Glass FRP-Reinforced Geopolymer Based Columns Comprising Hybrid Fibres: Testing and FEA Modelling

This study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of glass-FRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete columns integrating hybrid fibres (GFGC columns) and steel bar-reinforced geopolymer concrete columns incorporating hybrid fibres (SFGC columns) under eccentric and concentric loadings. Steel fibre (SF) and polypropylene fibres (PF) are two types of fibres that are mixed into hybrid fibre-reinforced geopolymer concrete (HFRGC). Eighteen circular concrete columns with a cross-section of 300 mm × 1200 mm were cast and examined under axial loading up to failure. Nine columns were cast with glass-FRP rebars, whereas the other nine were cast with steel rebars. Using ABAQUS, a nonlinear finite element model was established for the GFGC and SFGC columns. The HFRGC material was modelled using a simplified concrete damage plasticity model, whereas the glass-FRP material was simulated as a linear elastic material. It was observed that GFGC columns had up to 20% lower axial strength (AST) and up to 24% higher ductility indices than SFGC columns. The failure modes of both GFGC and SFGC columns were analogous. Both GFGC and SFGC columns revealed the same effect of eccentricity in the form of a decline in AST. A novel statistical model was suggested for predicting the AST of GFGC columns. The outcomes of the experiments, finite element simulations, and theoretical results show that the models can accurately determine the AST of GFGC columns.

Numerical Study of the Bond Strength Evolution of Corroded Reinforcement in Concrete in Pull-Out Tests

The corrosion of rebars in reinforced concrete structures impacts their geometry (diameter and ribs) and mass, damages the concrete at the interface between the two materials, deteriorates the bond strength, and causes the cracking of the concrete cover. In the following study, a 2D numerical model of the pull-out test is presented in order to study the impact of corrosion on the bond strength. Several parameters are investigated: the embedment depth, the rebar’s diameter, and the width of the concrete cover. The model reproduces the slip of the rebar and the failure through the splitting of concrete. It integrates an interface between the two materials and a concrete damage model that simulate the deterioration of concrete in compression and tension. The results obtained are validated with experimental data from the literature. Moreover, a parametric study is carried out to determine the impact of the embedment depth, the diameter of the rebar, and the concrete cover on the bond strength. The present study confirms that a greater embedment depth increases the pulling load. The study also confirms that the rebar’s diameter impacts highly the loss of bond between the rebar and the concrete cover. Lastly, the final main result of this paper is that the width of the concrete cover slows the loss of bond strength between the two materials.

Concrete Damage Identification based on Acoustic Emission and Wavelet Neural Network

In order to improve the accuracy of damage source identification in concrete based on acoustic emission testing (AE) and neural networks, and locating and repairing the damage in a practical roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam, a multilevel AE processing platform based on wavelet energy spectrum analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and a neural network is proposed. Two data sets of 15 basic AE parameters and 23 AE parameters added on the basis of the 15 basic AE parameters were selected as the input vectors of a basic parameter neural network and a wavelet neural network, respectively. Taking the measured tensile data of an RCC prism sample as an example, the results show that compared with the basic parameter neural network, the wavelet neural network achieves a higher accuracy and faster damage source identification, with an average recognition rate of 8.2% and training speed of about 33%.

A review of continuum damage and plasticity in concrete: Part I – Theoretical framework

In the past few decades, extensive research on concrete modeling to predict behavior, crack propagation, microcrack coalescence by utilizing different approaches (fracture mechanics, continuum damage mechanics) were investigated theoretically and numerically. The presented paper aims to review the theoretical work of continuum concrete damage and plasticity modeling in part I of the work. The detailed theoretical work is presented with some of the supporting work related to multiscale modeling and phase-field modeling is also part of this paper. Few other applications related to rate-dependent models and fatigue in concrete are also discussed. In part II of this work, the review of numerical work limited to finite element is presented. Some open issues in concrete damage modeling and future research needed are also discussed in part II.

Effects of coupled heat and moisture and load damage on chloride transport in concrete

This paper presents a thoroughgoing research on chloride transport in damaged concrete. Effects of temperature and temperature gradient on chloride transport was investigated along with effects of relative humidity, humidity gradient, concrete damage and exposure time. The higher the temperature and the greater the humidity gradient were, the quicker chloride transport was. Moisture transport increased as concrete damage increased, while chloride transport decreased incrementally. Considering the effect of coupled heat and moisture on chloride transport in concrete, a chloride transport model was established and verified by experiments. Chloride profiles in damaged concrete were related to temperature, temperature gradient, relative humidity and humidity gradient. The chloride attack rate decreased with increasing concrete damage and exposure time. Hence, coupled heat and moisture as well as concrete damage had significant effects on chloride transport in damaged concrete, and effects of concrete damage on chloride transport should be considered when determining chloride profiles in damaged concrete.

A review of continuum damage and plasticity in concrete: Part II – Numerical framework

In this part II, companion article, we present the numerical review of continuum damage mechanics and plasticity in the context of finite element. The numerical advancements in local, nonlocal, and rate-dependent models are presented. The numerical algorithms, type of elements utilized in numerical analysis, the commercial software’s or in-house codes used for the analysis, iterative schemes, explicit or implicit approaches to solving finite element equations, and degree of continuity of element are discussed in this part. Lastly, some open issues in concrete damage modeling and future research needed are also discussed.

Numerical Simulation of Cracking in Asphalt Concrete Through Continuum and Discrete Damage Model

This study describes the development of Continuum and Discrete Damage Models in commercial finite element code Abaqus/Standard. The Concrete Damage Plasticity Model has been simulated, analysed, and compared the result with the experimental data. For verification, the Cohesive Zone Model has been simulated and analysed. Furthermore, the Extended Finite Element Model and concrete damage model are discussed and compared. The continuum damage model tends to simulate the complex fracture behaviour like crack initiation and propagation along with the invariance of the result, while the cohesive zone model can simulate and propagate the crack as well as the good agreement of the result. Further work in the proposed numerical models can better simulate the fracture behaviour of asphalt concrete in near future. Keywords: Model, Concrete, Cohesive Zone, Finite element, Abaqus.