Experimental and Numerical Study of Bonding Capacity of Interface between Ultra-High Performance Concrete and Steel Tube

This study investigates the bond performance at the interfacial region shared by Ultra-High Performance Concrete(UHPC)and steel tubes through push-out tests.This study examines how changes in steel fiber volumetric ratio and thickness of steel tube influence the bond strength characteristics.The results show that as the enhancement of the steel tube wall thickness,the ultimate bond strength at the interface improves significantly,whereas the initial bond strength exhibits only slight variations.The influence of steel fiber volumetric ratio presents a nonlinear trend,with initial bond strength decreasing at low fiber content and increasing significantly as fiber content rises.Additionally,finite element(FE)simulations were applied to replicate the experimental conditions,and the outcomes showed strong correlation with the experimental data,confirming the exactitude of the FE model in predicting the bond behavior at the UHPC-Steel interface.These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the design of UHPC-Filled steel tubes in high-performance structure.

A Comprehensive Investigation on Shear Performance of Improved Perfobond Connector

This paper presents an easily installed improved perfobond connector (PBL) designed to reduce the shearconcentration of PBL. The improvement of PBL lies in changing the straight penetrating rebar to the Z-typepenetrating rebar. To study the shear performance of improved PBL, two PBL test specimens which containstraight penetrating rebar and six improved PBL test specimens which contain Z-type penetrating rebars weredesigned and fabricated, and push-out tests of these eight test specimens were carried out to investigate andcompare the shear behavior of PBL. Additionally, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models of the PBL specimenswere established and validated against the test results. Through FEA, the effects of concrete grade, perforatedplate’s aperture, Z-type penetrating rebar’s diameter, Z-type penetrating rebar’s bending angle, and bending lengthon shear behaviors were discussed. The results indicate that (1) Compared with PBL specimens with straightpenetrating rebars, Z-type penetrating rebar can significantly improve the shear resistance and shear stiffnessof the specimens. This enhanced performance can be mainly attributed to the increased adhesion of the transverserebar. (2) By comparing the load-slip curve, the slip of PBL test specimens which contain straight penetratingrebar increases rapidly and the bearing capacity decreases rapidly after concrete craking, while the bearingcapacity of Z-type penetrating rebar specimens decreases first and then increases gradually, showing betterductility. (3) The stress of the PBL shear connector with Z-type penetrating rebar is more uniform than thePBL shear connector with straight penetrating rebar, and the overall deformation is more uniform. (4) The higherthe concrete grade, the higher the shear bearing capacity and the better ductility of the new PBL. Increasing theaperture of the perforated plate or the diameter of the rebar has a very limited effect on the improvement of theshear capacity of PBL. Through the systematic analysis of the mechanical properties of Z-type penetrating rebarPBL specimen, the experimental reference is provided for improving the structure and design of new type PBL.

Bond Performance of Adhesively Bonding Interface of Steel-Bamboo Composite Structure

The steel-bamboo composite structure is a newly developed structure,combining phyllostachys pubescens(also called Moso bamboo)plywood and cold-formed thin-walled steel with structural adhesive.The reliability of steelbamboo interface is the premise of composite effect.13 specimens were prepared to investigate the failure modes and mechanism of the steel-bamboo interface on the basis of push-out test,and the strain difference analysis method was proposed to study the distribution of shear stress.The results show that the main failure modes of steel-bamboo interface are adhesion failure and splitting of bamboo plywood.The shear stress is not evenly distributed along the longitudinal direction of the interface,showing a shape of“larger at two ends and smaller in the middle”.The lower end of the interface is the initial location of the interface failure and the shear stress concentration degree is positively correlated with the thickness of the externally bonded bamboo plate.The shear resistance of steel-bamboo interface can be enhanced by improving the adhesion between steel and structural adhesive and ameliorating the quality of bamboo products.

Evaluation of interfacial properties in SiC composites using an improved cohesive element method

A two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model based on an improved cohesive element method was developed to simulate interfacial debonding, sliding friction, and residual thermal stresses in SiC composites during single-fiber push-out tests to extract the interfacial bond strength and frictional stress. The numerical load–displacement curves agree well with experimental curves,indicating that this cohesive element method can be used for calculating the interfacial properties of SiC composites.The simulation results show that cracks are most likely to occur at the ends of the experimental sample, where the maximum shear stress is observed and that the interfacial shear strength and constant sliding friction stress decrease with an increase in temperature. Moreover, the load required to cause complete interfacial failure increases with the increase in critical shear strength, and the composite materials with higher fiber volume fractions have higher bearing capacities. In addition, the initial failure load increases with an increase in interphase thickness.

Evaluation of the Shear Strength of Perfobond Rib Connectors in Ultra High Performance Concrete

Since the previous strength prediction models for the perfobond rib connector were proposed based upon the results of push-out tests conducted on concretes with compressive strength below 50 MPa, push-out test is performed on perfobond shear connectors applying ultra high performance concretes with compressive strength higher than 80 MPa to evaluate their shear resistance. The test variables are chosen to be the diameter and number of dowel holes and, the change in the shear strength of the perfobond rib connector is examined with respect to the strength of two types of UHPC: steel fiber-reinforced concrete with compressive strength of 180 MPa and concrete without steel fiber with compressive strength of 80 MPa. The test results reveal that higher concrete strength and larger number of holes increased the shear strength, and that higher increase rate in the shear strength was achieved by the dowel action. The comparison with the predictions obtained by the previous models shows that the experimental results are close to the values given by the model proposed by Oguejiofor and Hosain [1].

Mechanical performance of shear studs and application in steel-concrete composite beams

This work experimentally investigates the effects of shear stud characteristics on the interface slippage of steel-concrete composite push-out specimens. ABAQUS is used to establish a detailed 3D finite element(FE) model and analyze the behavior of push-out specimens. The modeling results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Based on parametrical analysis using the validated FE approaches, the effects of important design parameters, such as the diameter, number, length to diameter ratio, and yield strength of studs, concrete strength and steel transverse reinforcement ratio, on the load-slip relationship at the interface of composite beams are discussed. In addition, a simplified approach to model studs is developed using virtual springs with an equivalent stiffness. This approach is demonstrated to be able to predict the load-displacement response and ultimate bearing capacity of steel-concrete composite beams. The predicted results show satisfactory agreement with experimental results from the literature.

Experimental Study on Shear Behavior of New-Type Steel-Concrete Composite Bridge Deck

To alleviate deck fatigue failure and regular pavement damage,which are congenital deficiencies of highway steel bridge deck structure,this paper proposes a newtype of composite bridge deck,consisting of steel tubular connectors and steel-reactive powder concrete (RPC). Push-out tests were conducted to study the newdeck's shear performance. During the experimental process,specimens were divided into two groups which are composed of steel tubular connectors with or without penetrative bars set in. Then,researchers analyzed destroyed models and mechanisms of the composite structure under shear forces. Results showed that test models in two groups,once destroyed,displayed similar shear fracture,which appeared on the lower margin of the steel tubular wall along the welds. Meanwhile,RPC under the connector,for varied tests,was crushed at the same stage,although the large shear and bending deformation just occurred on connectors with penetrative bars. Additionally,shear capacity of specimens with penetrative bars,compared with the ones without bars,unexpectedly decreased by 20%,but the structural ductility was 1.75 times as much,and the ductility coefficients of specimens were all larger than 3.5,demonstrating certain deformation capacity.

Shear Behaviors of Steel-Plate Connections for Timber-Concrete Composite Beams with Prefabricated Concrete Slabs

To promote the development of timber-concrete composite(TCC)structures,it is necessary to propose the assembly-type connections with high assembly efficiency and shear performances.This article presented the experimental results of the innovative steel-plate connections for TCC beams using prefabricated concrete slabs.The steel-plate connections consisted of the screws and the steel-plates.The steel-plates were partly embedded in the concrete slabs.The concrete slabs and the timber beams were connected by screws through the steel-plates.The parameters researched in this article included screw number,angle steel as the reinforcement for anchoring,and shallow notches on the timber surface to restrict the slip of the steel-plates.Experimental results were discussed in terms of failure modes,ultimate bearing capacities,and slip moduli.It was found that increasing the number of screws could lead to the obvious improvement on the ultimate bearing capacities and the slip moduli at the ultimate state;and the angle steel as the reinforcement showed the slight influence on the ultimate bearing capacities and the slip moduli.The application of the shallow notch can greatly improve the ultimate bearing capacities and the slip moduli.The calculation models for the ultimate bearing capacities and the slip moduli of the steel-plate connections with and without shallow notches were proposed,which showed good accuracy compared with the experimental results.

Interfacial Shear Strength Measurements of SiC Fiber-Reinforced Titanium Composites

A continuous loading push-out test technique was used to measure the interfacial shear strength of SiC fiber reinforced Ti matrix composites. The interfacial shear strength of samples as-fabricated and after heat exposed at 700 and 800℃ for 50 h was successfully determined. It has been found that the interfacial shear strength of the specimen exposed at 700℃ was higher than that of as-prepared and exposed samples at 800℃. The shear strength of the as-prepared samples was about 112.45 MPa, and increased to about 153.77 MPa after heat-treating at 700℃ for 50 h, but decreased to 133.11 MPa after treating at 800℃ for 50 h. Scanning electron microscope （SEM） was used to investigate the interfacial morphology of the samples. The brittle phase was the main products of interface for samples exposed at 800℃, and the interface was easily peeled off.

Behavior and strength of headed stud shear connectors in ultra-high performance concrete of composite bridges

This study presents an experimental and numerical investigation on the static behavior of headed stud shear connectors in ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) of composite bridges. Four push-out specimens were tested. It was found that no cracking, crushing or splitting was observed on the concrete slab, indicating that UHPC slab exhibited good performance and could resist the high force transferred from the headed studs. The numerical and experimental results indicated that the shear capacity is supposed to be composed of two parts stud shank shear contribution and concrete wedge block shear contribution. The stiffness increment of a stud in UHPC was at least 60% higher than that in normal strength concrete. Even if the stud height was reduced from 6d to 2d, there was no reduction in the shear strength of a stud. Short stud shear connectors with an aspect ratio as small as 2 could develop full strength in UHPC slabs. An empirical load-slip equation taking into account stud diameter was proposed to predict the load-slip response of a stud. The reliability and accuracy of the proposed load-slip equation was verified by the experimental and numerical load-slip curves.

Experimental study on behavior of mortar-aggregate interface after elevated temperatures

A push-out test program was designed and conducted to study the meso-scale behavior of mortaraggregate interface for concrete after elevated temperatures ranging from 20℃ to 600℃ with the concept of modeled concrete （MC） and modeled recycled aggregate concrete （MRAC）. The MCs and MRACs were designed with different strength grade of mortar and were exposed to different elevated temperatures. Following that the specimens were cooled to room temperature and push-out tests were conducted. Failure process and mechanical behaviors were analyzed based on failure modes, residual load-displacement curves, residual peak loads and peak displacements. It is found that failure modes significantly depended on specimen type, the elevated temperature and the strength grade of mortar. For MC, major cracks started to propagate along the initial cracks caused by elevated temperatures at about 80% of residual peak load. For MRAC, the cracks appeared at a lower level of load with the increasing elevated temperatures. The cracks connected with each other, formed a failure face and the specimens were split into several parts suddenly when reaching the residual peak load. Residual load-displacement curves of different specimens had similarities in shape. Besides, effect of temperatures and strength grade of mortar on residual peak load and peak displacement were analyzed. For MC and MRAC with higher strength of new hardened mortar, the residual peak load kept constant when the temperature is lower than 400℃ and dropped by 43.5% on average at 600℃. For MRAC with lower strength of new hardened mortar, the residual peak load began to reduce when the temperatures exceeded 200℃ and reduced by 27.4% and 60.8% respectively at 400℃ and 600℃. The properties of recycled aggregate concrete （RAC） may be more sensitive to elevated temperatures than those of natural aggregate concrete （NAC） due to the fact that the interracial properties of RAC are lower than those of NAC, and are deteriorated at lower temperatures.