Debonding Failure Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened with CFRP Plates

In this study, experimental work was carried out on reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) plates. This study aims to examine the effect of the reinforcement ratio on the flexural behavior of these beams and propose a new model for predicting the debonding moment. Six RC beams consisting of three control beams and three beams strengthened with CFRP plates were tested. The beams were simply supported and loaded with four-point bending. The test variable was the tensile reinforcement ratio (1%, 1.5%, and 2.5%). Analytical prediction using the fiber element method was also carried out to obtain the complete theoretical response of the beam due to flexural loads. The test results show that the reinforcement ratio affected the bending performance of RC beams with CFRP plates. Following this, the experimental data from 60 beam test results from published literature and this study were analyzed. From these data, it was found that the ratio of tensile reinforcement, the ratio of modulus of elasticity of concrete, the modulus of elasticity of the plate, and plate thickness all affect the value of debonding moment. A parametric study using fiber element and two-dimensional finite element method was also carried out to confirm the effect of these parameters on debonding failure. These parameters were then used to develop an equation to predict the debonding moment of RC beams strengthened with CFRP plates using simple statistical analysis. This analysis resulted in a simple model for predicting the debonding moment. Then the model is entered into a computer program, and the complete response of the cross-section due to debonding failure can be obtained.

Numerical Study of RC Beams Strengthened with Fe-Based Shape Memory Alloy Strips Using the NSM Method

This paper presents a finite element (FE) analysis for predicting the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with Fe-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) strips using a near surface mounted (NSM) method. Experimental results reported in the literature were used to verify the proposed FE model. FE analyses were conducted using OpenSees, a general-purpose structural FE analysis program. The RC beam specimens were modeled using a nonlinear beam-column element and a fiber element. The Concrete 02 model, Steel 01 model, and Pinching 04 model were applied to the concrete, steel reinforcement, and Fe-SMA strip in the fiber element, respectively, and the FE analysis was carried out in a displacement control method based on the Newton-Raphson method. The FE model of this study accurately predicted the initial crack load, yield load, and ultimate load. From parametric analyses, it was concluded that an increase in the compressive strength of the concrete increases the ductility of the specimen, and an increase in the level of recovery stress on the Fe-SMA strip increases the initial stiffness of the specimen.

Numerical Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls Using Force-Based Fiber Element Method

Reinforced concrete shear walls are the structural elements that considerably increase the seismic performance of buildings. Fiber elements and fiber-spring elements are used for the modeling of the inelastic behavior of these elements. The Fiber Element Method provides a certain amount of accuracy for the modeling of reinforced concrete shear walls. However, the studies related to this method are still in progress. In this study, the efficiency of the force-based Fiber Element Method is investigated for different damping ratios and different damping types that used in the structural damping for reinforced concrete shear wall structures. Two shear wall structures that subjected to seismic loads are used for the comparison of numerical analysis and experimental results. The comparisons are achieved according to the absolute maximum values of the overturning moment, the base shear force, and the roof displacement. Rayleigh damping and stiffness-proportional damping types for the damping ratios that vary between 2-3% provide better results than mass-proportional damping. Additionally, the optimum number of fiber element for Rayleigh and stiffness-proportional damping types is determined for the optimum damping ratio that provides minimum differences between numerical analysis and experimental results. For these damping types, when the length of a fiber is smaller than 3% of the longitudinal length of the shear wall at the optimum damping ratios, the roof displacement differences between numerical analysis and experimental results are less than 2.5%.

Repetitive Detection of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contaminants with Bioluminescent Bioreporters Attached on Tapered Optical Fiber Elements

In this study, we show the repetitive detection of toluene on a tapered optical fiber element (OFE) with an attached layer of Pseudomonas putida TVA8 bioluminescent bioreporters. The bioluminescent cell layer was attached on polished quartz modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The repeatability of the preparation of the optical probe and its use was demonstrated with five differently shaped OFEs. The intensity of measured bioluminescence was minimally influenced by the OFE shape, possessing transmittances between 1.41% and 5.00%. OFE probes layered with P. putida TVA8 were used to monitor liquid toluene over a two-week period. It was demonstrated that OFE probes layered with positively induced P. putida TVA8 bioreporters were reliable detectors of toluene. A toluene concentration of 26.5 mg/L was detected after <30 min after immersion of the probe in the toluene solution. Additional experiments also immobilized constitutively bioluminescent cells of E. coli 652T7, on OFEs with polyethyleneimine (PEI). These OFEs were repetitively induced with Lauria-Bertani (LB) nutrient medium. Bioluminescence appeared 15 minutes after immersion of the OFE in LB. A change in pH from 7 to 6 resulted in a decrease in bioluminescence that was not restored following additional nutrient inductions at pH 7. The E. coli 652T7 OFE probe was therefore sensitive to negative influences but could not be repetitively used.

Nonlinear finite element and fiber element analysis of concrete filled square steel tubular (cfst) under static loading

The combination of thin-walled steel structure with concrete infill can be used as the alternative material properties in the building in Indonesia. This composite material is suitable for seismic-resistant building because it has more ductility than conventional material. In the tsunami event, some tsunami debris strikes the building and induced partial or full collapse of the building. The loading tip shape of tsunami debris which contacts to a tubular surface affects the local deformation or buckling mode of the thin-walled structures. In order to investigate the effects, we conducted three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analyses of concrete filled square steel tubular members subjected to concentrated lateral loads by using the finite element analysis (FEM) program MSC Marc/Mentat. The fiber element analysis is also performed to reduce the analysis time of FEM and simplify the analysis. The accuracy of the FEM and fiber element analysis is verified by the experiment. Being based on the parametric numerical study, it discusses the effect of axial load on the load-deflection relations. It shows that the higher the axial load, the more degradation the ductility of the structure.