Structures 

About: Structures is an academic journal published by Elsevier BV. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Structural engineering & Materials science. It has an ISSN identifier of 2352-0124. Over the lifetime, 4723 publications have been published receiving 32705 citations.

Properties and applications of FRP in strengthening RC structures: A review

Abstract: In civil and structural engineering, building structures with robust stability and durability using sustainable materials is challenging. The current technological means and materials cannot decrease weight, enlarge spans, or construct slender structures, thus inspiring the exploration for valuable composite materials. Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) features high-strength and lightweight properties. Using FRP motivates civil engineers to strengthen existing RC structures and repair any deterioration. With FRP, a system that can resist natural disasters, such as earthquakes, strong storms, and floods, can be developed. However, deterioration of structures has become a critical issue in modern construction industries worldwide. This paper reviews the FRP design, matrix, material properties, applications, and serviceability performance. This literature review also aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the integrated applications of FRP composite materials for improving the techniques of rehabilitation, comprising the applications toward the repair, strengthening, and retrofit of concrete structures in the construction industry today.

High strength rubberized concrete containing silica fume for the construction of sustainable road side barriers

Abstract: This paper provides strength and durability test results for rubberized concrete that contains silica fume (microsilica) for road side barriers with the intent to reduce injuries and fatalities during crashes. The test program involved the preparation of normal and high strength concretes made out of recycled waste tire rubber. The high strength was obtained by adding silica fume which enhanced the interfacial transition zone bonding. Tire rubber particles composed of a combination of crumb rubber and fine rubber powder were used to replace 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%, of the total weight of the fine mineral aggregate. The fresh rubberized concrete exhibited lower unit weight and acceptable workability compared to plain concrete. The results of the uniaxial compressive and flexural tests conducted on hardened concrete specimens indicated considerable reductions in axial strength, flexural strength, and tangential modulus of elasticity. Cube Drop tests were performed and showed good resilience of the rubberized concrete. New design guidelines in accordance with the Australian Bridge Design Code AS 5100 for strength and serviceability of rubberized concrete road side barriers were derived based on the test results. New moment–thrust interaction curves and shear strength equations were derived for the rubberized concrete road side barriers. The newly derived design rules showed that shear strength is critical compared to the combined moment and axial thrust and the maximum rubber contents were 17% and 30% for normal and high strength concretes, respectively.

Design of Concrete Filled Tubular Beam-columns with High Strength Steel and Concrete

Abstract: Concrete filled steel tubular column comprising a hollow steel tube infilled with concrete has been used widely in high rise buildings. Although modern design codes provide guides on concrete filled steel tubular members, they do not cover their applications involving high strength concrete and high tensile steel. Set against this background, new tests have been conducted to supplement the dearth of research on concrete filled steel tubular members with ultra-high strength concrete (f ck up to 190 N/mm 2 ) and high tensile steel (f y up to 780 N/mm 2 ). In this paper, a design guide has been proposed for concrete filled steel tubular members based on an extension of Eurocode 4 method for concrete compressive strength up to 190 N/mm 2 and high tensile steel with yield strength up to 550 N/mm 2 . More than 2030 test data collected from the literature on concrete filled steel tubes with normal and high strength materials have been analysed to formulate this design guide. This paper provides insights to this design guide sharing some of the expertise and knowledge involving the applications of high strength concrete filled tubular members in high rise buildings.

Experimental Investigation of Crumb Rubber Concrete Columns under Seismic Loading

Abstract: Crumb rubber concrete (CRC) is a class of concrete that incorporates crumb rubber from used tyres as a partial replacement for the natural aggregates in conventional concrete. Previous research at the material level has shown that the rubber can improve the ductility, damping ratio, and energy dissipation properties of concrete, which are the most important parameters in concrete structures that are subjected to earthquake loads. However, CRC can have lower compressive strength when compared with conventional concrete. This paper describes experimental work conducted to explore the possible use of CRC for structural columns. Three reinforced concrete columns having 240 mm diameter and 1500 mm shear span were tested under axial compression load and incrementally increasing reversed cyclic loading. One column was constructed out of CRC and the other two were constructed out of conventional concrete but subjected to different axial loads. A snap-back test was conducted to evaluate the damping properties of each column. The results indicated that the use of CRC increased the hysteretic damping ratio and energy dissipation of the columns by 13% and 150% respectively. However, CRC decreased the viscous damping ratio compared to a conventional concrete column. The CRC column was able to sustain a lateral load and ultimate drift of about 98.6% and 91.5%, respectively, of those sustained by the conventional column. This investigation demonstrates that CRC provides an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional concrete in structural applications.

A review on modular construction for high-rise buildings

Abstract: Modular construction is considered as a game-changing technology since it offers faster construction, safer manufacturing, better quality control, and lower environmental impacts compared with the traditional onsite construction. These benefits can be maximised in high-rise buildings due to their inherently topological modular form and the increased number of repeatable modules. However, current applications of modular construction for high-rise buildings are very limited due to the lack of strong structural systems and joining techniques to ensure structural integrity, overall stability, and robustness of an entirely modular building. In addition, the unavailability of design guidelines also inhibits the construction industry in implementing such technology. With recent advancements in structural systems and materials, there is great potential for real world applications of modular construction in high-rise buildings. This paper presents a critical review of recent innovations in modular construction technology for high-rise buildings with an emphasis on structural systems, joining techniques, progressive collapse and structural robustness. The developments of design codes for modular construction are also discussed. The paper concludes by highlighting the technical challenges that hinder the widespread adoption of modular construction, and proposing potential solutions for future research. This review paper is expected to be a complete reference for experts, researchers and professionals in this field of study.