented on an existing multi-span reinforced concrete bridge. To this end, the Monte Carlo simulation technique is utilised to generate samples of the random variables of the scour model to develop the scour hazard curve. A common type of reinforced concrete multi-span bridge is considered as a model. The Latin hypercube sampling method is employed to generate random scouring scenarios in the finite-element model, including uniform and non-uniform scour. Then, fragility curves are developed utilising cloud dynamic analysis. The results reveal that the scouring pattern is one of the most crucial sources of uncertainty. In most circumstances, uniform scour scenarios are more effective than the average of non-uniform cases. However, in some specific patterns, the effect of non-uniform scouring is dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing threat of accidental and malevolent blast loading to building structures has necessitated the consideration of blast-resistant design. Columns are the most vulnerable and critical component of a building, so they must be designed against blast to achieve defined performance goals. The influence of transverse rebar detailing on the ultimate capacity and failure modes of rectangular reinforced concrete (RC) columns against blast loads was investigated under different detonation scenarios. The performance of the columns was quantified using the failure charge mass and post-blast residual axial capacity. Pressure–impulse diagrams were used to study the failure modes. The analyses showed that special transverse detailing measures were the most effective for columns subjected to near-field surface bursts. The confinement of concrete due to ties and axial restraint played a critical role in improving the blast performance of columns. The provision of diagonal rebar improved the blast resistance by preventing direct shear failure, and was most effective when coupled with closely spaced lateral ties. Finally, the performance of code-compliant columns against blast was studied to determine the blast safety margin and the scenarios under which it would be necessary to undertake blast retrofitting of the columns in existing critical buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eccentric load behaviour of circular reinforced concrete columns strengthened with a novel engineered cementitious composite jackets reinforced with synthetic macro-fibres and polypropylene was investigated. Furthermore, an innovative method of interface treatment known as longitudinal grooving was used. Twelve test columns were cast, six of which were strengthened with 15 mm thick composite jackets, while three were strengthened with ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete jackets. In addition, three of the six columns strengthened with the composite jackets were confined with glass-fibre-reinforced polymer warps. The experimental results showed that both methods enhanced load-carrying capacity and energy dissipation with increasing load eccentricity. For example, the specimens strengthened with the composite jackets exhibited increases of 167% and 194% in load-carrying capacity, and enhancements of 92% and 53% at eccentricities of 30 and 60 mm, respectively. Finally, the previously reported model and different codes were used to validate the results, from which interaction diagrams were drawn. This showed a good agreement between experimental and predicted results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of an experimental investigation of a new dry connection for reinforced concrete slab elements are presented. Seven full-scale slabs were tested; one slab was monolithic and used as a control specimen, while the other six were assembled using top and bottom steel plates joined by steel bolts with high tensile strength. Two connection scenarios were investigated – a simple bolted connection and a connection with a shear key. The parameters studied were the use of stirrups at the connection section, the step size of the shear key, the bolt diameter and the number of bolts. The test results showed that using a shear key at the assembled section in demountable slabs was more efficient than the simple bolted connection, providing higher flexural stiffness, greater load capacity and less deflection. However, increasing the shear key step size improved the flexural performance of the demountable slabs. In addition, adding stirrups in the assembled section enhanced the flexural stiffness and the total load capacity of the demountable slabs. Predictions of the moment capacity and deflection of the demountable slabs showed reasonably good agreement with the experimental results but, to be generalised, additional calibrated data from experiments are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the seismic performance of assembled concrete structures is an effective means to improve the quality of buildings. In this paper, the primary focus was on elucidating the research objectives. Initially, seismic performance experiments for assembled concrete structures were meticulously designed, and subsequently, concrete structural frames were assembled for comprehensive experimental analysis. A finite element model was developed for the nodes of the assembled concrete structure, incorporating the concrete principal structure model, concrete damage plasticity model, and steel principal structure model. Numerical simulations and finite element analysis were performed to verify the specific factors affecting the seismic performance of the assembled concrete structure. The results show that the hysteresis curves of the assembled concrete frame obtained from the simulation and the test curves basically match, and the difference in the maximum forward beam end displacement is only 1.76 mm, with an error rate of only 3.98%. When the axial compression ratio of the assembled concrete structural frame is within 0.3, there is no decrease in the bearing capacity when the assembled concrete is loaded to 2.3% lateral displacement. This shows that the seismic performance of assembled concrete structures can be effectively analyzed by using finite element models, and also provides a new research direction for improving the seismic quality of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research data has been confirmed that the impact of stairs on the overall structure cannot be ignored under the action of earthquakes. To further evaluate the influence of staircases on the seismic resilience of reinforced concrete (Abbreviated as RC) frame structures designed according to Chinese design specifications during infrequent earthquake occurrences, a dynamic elastic-plastic analysis method was utilised. Differences in parameters such as period, vibrational modes, interlayer displacement angle, and base shear force were explored between structures with and without staircases. Data comparisons revealed that, in contrast to frame-only structures, structures with staircases exhibited reduced interstory displacement angles, floor displacement, and floor shear force under lateral loads, with the maximum reduction amplitude being 1.76%, 0.7%, and 1.82%, respectively. Such findings suggest that staircases enhance the lateral stiffness of the structure, thereby bolstering its seismic performance. Furthermore, it was observed that the variance in seismic performance attributed to staircases diminished as the number of storeys increased. The above research results can provide some reference for how to consider the influence of stairs in concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the influence of high-volume fly ash (HVFA) on reinforced concrete (RC) beam deflections over 180 days of continuous loading. The study comprises eight fly ash-based concrete mixes with varying fly ash ratios (0–60%). Experimental assessments were conducted on two load levels, corresponding to 25% and 50% of the initial cracking load. Thirty-two full-scale RC beams, each measuring 100 × 150 × 1800 mm, were fabricated for both load levels. Long-term deflections were monitored for all concrete mixes through sustained four-point bending tests at ages ranging from 1 to 180 days. A comparative analysis of the overall mid-span deflection between conventional and fly ash concrete RC beams was carried out against established design codes. It was determined that high-volume fly ash RC beams exhibited less creep and shrinkage deflection compared with conventional RC beams. Moreover, artificial neural network (ANN) modelling was also carried out to propose a significant model helpful in predicting the total deflection of RC beams containing any fly ash content and at any age of concrete. The present study offers valuable insights for engineers and designers, facilitating the evaluation of age-dependent deflection patterns in RC beams constructed with reinforced high-volume fly ash concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the possibility of utilising coarse recycled concrete aggregate (CRCA) obtained from a construction and demolition waste (CDW) plant in Delhi to make 60 MPa self-compacted concrete (SCC) was evaluated. The CRCA was used in as-collected condition and was not processed any further. The aggregate packing (bulk) density (APD) method was adopted to prepare the SCC-CRCA mixture in order to obtain an aggregate mixture exhibiting maximum bulk density/least void content (45%). In addition, SCC was made using aggregate mixtures in which the natural coarse aggregate (NCA) was replaced with CRCA at 0%, 20% and 100% of the total coarse aggregate content by weight. The cement, fly ash, silica fume and water were kept constant for all SCC mixtures. The effects of CRCA on the flow behaviour, mechanical strength, shrinkage characteristics and microstructure properties of SCC mixtures were evaluated. The test results indicated that SCC mixtures made with up to 45% CRCA replacement can be used for structural concrete, which is higher than that recommended in Indian (20%) and international specifications (35%) for traditionally vibrated (conventional) concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the comparative fire performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams made of concretes with different strengths by undertaking fire resistance tests. Four RC beams made of normal strength concrete (NSC), high strength concrete (HSC), and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with different fiber combinations, were subjected to structural loading and tested under fire conditions. Results from the fire resistance tests show that UHPC beams undergo severe fire-induced spalling and exhibit lower fire resistance as compared to HSC and NSC beams. Additionally, the inclusion of polypropylene (PP) fibers in UHPC beams aids in reducing spalling and increasing fire resistance in UHPC beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete exposed to fire can experience spalling when the pore pressure increases due to water evaporation resulting in damage to part of the concrete cross-section which causes the loss of the initial cross-sectional symmetry, both thermal and geometrical. This may lead to what is, in essence, a biaxial bending problem in reinforced concrete columns. This study does not deal with the prediction of the occurrence of spalling for which a fully coupled hygro-thermo-mechanical analysis would be required. This work evaluates the consequences that corner spalling and surface spalling have on the fire resistance of reinforced concrete columns and presents a methodology based on the determination of a modified fire resistance time. An advanced fiber based numerical model for evaluating the fire resistance of RC sections exposed to fire is used as a tool to analyse the effect that spalling has on the performance of the columns. The model is able to generate the interaction surfaces of the columns subjected to uniaxial or biaxial bending and 4-sided exposed to the standard fire curve ISO 834. After a parametric analysis, it is observed that the negative effect of spalling can be quantified by means of an additional fire exposure time, which ranges between 0–35 min and depends on the column cross-section configuration, dimensions and load level. Finally, a proposal for the calculation of the modified fire resistance time for the effect of spalling is presented, which may be beneficial for practitioners in design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The external confinement provided by the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets leads to an improvement in the axial compressive strength (CS) and strain of reinforced concrete structural members. Many studies have proposed analytical models to predict the axial CS of concrete structural members, but the predictions for the axial compressive strain still need more investigation because the previous strain models are not accurate enough. Moreover, the previous strain models were proposed using small and noisy databases using simple modeling techniques. Therefore, a rigorous approach is needed to propose a more accurate strain model and compare its predictions with the previous models. Design/methodology/approach: The present work has endeavored to propose strain models for FRP-confined concrete members using three different techniques: analytical modeling, artificial neural network (ANN) modeling and finite element analysis (FEA) modeling based on a large database consisting of 570 sample points. Findings: The assessment of the previous models using some statistical parameters revealed that the estimates of the newly recommended models were more accurate than the previous models. The estimates of the new models were validated using the experimental outcomes of compressive members confined with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wraps. The nonlinear FEA of the tested samples was performed using ABAQUS, and its estimates were equated with the calculations of the analytical and ANN models. The relative investigation of the estimates solidly substantiates the accuracy and applicability of the recommended analytical, ANN and FEA models for predicting the axial strain of CFRP-confined concrete compression members. Originality/value: The research introduces innovative methods for understanding FRP confinement in concrete, presenting new models to estimate axial compressive strains. Utilizing a database of 570 experimental samples, the study employs ANNs and regression analysis to develop these models. Existing models for FRP-confined concrete's axial strains are also assessed using this database. Validation involves testing 18 cylindrical specimens confined with CFRP wraps and FE simulations using a concrete-damaged plastic (CDP) model. A comprehensive comparative analysis compares experimental results with estimates from ANNs, analytical and finite element models (FEMs), offering valuable insights and predictive tools for FRP confinement in concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Evaluate the performance of progressive collapse of full-scale three-dimensional structure (3D) beam-slab substructures with and without the presence of reinforced concrete (RC) balconies using two concrete mixes [normal concrete (NC) and rubberized concrete (RuC)]. Design/methodology/approach: This study examines two concrete mixes to evaluate the progressive collapse performance of full-scale 3D beam-slab substructures with and without the presence of RC balconies using the finite element (FE) method. Findings: The results showed that the vertical loads that affect the structures of the specimens after including the balconies in the modeling increased by an average of 29.3% compared with those of the specimens without balconies. The specimens with balconies exhibited higher resistance to progressive collapse in comparison with the specimens without balconies. Moreover, the RuC specimens performed very efficiently during the catenary stage, which significantly enhanced robustness to substantial deformation to delay or mitigate the progressive collapse risk. Originality/value: All the experimental and numerical studies of the RC beam-slab substructures under progressive collapse scenarios are limited and do not consider the balcony's presence in the building. Although balconies represent a common feature of multistory residential buildings, their presence in the building has more likely caused the failure of this building compared with a building without balconies. However, balconies are an external extension of RC slabs, which can provide extra resistance through tensile membrane action (TMA) or compressive membrane action (CMA). All those gaps have not been investigated yet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence evaluation of the additive fibre on concrete structures is a concerned problem especially in strengthening and repairing engineering. Current theoretical studies on the damage mechanisms of tunnel lining are generally based on the tensile and compressive characteristics of the ordinary concrete. Little attention is paid to the toughness and damage development of the fibre reinforced concrete, as well as the influences of high-speed train dynamic loading. In this paper, both tensile and compressive experiments of fibre reinforced concrete with different lengths and volume contents are carried out considering three types of the glass, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) and hybrid fibres. Afterwards, the damage evolution of fibre reinforced concrete is explored by application of the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. The hypothesis of strain equivalence and damage theory of Najar are employed to determine the damage parameters of the fibre reinforced concrete so as to establish three-dimensional finite element model of surrounding rock-tunnel. Finally, the parameters that affect damage development of concrete tunnel lining incorporated fibre under train loading, including the vehicle speed, fibre type, fibre length, and volume content, are performed. The results show that adding fibre into concrete can effectively enhance the damage resistance capacity of concrete and significantly improve the developing trend of multistep damage of ordinary concrete under train excitation loading. Moreover, fibre reinforced concrete can reduce the final damage values of tunnel lining subjected train loading. The paper contributes to the understanding of damage behaviours of fibre reinforced concrete lining for high-speed trains loading as a potential risk in the course of the operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural design rules of reinforced concrete structures for using non-linear analysis with MC2010 are presented in this article. The authors propose guidelines and good practice for using the non-linear analysis tools when performing structural design tasks. A brief resume of the state of the art in non-linear constitutive concrete models is presented as well. In general, Portugal's structural design is based on linearized analysis, using the partial safety factor method. Although this methodology is validated and commonly used, it still presents several drawbacks: (i) it is uneconomic if the behavior is fragile, localized or unknown; (ii) it makes architectural solutions unfeasible with the reduction of constructed spaces; (iii) rendering existing structures design with outdated codes is unfeasible. The civil engineering industry widely accepted the linearized analyses, due to its easy and fast implementation with minimum material inputs and knowledge. On the contrary, in developed European countries, the non-linear analyses are already used in structural design to optimize the constructed space. Although the natural uncertainties arising from the properties of concrete are taken into account, the use of advanced constitutive models allows to promote structural solutions that enhance constructed space and satisfy the expectations of potential investments, either in the private and public sector rationally and safely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures are mainly designed to withstand both static and dynamic loads. However, due to the highly nonlinear behavior of RC structures subjected to extreme dynamic loads, these structures have a very complex damage behavior under dynamic impact loading. In fact, current existing methods for damage‐simulation and prediction are generally based on either empirical data, simplified mechanical approaches or complex numerical simulations mainly using the finite element method. In this regard, empirical and semi‐empirical models can be considered to calculate the load‐bearing capacity in a simplified way with only a few input parameters. Hence, using current experimental test data, this paper aims to analyze and assess existing empirical and semi‐analytical approaches that are established in standards and guidelines. Accordingly, a functional relationship in terms of an impact factor is found. Based on the obtained results, different approaches are also developed to describe the resistance to projectile penetration of RC structures as well as the force interaction between projectile and RC structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain a precise finite-element model (FEM) for analyzing the dynamic response of corroded beams at high temperatures, a stepwise FEM modification strategy is proposed based on the improved extreme learning machine. Three concrete beams were designed and cast, and the dynamic response characteristics of corroded concrete beams at room temperature and high temperature are discussed. Firstly, electrical accelerated corrosion tests and vibration tests were conducted on simply supported beams at room temperature. The fundamental frequencies of concrete beams under different corrosion ratios were measured. The attenuation law of fundamental frequency with corrosion ratio also was studied. Subsequently, the FEM under different corrosion ratios was modified. The bond-slip between steel bars and concrete under different degrees of corrosion was considered during the correction process. Finally, a vibration test at high temperature was performed. The modal attenuation law of corroded beams at high temperatures was analyzed. Based on the modified FEM, numerical analysis at high temperature was performed. The proposed FEM modification strategy and the study of the attenuation regularities of modal information under fire exposure provide a foundation for further research on the damage development of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beams under fire exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional recovery is a new, nonstandardized building design objective, intended to improve a building's capacity to maintain or rapidly restore basic intended functions after a natural hazard event. Current building seismic design standards, which target life-safety performance objectives, provide limited requirements to ensure buildings maintain, or rapidly recover, function after earthquakes. Therefore, the expected functional recovery performance that is provided by current building codes is unclear. To provide clear and systematic insights to inform the development of prescriptive and performance-based design standards, this study documents the functional recovery performance for a set of 60 reinforced concrete archetype buildings. The results indicate that the estimated functional recovery time for reinforced concrete buildings designed to life-safety standards may approach 1 year, on average, for design-level earthquakes. Additionally, while increased strength and stiffness requirements significantly reduce the likelihood of a building being marked as unsafe due to structural damage, additional design provisions for nonstructural components are required to ensure a high confidence of rapid recovery. The findings from this study clarify the expected post-earthquake recovery of modern reinforced concrete buildings and identify key trends in underlying damage and response mechanisms required to improve future building performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional reinforced concrete shear walls are vulnerable to strong earthquakes with significant residual deformations, which substantially affect structural service and can even lead to structural collapse. Superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) are advanced materials that can realize strain recovery upon unloading. If SMAs can be used as reinforcing bars in structures, they can undergo large deformation without permanent deformation. This study presents a complementary and synergistic material system that integrates SMA with damage-tolerant engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) to minimize residual displacement and mitigate concrete damage. This study explored the seismic performance of shear walls using SMA and ECC in the plastic hinge region. Reverse cyclic loading tests were performed on four specimens to demonstrate the feasibility of this method. The specimens included a conventional steel-reinforced concrete shear wall (SW-R-C), steel-reinforced ECC shear wall (SW-R-ECC), SMA-reinforced concrete shear wall (SW-SMA-C), and SMA-reinforced ECC shear wall (SW-SMA-ECC). The results show that the SW-SMA-C specimen exhibited remarkable self-centering capability of more than 85% even after a large deformation, compared to SW-R-C. Furthermore, reduced damage and better ductility were observed in the SW-SMA-ECC specimen in addition to reduced residual displacement. The proposed approach indicated that SMA combined with ECC is more effective in mitigating plastic hinge damage and minimizing residual displacements, which could improve the seismic performance of shear walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative study on the size effect behaviors of shear performances of concrete shear walls reinforced by steel bars and Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) bars. All the works are conducted through a two-dimensional meso-scale numerical simulation model representing the concrete shear wall. The horizontal reinforcement ratio and the sectional size are the main parameters concerned by the present study. Both the seismic behaviors under cyclic loading and the size effect behaviors of the shear performances were simulated and investigated. It can be concluded from the simulation results, (1) the use of steel bars or BFRP bars as horizontal reinforcement does not change the shear failure modes of concrete shear walls, (2) the size effect on the nominal shear strength of BFRP reinforced concrete (BFRP-RC) shear wall is more significant compared to that for steel-RC shear wall, (3) the increase of horizontal reinforcement ratio improves the shear capacity of the concrete shear wall, while weakens the size effect on the nominal shear strength, and (4) the size effect law for the nominal shear strength of steel-RC shear wall is applicable to BFRP-RC shear wall. Finally, the importance of considering size effect in the evaluation of shear performance of steel-/BFRP-RC shear wall is manifested by comparing the predictive results of several popular design codes with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have been widely used in shear strengthening applications of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The accurate prediction of the FRP contribution to the shear strength of beams is essential for reliable design. Gene expression programming (GEP) has been widely utilized because it reliably expresses complex relationships between experimental variables. In this study, three new GEP models are proposed for three different strengthening configurations of FRP such as fully-wrapping, U wrapping, and side-bonding to predict the FRP contribution to shear strength. These models are developed using the most comprehensive database containing a total of 811 strengthened beams (350 fully-wrapped, 328 U-wrapped, and 133 side-bonded. Many variables have been considered in the proposed GEP models, including those that have been experimentally effective but are often neglected in existing literature equations, such as the shear span-to-effective depth ratio (a / d) and the stirrup ratio ( ρ w ). Additionally, the reliability of existing equations in the literature and the proposed GEP models for predicting the FRP contribution to shear strength was statistically evaluated. As a result of this evaluation, the proposed GEP models for each strengthening configuration of FRP yielded the most accurate statistical results, with the lowest coefficient of variation (COV), and the highest coefficient of correlation (R). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]