The Effect of Core Eccentricity on the Structural Behavior of Concrete Tall Buildings

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of core eccentricity on the structural behavior of concrete tall buildings.Concrete buildings of 55 floors with plan dimensions 48.0×48.0 m2 were investigated.Three cases of main core locations are studied:centric(A),eccentric by one sixth(B)and one third(C)of building width.The three-dimensional finite element method has been used in conducting structural analysis through ETABS software.Gravity and lateral(wind and seismic)loadings are applied to all building cases.It has been concluded that the core location is the prime parameter governing the structural behavior of tall buildings.Although the first two cases(A,B)have acceptable and similar structural behaviors conforming to code limits,in the third case(C),the building behavior came beyond code limits.The author introduced remedial action by adding two secondary cores in the opposite direction of the main core(C-R)to restore the building behavior to the code limits.The results of this action were satisfactory.

Discrete Numerical Study on Type II Fracture of Partially Detached Concrete Panels in Cold Region

When the upper chord beam of the beam-string structure(BSS)is made of concrete-filled steel tube(CFST),its overall stiffness will change greatly with the construction of concrete placement,which will have an impact on the design of the tensioning plans and selection of control measures for the BSS.In order to accurately obtain the bending stiffness of CFST beam and clarify its impact on the mechanical properties of composite BSS during con-struction,the influence of some factors such as height-width ratio,wall thickness of steel tube,elasticity modulus of concrete,and friction coefficient on the bending stiffness are analyzed parametrically by the numerical simula-tion technology based on an actual project.The calculation formula of the equivalent bending stiffness of CFST is also established through mathematical statistical simulation.Then,the equivalent bending stiffness is introduced into the construction and use stages of the composite BSS,respectively,and the mechanical properties such as prestress-tensioning control value,structural deformation,and internal force of key members are comparatively analyzed when adopting two different construction plans.Moreover,the optimal construction plan of concrete placementfirst and then prestress-tensioning is proposed.

Strategies for Teaching the Reinforced Concrete Structures Course in Engineering Majors

The cultivation of engineering capabilities aims to equip engineering professionals with high-level expertise to meet the demands of society and industry development,thereby enhancing their competitiveness and career potential.This article focuses on engineering capability development,exploring teaching strategies for the Reinforced Concrete Structure course.It aims to provide insights for educators in engineering programs at universities and vocational colleges in China.By doing so,teaching plans that meet the needs of engineering capability development,laying a solid educational foundation for the healthy growth of engineering professionals in the new era,and enhancing their application of knowledge and skills can be developed.

Research on the Course of Principles of Concrete Structure Design

Nowadays,education and teaching have become a hot topic,and teaching in colleges and universities is facing a brand-new development direction.Principles of Concrete Structure Design,as one of the main courses,transmits professional knowledge for students,enhances the students’professional ability,and further carries out in-depth research on the course to bring a better teaching effect for students.The article mainly focuses on the research of the principles of concrete structure design course,conducts an analysis of the teaching characteristics of the principles of concrete structure design course,and reasonably sets the teaching content from the optimization of the course teaching objectives;innovative course teaching methods can deepen the effect of knowledge understanding;reform of experimental practice teaching can lay down the effect of the internalization of knowledge,etc.The in-depth description and discussion of the relevant aspects of the research aim to provide guidelines for related research.

Modeling of environmental influence in structural health assessment for reinforced concrete buildings

One branch of structural health monitoring (SHM) utilizes dynamic response measurements to assess the structural integrity of civil infrastructures. In particular,modal frequency is a widely adopted indicator for structural damage since its square is proportional to structural stiffness. However,it has been demonstrated in various SHM projects that this indicator is substantially affected by fluctuating environmental conditions. In order to provide reliable and consistent information on the health status of the monitored structures,it is necessary to develop a method to filter this interference. This study attempts to model and quantify the environmental influence on the modal frequencies of reinforced concrete buildings. Daily structural response measurements of a twenty-two story reinforced concrete building were collected and analyzed over a one-year period. The Bayesian spectral density approach was utilized to identify the modal frequencies of this building and it was clearly seen that the temperature and humidity fluctuation induced notable variations. A mathematical model was developed to quantify the environmental effects and model complexity was taken into consideration. Based on a Timoshenko beam model,the full model class was constructed and other reduced-order model class candidates were obtained. Then,the Bayesian modal class selection approach was employed to select the one with the most suitable complexity. The proposed model successfully characterizes the environmental influence on the modal frequencies. Furthermore,the estimated uncertainty of the model parameters allows for assessment of the reliability of the prediction. This study not only improves the understanding about the monitored structure,but also establishes a systematic approach for reliable health assessment of reinforced concrete buildings.

Numerical Modeling Strategy for the Simulation of Nonlinear Response of Slender Reinforced Concrete Structural Walls

A three-dimensional nonlinear modeling strategy for simulating the seismic response of slender reinforced concrete structural walls with different cross-sectional shapes is presented in this paper.A combination of nonlinear multi-layer shell elements and displacement-based beam-column elements are used to model the unconfined and confined parts of the walls,respectively.A uniaxial material model for reinforcing steel bars that includes buckling and low-cyclic fatigue effects is used to model the longitudinal steel bars within the structural walls.The material model parameters related to the buckling length are defined based on an analytical expression for reinforcing steel bars embedded in reinforced concrete elements,which are developed based on beam-on-springs model,and validated with experimental tests of boundary elements of structural walls available in the literature.Six experimental case studies of reinforced concrete walls with rectangularshape,T-shape,and U-shape cross-section are used to validate the structural wall numerical modeling strategy.

A combined finite element and deep learning network for structural dynamic response estimation on concrete gravity dam subjected to blast loads

Social infrastructures such as dams are likely to be exposed to high risk of terrorist and military attacks,leading to increasing attentions on their vulnerability and catastrophic consequences under such events.This paper tries to develop advanced deep learning approaches for structural dynamic response prediction and dam health diagnosis.At first,the improved long short-term memory(LSTM)networks are proposed for data-driven structural dynamic response analysis with the data generated by a single degree of freedom(SDOF)and the finite numerical simulation,due to the unavailability of abundant practical structural response data of concrete gravity dam under blast events.Three kinds of LSTM-based models are discussed with the various cases of noise-contaminated signals,and the results prove that LSTM-based models have the potential for quick structural response estimation under blast loads.Furthermore,the damage indicators(i.e.,peak vibration velocity and domain frequency)are extracted from the predicted velocity histories,and their relationship with the dam damage status from the numerical simulation is established.This study provides a deep-learning based structural health monitoring(SHM)framework for quick assessment of dam experienced underwater explosions through blastinduced monitoring data.

Development of Optimal Structural System for Hybrid Cable-Stayed Bridges Using Ultra High Performance Concrete

This study developed an optimal structural system for the hybrid cable-stayed bridge expected to have a durable lifetime of 200 years and of which major structural members are made of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) with 200 MPa-class compressive strength. This innovative cable-stayed bridge system makes it possible to reduce each of the construction and maintenance costs by 20% compared to the conventional concrete cable-stayed bridge by improving significantly the weight and durability of the bridge. Therefore, detail design is carried out considering a real 800 m cable-stayed bridge and the optimal structure of the hybrid cable-stayed bridge is proposed and verified.

The Structural Behavior of Low/Medium/High Rise Concrete Office Buildings in Kuwait

The main concern of this paper is to provide an extensive study for the structural behavior of low/medium/high rise office buildings aiming to deepen structure and architect designers understanding for such type of buildings. The study is performed on reinforced concrete and emphasized only on Kuwait city conditions for wind. Regular layout plan building with different heights ranging from five to fifty typical office stories are investigated in this study. Three dimensional finite element techniques through ETABS software are used in conducting analysis for structures presented here-in. A serviceability study is performed to ensure that buildings have sufficient stability to limit lateral drift and peak acceleration within the acceptable range of occupancy comfort. In addition, an ultimate strength study is carried out to design and verify that all the structural elements are designed to withstand factored gravity and lateral loadings in a safe manner according to the international building codes. The building slenderness ratio and the building core size and location are the studied parameters since they are the key drivers for the efficient structural design. Analysis results are presented and discussed and finally conclusions are summarized as guidelines for designers of concrete office buildings in Kuwait.

Application of ultrasonic CT method in nondestructive detection of interior defects in large scale concrete structural member of bridge

The ultrasonic computed tomography （USCT） method is derived from the basic principles of X-ray section scanning. This method records the arriving times of ultrasonic wave between the probes and the sources to ealculate the elastic wave velocity values in the section using the arrival times. Through analyzed the distribution Of elastic wave velocity in aim area, the information of the strength and the homogeneity of the investigated zone could be got indirectly. The authors introduced the operational principle of USCT and a practical case of using this method to detect the interior defects in large scale concrete structural member. Compared with other exploration methods, this method is more efficient and accurate.

Structural Health Monitoring for Reinforced Concrete Containment Using Inner Electrical Resistivity Method

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) are considered as the main source for generating electricity nowadays in some countries. The effect of impact of heavy fully loaded aeroplane such as (Boeing 747-200c) causes leakage of the radiation through the cracks generated on the external RC containment of NPPs, and this leads to severe damage for humans and cities. In this research paper, external RC containment is modeled using ANSYS and hit by Boeing 747-200c which is the heavier aeroplane compared to other jets and causes severe damage for external RC containment. In addition, the impact location for Boeing 747-200c is considered at 30 m vertical height. RC containment response was studied after the impact of an aeroplane and a proposed structural health monitoring technique is applied using embedded sensors in order to detect and locate the embedded cracks that is generated due to the effect of impact of heavy aeroplane. It was concluded that RC containment is intact except for the impact region which is damaged. An experimental program was applied on a part of the element in ANSYS which is away from the impact region. Four specimens were cast using heavy weight concrete in laboratory. Three cracked specimens consist of different lengths of vertical cracks which represent different times of impact in order to replicate crack propagation as in ANSYS. The cracks are simulated inside laboratory specimens using failure criteria. The parameters used in detecting the cracks for specimens are the percentage change in electrical resistivity and Decimal Logarithm Resistivity Anisotropy (DLRA) at which they give a good indication for the presence of the crack.

Structural Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete for Slabs on Ground

This paper aims to contribute to the classification and specification of glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) and to deal with the question if structural glass fiber reinforced concrete as a special kind of glass fiber reinforced concrete is suited for use in load-bearing members. Despite excellent material properties, the use of glass fibers in a concrete matrix is carried out so far only in non- structural elements or as a modification for the prevention of shrinkage cracks. The aim of re- search at the University of Applied Sciences in Leipzig is the use of alkali-resistant macro glass fibers as concrete reinforcement in structural elements as an alternative to steel fiber reinforcement. Slabs on ground, as an example for structural members, provide a sensible application for the new material because they can be casted as load bearing and non-load bearing and are mostly made of steel fiber reinforced concrete. In the future, structural glass fiber reinforced concrete shall provide a simple and visually appealing alternative to conventional steel bar or steel fiber reinforced concrete. The glass fibers can also be used in combination with conventional reinforcing bars or mat reinforcements. Initial investigations have announced some potential.

Durability zonation standard of concrete structure design

Durability zonation standard （DZS） is proposed to provide useful parameters for durable concrete structure design. It deals not only with the influence of environment on structures, but also with types, functions and importance of structures based on the theory of life cycle cost（LCC）. First, the basic concept of DZS for concrete structure design is defined. Then the basic principles for DZS are established. The factors for zonation according to natural environmental conditions and structural importance are identified. The usefulness of DZS by citing a real application for concrete highway bridges in Zhejiang Province is demonstrated. Finally, durability regulations are provided accordingly to zonation.

Durability design of prestressed concrete structures

Based on the durability characteristics of prestressed concrete structures,the durability limit states of carbonation and chloride ion attack are defined, respectively.Durability predicting models on the basis of reliability mathematics and stochastic processes areconstructed, and the pure theoretical formulae of failure probability of prestressed concretestructures are analyzed. In addition, a simple durability design method for carbonation ofstructures is put forward. According to the analysis, the durability of prestressed concretestructures is superior to that of traditional structures. The research also indicates that theconcrete cover prescribed in the current code (GB 50010-2002) is not adequate. The rational coverthickness should notbe less than 35 or 45 mm according to carbonation or chloride ion attack,respectively.

Influence of Binder Composition and Concrete Pore Structure on Chloride Diffusion Coefficient in Concrete

The influence of binder composition and pore structure of concrete on chloride diffusion coefficient in concrete were investigated by the natural immersion test, MIP test, SEM and EDS test, respectively. The experimental results showed that the effect of binder composition on chloride diffusion coefficient was the comprehensive result of concrete pore structure and binder hydration products, and the porosity and pore size distribution were the main factors that influence the changes of diffusion coefficient. The chloride diffusion coefficient decreased with increasing the curing temperature and the relative humidity. The hydration degree were promoted by improving curing temperatures, and then the porosity of concrete decreased and the proportion of gel pore and transitional pore increased, respectively. But the water evaporation decreased with increasing the relative humidity and then decreased porosity and increased the proportion of gel pore and transitional pore. Additionally, The chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete got the lower value when the appropriate replacement of fly ash in the ranges of 10%-20%, when the double-adding fly ash and slag content was 50%. The porosity increased and the ratio of C/S in C-S-H decreased with further increasing the fly ash content, which led to increase the chloride diffusion coefficient in concrete.

The Influence of Atmospheric Pressure on Air Content and Pore Structure of Air-entrained Concrete

To study the effect of atmospheric pressure on the properties of fresh and hardened airentrained concrete, three kinds of air entraining agents were used for preparing air-entrained concrete in the plateaus(Lhasa, 61 kPa) and the plains(Beijing, 101 kPa). Air content, slump, compressive strength and pore structure of the three air-entrained concretes were tested in these two places. It is found that the air content of concrete under low atmospheric pressure(LAP) is 4%-36% lower than that of concrete under normal atmospheric pressure(NAP), which explaines the decrease of slump for air-entrained concrete under LAP. Pore number of hardened concrete under LAP is reduced by 48%-69%. While, the proportion of big pores(pore diameter >1 200 μm) and air void spacing factor are increased by 1.5%-7.3% and 51%-92%, respectively. The deterioration of pore structure results in a 3%-9% reduction in the compressive strength of concrete. From the results we have obtained, it can be concluded that the increase of critical nucleation energy of air bubbles and the decrease of volumetric compressibility coefficient of air in the concrete are responsible for the variation of air content and pore structure of concrete under LAP.

Effect of Ceramsite Structure on Microstructure of Interfacial Zone and Durability of Combined Aggregate Concrete

Structure characteristics of three kinds of ceramsite with different water absorption and the influence on microstructure of interfacial zone as well as performance of chloride permeabil-ity and frost resistance of combined aggregate concrete were investigated. The results show that, dense shell and closed internal pore have sharp effects on lowering water absorption of ceramsite. However, the ceramsite with high water absorption has obvious effect on the densification of interfa-cial paste which would develop a structure with lower porosity, finer aperture and higher microhard-ness. Furthermore, the impermeability and frost-resistance of concrete can be improved due to the ef-fect of water absorption and releasing by ceramsite with higher water absorption.

Self-centering seismic retrofit scheme for reinforced concrete frame structures:SDOF system study

This paper presents the results of a parametric study of self-centering seismic retrofit schemes for reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings. The self-centering retrofit system features flag-shaped hysteresis and minimal residual deformation. For comparison purpose,an alternate seismic retrofit scheme that uses a bilinear-hysteresis retrofit system such as buckling-restrained braces (BRB) is also considered in this paper. The parametric study was carried out in a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system framework since a multi-story building structure may be idealized as an equivalent SDOF system and investigation of the performance of this equivalent SDOF system can provide insight into the seismic response of the multi-story building. A peak-oriented hysteresis model which can consider the strength and stiffness degradation is used to describe the hysteretic behavior of RC structures. The parametric study involves two key parameters -the strength ratio and elastic stiffness ratio between the seismic retrofit system and the original RC frame. An ensemble of 172 earthquake ground motion records scaled to the design basis earthquake in California with a probability of exceedance of 10% in 50 years was constructed for the simulation-based parametric study. The effectiveness of the two seismic retrofit schemes considered in this study is evaluated in terms of peak displacement ratio,peak acceleration ratio,energy dissipation demand ratio and residual displacement ratio between the SDOF systems with and without retrofit. It is found from this parametric study that RC structures retrofitted with the self-centering retrofit scheme (SCRS) can achieve a seismic performance level comparable to the bilinear-hysteresis retrofit scheme (BHRS) in terms of peak displacement and energy dissipation demand ratio while having negligible residual displacement after earthquake.

Seismic behavior of concrete filled steel tubular arch structures

Shaking table tests of a 1:10 scale arch model performed to investigate the seismic behavior and resistance of concrete filled steel tubular (CFT) arch structures are described in this paper. The El-Centro record and Shanghai artificial wave were adopted as the input excitation. The entire test process can be divided into three stages depending on the lateral brace configurations, i.e., fully (five) braced, two braces removed, and all braces removed. A total of 46 tests, starting from the elastic state to failure condition, have been conducted. The natural vibration frequencies, responses of acceleration, displacement and strain were measured. From the test results, it is demonstrated that the CFT arch structures are capable of resisting severe ground motions and that CFT arches offer a credible alternative to reinforced concrete arches, especially in regions of high seismic intensity.

The Compatibility in Optic Fiber Smart Concrete and Structure

The compatibility between a fiber optical sensor and concrete structure in the optic fiber smart concrete is studied.The methods of improving the compatibility are proposed based on theory analysing, and a novel fiber optical sensor was developed. The experimental results show that the novel structure of fiber optical sensor and the scheme of the protecting layer of epoxy resin bed composite not only enable the sensor to be applied in strict environment, but also can monitor the beginning propagation and breaking of concrete cracks. The results also indicate that the sensor will maintain its properties in the case of large deformation and that it has the high compatibility with concrete structure and can meet special needs of the intelligent materials and structure.