Reliability Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets

The uniaxial load tests were conducted to investigate the material behavior of CFRP sheets. The results show that the probability distribution of CFRP tensile strength can be described by the three-parameter Weibull distribution. The design formulae for determining flexural capacity of reinforced concrete strengthened with CFRP sheet are proposed. The Monte Carlo procedure was applied to simulate the flexural capacity of reinforced concrete strengthened with CFRP sheet. By using the JC method, the reliability index was calculated based on the statistics of flexural capacity and load effect. After the analysis of the effect of the partial factor of CFRP sheet on the reliability index, the results reveal that the reliability index of all design points are the most close to target reliability index overall when the partial factor of CFRP sheet is 1.25,and in this condition the reliability index of three flexural failure modes achieve the target reliability index respectively. Therefore, the partial factor is suggested to be 1.25, which meets the requirement of reliability design.     

Review of Research on Damage of Corrod Reinforced Concrete

The research result shows that the corrosion of reinforcement is one of the dominating factor for decreasing the durability of reinforced concrete structures. In this paper, the significance of the research of corroded reinforced concrete is presented, and an attempt is made to integrate the latest development with regard to the mechanical behaviors of reinforcement corrosion, the damage of concrete due to corroded bars, bond relationship between corroded bars and concrete, as well as the load capacity of corroded reinforced concrete flexural member and compressive member and the seismic behavior of corroded reinforced concrete element. And the trend of its development in future is discussed as well.     

Simulation Analysis of Flexural Performance of Reinforced Concrete Beam in Salt-frost Environment

Considering the damage of concrete mechanical properties and bonding behavior between the steel bar and concrete after the freezing and thawing function in the numerical simulation, the nonlinear analysis on flexural performance of reinforced concrete beam which experiences different salt-frost cycles is conducted, and the evolution law of resistance performance of reinforced concrete beam is studied. It is shown that, in the salt-frost environment, the decrease of concrete mechanical properties is the main reason that causes the degeneration of RC beam on flexural performance, while the reduction of bonding property has an unobvious effect on the beam resistance performance. When the salt-frost cycles reach a certain level, the beam failure pattern would change from the under-reinforced failure to over-reinforced failure. The freeze-thaw damage of bonding property in the beam-ends anchorage zone has a certain effect on the beam resistance behavior, especially for the more serious freeze-thaw degree, the resistance performance of the beam reduces about 4% than the perfect anchor beam.     

Mechanical Properties of Concrete Cylinders Confined with CFRP Sheets Subjected to Axial Compression

Based on Drucker-Prager criterion with non-associated flow rule, numerical analysis of mechanical properties of concrete cylinders were carried out by using non-linear finite element method. The effect caused by various parameters such as wrap thickness, fiber orientation and concrete strength on axial mechanical properties of concrete cylinders is discussed. The results show that the results calculated by non-associated flow rule conform to that in the test. It is demonstrated that there is significant enhancement both in compressive strength and ductility of cylinders with the increase of wrap thickness. Moreover, the gain in axial compressive strength is observed to be higher for lower strength concrete and be highest in the cylinders wrapped with the hoop orientation.     

Discussions on the Bearing Capacity of the Enclosed Reinforced Concrete Strengthened Brick Masonry Column under Axial Compression

The calculation problems of bearing capacity of enclosed reinforced concrete strengthened brick masonry column under axial compression is introduced, which can be available for reference in calculating the bearing capacity of enclosed reinforced concrete strengthened brick masonry column.     

Mechanical Characteristics of Earthquake-Resistant Reinforced Concrete Frame Joints

On the basis of analysis and induction of experimental results on earthquake-resistant frame joint both at home and abroad, it is clearly pointed out that the mechanical characteristics of the joint in which shear failure may occur after yielding of longitudinal rebars at the beam end or at the column end are classified into three types, i. e ., diagonal tension, diagonal compression and a combination of diagonal tension and diagonal compression. A region of these three types of mechanical characteristics in the coordinates composed of relative shear force and relative ratio of transverse reinforcement is given, and the variation law and the corresponding reasons for the mechanical behaviors with the relative transverse reinforcement are analysed.     

Contrast Analysis of Mechanical Behavior of Confined Concrete with Stirrups and CFRP Under Axial Compression

Aiming at confined concrete with stirrups and carbon fiber reinforced plastic(CFRP) respectively, the major influence factors of mechanical behavior of confined concrete under axial compression were studied based on reported experimental data. The equations for calculating the peak stress, peak strain and ultimate strain were proposed respectively for confined concrete with stirrups and CFRP. Contrastive analysis shows that the behavior of confined concrete with stirrups is better than confined concrete with CFRP in low characteristic value, whereas the conclusion is contrary in high characteristic value.     

Reinforced Concrete Beam's Stiffness Degeneration Regulation and its Calculation Formula Under the Action of Fatigue Load

Fatigue failure is a fatal damage for the reinforced concrete structure bearing fatigue load repeatedly. That how to estimate or describe the degree of fatigue damage is a challenge in areas of structure damage and lifespan estimation. Structure's stiffness degenerates irreversibly along with the damage progress. There is a certain inherent relevance between stiffness degeneration and fatigue damage. A series of fatigue tests were carried out to study stiffness degeneration regulation due to its simplicity and feasibility. According to the test results, reinforced concrete beam's stiffness degeneration presents a three-stage rules obviously, and the stiffness degeneration curves accord with "S" style. Based on the stiffness degeneration regulation, the reinforced concrete beams' stiffness degeneration calculation formula is obtained by fitting experimental data. The formula has a perfect goodness of contact area with 10 test beams' experimental results, and it can describes reinforced concrete beams' stiffness degeneration perfectly. The formula can be used to forecast the deformation developing. Meanwhile, the residual life of the structure can be used to decision structure's fatigue fracture and the degree of performance degradation.     

Bearing Capacity Analysis of the Column with Fiber ReinforcedConcrete in Bottom Region

In order to improve the deformation capacity and damage tolerance of the reinforced concrete columns, six reinforced concrete column specimens with fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) in the bottom region instead of ordinary concrete were tested under reversed cyclic lateral loading. The specimens’ shear span ratio is three and its configuration of stirrups are relatively few. The test results show that these columns exhibit shear failures after the longitudinal reinforcement yielding, and they have better deformation capacity and damage tolerance. The column with FRC in the bottom region can reduce the amount of constraint stirrup and shear stirrup. According to the test results, bending bearing capacity calculation method considering FRC tension action and shear capacity formula were established. The shear capacity calculated by the adopted formula are in good agreement with the test results.     

Analysis Method for Nonlinear Properties of Reinforced Concrete Columns

Accurate assessment of seismic performance of reinforced concrete columns（RC columns）is significant to ensure the safety of reinforced concrete structure subjected to earthquake action. In order to derive a reasonable prediction by Pushover analysis, a calculation method for determining lateral load-deformation curve, unloading rigidity and reloading rigidity of RC columns subjected to combined flexural and shear force is proposed based on test data analysis in the PEER (Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center) Structural Performance Database, and the formula for calculating the equivalent damping ratio according to hysteresis loop area is also provided. In this paper, conventional section analysis techniques are employed for modeling the flexural behavior of lateral load-deformation relationship, and the modified formulas with actual data analysis are implemented for modeling the effect of shear and slip of the longitudinal bars at columns end. Unloading rigidity and reloading rigidity of the columns are determined by statistical analysis on relations between themselves and secant rigidity of the columns respectively. Finally, a single-degree of freedom (SDOF) system is taken as an example to illustrate the applications of the proposed model for developing the corresponding “capacity curve” and performing pushover analysis on columns. The influences of primary parameters, such as shear-span ratio, axial load ratio, reinforcement ratio and stirrup ratio, on seismic performance of columns are also analyzed.     

Shear Capacity Calculation Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams Based on Truss-arch Model

According to the theory of truss-arch model, the shear mechanism of reinforced concrete beam was analyzed, and formula of shear bearing capacity was proposed. In this formula, softening effect of concrete and the arch function were taken into account, and the coefficients in the formula were amended with experimental data. When the performance difference between the structural material and the original material is huge, the code formula of shear bearing capacity calculation is inapplicable. After the computation, the ratio of the results calculated by truss-arch model theory formula and the results calculated by the current code formula was close to 1, and the standard deviation coefficient and coefficient of variation were smaller than those of standard formula results, and the results calculated by truss-arch model formula were in good agreement with the experimental results. The collected experimental data was calculated with the shear capacity formula in ACI318-08, and the calculation results showed that United States building code was more conservative than the standard of China. The results indicate that the shear bearing capacity formula based on truss-arch model can be used for computation of shear bearing capacity of reinforced concrete beams.     

The Effect of Slabs on the Failure Mode of Reinforced Concrete Frame Structures

A majority of reinforced concrete frame structure failure patterns resulting from the May 12, 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan County, P. R. China were analyzed. It was found that the main failure mode of frame works was “strong beam, weak column”, which conflicts with the design criteria of “strong column, weak beam”. The cause of this failure pattern was analyzed. A new concept is put forward that should be considered in design work. The over strength caused by slabs connected monolithically to the beams is analyzed. The joint types, transverse beam stiffness and lateral drift influence the reinforcing effect of the sla, Moreover, a reinforced concrete frame model was simulated using the program ABAQUS. The slab reinforcement stress distributions at different lateral drifts were analyzed and the effective flange width value proposed.     

Experimental Study on Size Effect of Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams

Reinforced concrete specimens with concrete compressive strength varied from 46.5 to 50.6 MPa and with depth of cross section from 250 mm to 1 000 mm subjected to bending were tested. Size effects of flexural behavior with respect to bending capacity and deformation capacity were investigated based on the analysis of the test results and those of high-strength specimens (fcu=72.1~72.4 MPa) of which the geometry and reinforcement layouts were identical to those of specimens tested in this study. It is shown that beam depth does not has any apparent influence on nominal cracking moment, nominal yield moment and nominal ultimate moment, and that it has significant influence on displacement ductility and plastic rotation capacity of plastic hinges of members. For normal-strength concrete specimens and high-strength concrete specimens, both the displacement ductility and the plastic rotation capacity decrease with the increasing of depth in the similar ways, and are independent of concrete strength. It is also demonstrated that the lengths of plastic hinges of members with different depth and concrete strength are approximately equal to the depth.     

Analysis on the Force-Transferring Mechanism of the Earthquake-Resistant Reinforced Concrete Frame Joints

On the basis of a summary of achievements from a large quantity of experimental studies both at home and abroad, in combination with the authors'experience in the experimental works on the reinforced concrete frame joints, their force-transferring characteristics are fully studied. The important fact that there is also a confined mechanism besides the inclined compressive strut and the truss mechanisms,is clearly pointed out. The influences of the three mechanisms upon the mechanical behaviors of the joint core concrete, the transverse and the vertical reinforcements,as well as upon the failure characteristics of the joint are also explored. Mechanical behaviors of the inclined concrete compressive strut and the factors causing its failure are specially discussed. These analyses provide theoretical bases for establishing more rational earthquake-resistant design criterion for reinforced concrete frame joints.     

Modeling and Its Application of Reinforced Concrete Columns Considering Nonlinear Shear Effects

A fiber beam-column element in conjunction with zero-length elements attached to its ends was proposed to simulate the flexural and shear mechanism respectively. Based on the Limit State Material model and the Shear Limit Curve model provided by OpenSees, the nonlinear shear effect of reinforced concrete column and its coupling with the flexural effect were defined. The reliability of the proposed model was validated by means of comparisons with existing test results. Finally, a plane frame from in-situ pushover test was simulated. It is shown that the proposed method, by taking the nonlinear shear effect into account, produces satisfactory results for frame columns with shear strength and stiffness degradation, while the conventional fiber beam-column element can hardly simulate actual flexure-shear failure mechanism for columns characterized by insufficient transverse reinforcement. The proposed method is applicable for nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete frame structures with shear deficiencies.     

Mechanical Properties of Regional Confined Rectangular Concrete Columns under Axial Loads

Based on experimentthatal results,we conclude that confinement in regional confined concrete(RCC) columns is more efficient than that in normal confined concrete(NCC) columns.As loads increase,NCC column sections tend to become round;the corner concrete in the core area may break;and,the strains of external stirrups tend to drop slightly after the peak load.RCC columns,however,remained thoroughly rectangular and the stirrup strain increased steadily.The failure mode of RCC columns was totally different from that of NCC columns.While NCC columns tended to fail in shear,followed b a rapid drop in load carrying capacity,the RCC columns developed gaps in their midsections and the columns separated into several slender columns.After a long deformation period,the RCC columns retained approximately 40% of their load carrying capacity.It can be expected that this characteristic may benefit the anti-seismic capacity of structures.     

Experimental Study on Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened With Ferrocement Mortar

Experimental research on flexural behavior of the different grade RC beams strengthened with ferrocement mortar through six RC beams is carried out. The matching of original component concrete to the composite mortar strength rank is studied and its influence on bending strength, the crack-resisting capacity and the bending stiffness of RC beams is analyzed. Based on plane cross-section assumption and the experimental results, the formulas of the theoretical ultimate strength capacity and stiffness are brought forward. The calculated results fit well with the experimental results, to provide a theoretical reference for actual engineering designs.     

Strut-and-tie Model for Reinforced Concrete Corbels and Reinforcement Design

In American code for design of Concrete Structures (ACI 318-08), the strut-and-tie model method was used as a normative appendix for D-region design of reinforced concrete members. The constituent of the strut-and-tie model was introduced. Calculation of internal forces in struts, ties and node zone were proposed according to the design parameters (loading, concrete strength, steel strength) of the current Chinese code (GB 50010-2010).Then the design procedure was provided. Strut-and-tie model design method for reinforced concrete corbels was proposed following Chinese code parameters which degree of safety was compared with in ACI 318-08 through an example. The compared result shows that the proposed method can be used for the design of reinforced concrete corbels with clearer mechanical concepts and easier calculations.     

Computational Model and Influencing Factor Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Walls under Fire

The finite element software ABAQUS is used to calculate the deformation of reinforced concrete walls under fire. The calculated results agree well with previous experimental results. Based on the finite element model, the influences of such parameters as axial load level, lateral load level, height-to-thickness ratio, wall thickness, concrete compressive strength, steel reinforcement yield strength, steel reinforcement ratio and concrete protection thickness on deformation and fire resistance of walls are analyzed systematically. It is found that, under the conditions of big axial load level or wall thickness without lateral load and small height-to-thickness ratio, the reverse deflection of reinforced concrete walls in fire is apt to occur. Within the work range of parameters in common use, the fire resistance of walls decreases with the increase of axial load level, lateral load level, height-to-thickness ratio, steel reinforcement yield strength or steel reinforcement ratio, and increases with the increase of wall thickness or concrete compressive strength.