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ABSTRACT The main objective of this paper is performing a comparative analysis of some design models for precast concrete corbels. For this, it was analyzed design models from Brazilian (NBR 9062) and European (EUROCODE 2) Codes and a US design handbook (PCI). Moreover, three analytical models showed in the literature are analyzed. The objective of this comparative is identifying the best design models to represent the failure load of concrete corbels by the tie yields or by the concrete crushing. Moreover, it is intended to evaluate the contribution of horizontal stirrups to resistance of concrete corbels. For this, a database was assembled from test results of concrete corbels carried out by several researchers and they are showed in the literature. The design models were applied to this database and from statistical tools, adjustments coefficients are recommended to be applied on these design models to take into account the results dispersion found in the analysis.

ABSTRACT In forward cantilever structures, segments are built from previous ones, therefore construction loads must be carried by the partly completed structure. As the cantilever is moved forward deformations increase and corrections must be made during the construction phase. In camber control, corrective displacements are applied to compensate for deformations. The proposed procedure assimilates topographical survey data collected at each construction stage to update the structural model by minimizing the differences between real and computed displacements. Concrete material properties are used as design variables in an optimization process that drives them to values that better represent the material actually used in construction. This is an iterative process where new data are assimilated at each new structural deformed configuration. New camber values are computed and applied to segments that will be cast in the future in order to reach the desired final design profile. The use of the procedure leads to residual displacements of no greater than 5% of the total deformation without camber.

ABSTRACT It is well known that aggregate characteristics can intensively interfere in concrete behavior especially when sulfides are presented in the aggregates. The lack of consensus to content limit value of these deleterious sulfur compounds in concrete structures for dams has motivated several investigations worldwide. Within this scenario, this work presents a methodology to evaluate the presence of pyrite and pyrrhotite in concretes produced with aggregates containing sulfides. For the study, rock samples from the Irapé hydroelectric power plant area in Minas Gerais (Brazil) were used. This plant was built in a geological site where the rock presented sulfide levels of at least 3%. These rock samples were first ground and then used as aggregates in mortars, which were, during almost one year, subjected to three different exposed conditions: temperature of 23° ± 2°C and relative humidity of 95 to 100%; calcium hydroxide solution diluted in water kept at two different temperatures: room temperature and 50° C. The presence and amount of pyrrhotite were obtained from a leaching process of the material (aggregate or mortar) in a solution of hydrochloric acid. This procedure allowed also the evaluation of the pyrite content. The results showed that the amount of pyrite has remained virtually constant over time in the three exposure situations. This finding indicates that sulfur limits in aggregates should be set according to the type of iron sulfide presented and not solely by the total amount of sulfur.

Abstract This paper presents a nonlinear static analysis of a reinforced concrete plane frame. It has as main objective is to realize a global stability verification of a plane frame, by using geometric stiffness matrix. In order to obtain first and second order combined effects, equilibrium and kinematic relations were studied in the deformed geometric configuration. These results were obtained by using geometric stiffness matrix and multiplying horizontal forces by Gamma-Z coefficient. Both procedures disclosed very similar results in the study, indicating that Gamma-Z can be used to study equilibrium and kinematic relations in deformed geometrical configuration of the structure.

Abstract Cylindrical specimens whose diameter is equal to half its height have been used worldwide. The statistical scattering in experimental testing of cementitious materials is a phenomenon known in literature and one reason is linked to the geometry of the specimens, which implies the possibility of different failure modes. This paper shows the evaluation of an hourglass-shaped sample , in which the highest stress occurs at the centre of the specimen, with negligible influence of stress distribuition from its ends. An amount of 260 cylindrical and hourglass samples were tested, with varying water/cement ratio and age. FEM analyses showed that stress in the central part of the hourglass specimens is 2.25 higher than that present at its ends. Modes of failure occured in differente ways in cylindrical specimens, whereas only one mode of failure was verified in hourglass specimens. The cylindrical samples showed bimodal frequency distribution, demonstrating the influence of the central part (material properties) and of its ends (boundary conditions), while the hourglass displayed a Gaussian distribution.

Abstract This study deals with the application of the filter paper method to determine water retention curves for mortar and concrete samples. A water retention curve exhibits the relationship between water content and energy state in interstitial water, normally expressed as a negative value when compare to normal conditions of temperature and pressure, being referred to as suction. Considering the water retention curve as a basic characterization tool for unsaturated soils, its usage in the engineering field concerning most of the construction materials remains as a pending task. However, stating that not only permeability, but also the water retention curve performs a significant role for water and soluble substances flow through a material's pores makes this observation essential for life-span estimation in cases like reinforced-concrete structures. This research paper offers results for water retention curves obtained in mortar and concrete samples. The experimental curves went through a fitting adjustment process using Van Genutchen's [1] model, showing consistency with the obtained results. Furthermore, the water/cement mix ratio does not indicate or suggest a direct influence for water retention curves.

Abstract This paper presents an automatic procedure using the membrane theory of shells to analyse and define geometries for axisymmetric domes subjected to its own weight, varying its thickness and bend radius, to obtain constant normal stresses along the structure. The procedure offers a great advantage over the analytic solution of the problem and usual shell numerical methods when one wants to determine the dome geometry with constant stresses, since the presented procedure has the goal stress as input value for obtaining the geometry, as opposed to the usual numerical methods, where the reverse occurs. An example clarifies the differences between a spherical dome with constant thickness and a dome subjected to constant stress. The convergence of the method for a specific material weight and stress for a dome are also presented.

Abstract Alkali-aggregate reaction is a chemical reaction between cement alkalis and some reactive mineral present in some aggregates, leading to concrete expansion and cracking. One kind usually observed and studied in Brazil is the alkali-silica reaction, due to its fast development. There are several methods that are effective to control and mitigate this reaction, and one of them is the partial replacement of cement by mineral additions such as pozzolans like fly-ash, silica fume and slag. In this study, we propose the use of electrical steel slag as a partial replacement of cement, evaluating its effectiveness by NBR 15577:2008, employing different proportions as replacement. It seems that the electrical steel slag, despite its expansive behavior, has been effective in the control of the ASR.

Abstract This paper presents the use of the technique of digital image correlation for obtaining the elasticity modulus of concrete. The proposed system uses a USB microscope that captures images at a rate of five frames per second. The stored data are correlated with the applied loads, and a stress-strain curve is generated to determine the concrete compressive modulus of elasticity. Two different concretes were produced and tested using the proposed system. The results were compared with the results obtained using a traditional strain gauge. It was observed a difference in the range of 4% between the two methods, wherein this difference depends on some parameters in the case of the DIC results, as focal length and a video capture resolution, indicating that DIC technique can be used to obtain mechanical properties of concrete.

Abstract This paper shows the analysis performed on the corrosion parameters of three groups of reinforcing steel bars, two of these coated by electroplating process with Zinc (Zn) and Zinc-Nickel (Zn-Ni), and the other without any coating. It was used reinforced concrete specimens, which ones were grouped and then subjected to two different corrosion accelerating methods: aging wetting/drying cycles and salt spray exposure. Corrosion potential was measured to qualitative monitoring of the process and, after the end of the tests, corrosion rate was estimated by measuring the mass loss, to quantitative analyses. As it was expected, coated bars presented a better performance than the average bars regarding the corrosion resistance in chloride ions containing environments. It was also observed that the drying/ NaCl solution wetting cycles seems to be more severe than salt spray fog apparatus with respect to the acceleration of corrosion process.

Abstract This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of partially replace of fine aggregate by sugarcane bagasse ash (CBA) in mortar mixtures in cement reactivity at early ages. The setting times and the initial development of the ultrasonic velocity for mortars produced at various water/cement ratios were evaluated. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of the partial replacement of fine aggregate by sugarcane bagasse ash in the initial process of cement hydration. Therefore, the CBA used in this study went through different beneficiation processes, by grinding, reburning and sieving, with the objective of improve its features. The results suggest the viability of CBA use to accelerate cement hydration at early ages, with also an observed higher compressive strength.

Abstract This paper aims to evaluate the interaction between structural masonry walls made of high performance concrete blocks, under vertical loads. Two H-shaped flanged wall series, all full scale and using direct bond, have been analyzed experimentally. In one series, three flanged-walls were built with the central wall (web) supported and, in the other one, three specimens were built without any support at the central web. The load was applied on the central wall and vertical displacements were measured by means of displacement transducers located at eighteen points in the wall-assemblages. The results showed that the estimated load values for the flanges were close to those supported by the walls without central support, where 100% of the load transfer to the flanges occur. The average transfer load rate calculated based on the deformation ratio in the upper and lower section of the flanged-walls, with the central web support, were 37.65% and 77.30%, respectively, showing that there is load transfer from the central wall (web) toward the flanges, particularly in the lower part of the flanged walls. Thus, there is indication that the distribution of vertical loads may be considered for projects of buildings for service load, such as in the method of isolated walls group. For estimation of the failure load, the method that considers the walls acting independently showed better results, due to the fact that failure started at the top of the central wall, where there is no effect of load distribution from the adjacent walls.

Abstract This paper presents a study about safety of reinforced concrete beams subjected to bending moment and designed with the partial safety factors proposed by ABNT NBR 6118:2014. The main goal was to assess the uniformity in the safety of the beams considering different values for the neutral axis position and the load ratio, by using the Reliability Theory. A simplified procedure to calibrate the partial safety factors was proposed taking into account the nature of each random variable and a target reliability index. From the analysis of the results, an alternative method for the design of reinforced concrete beams was also proposed, in which safety is guaranteed by the using of a probability of failure instead a set of partial safety factors. The results showed the lack of uniformity in the safety of the beams design with de constant set of partial safety factors. The procedures of design and calibration of the new safety factors were capable of to give uniformity to the safety of the beams and to achieve the proper structural configuration with the required safety level.

Abstract This paper investigates the laboratory test results of 12 deep beams available in the literature, where the longitudinal reinforcement was anchored into the support using short straight bar anchorages. Four different specimen groups with three different shear span-to-depth ratios (a/d) were selected and most of the deep beams failed by strut crushing after yielding of the main longitudinal reinforcement. In order to investigate the behavior of the selected deep beams, an enhanced strut-and-tie model assuming geometrical adaptability (possibility of update in the dimensions of the struts and ties as the main tie starts to yield) is proposed. The analytical results obtained using this approach may be considered as much as accurate than some conducted complex nonlinear analysis considering smeared fixed cracking model and bond-slip behavior. However, an improvement on the effective strength factor of bottle-shaped struts by means of an iterative strut-and-tie model is needed, once the effective strength factor prescribed by NBR6118 (2014) has shown to be over conservative for all ranges of span-to-depth ratio (a/d) investigated. Finally, the obtained results indicated that short bar anchorages did not seem to influence significantly the shear strength of the deep beams investigated, especially the strength of bottled-shaped struts when appropriate crack control reinforcement is present.

Abstract This paper aims to study the concrete dosage conditions for structural purposes in construction sitesl, and the impacts of non-compliance of structural concrete for structural safety, having as study case the city of Angicos / RN. Were analyzed the dynamic elasticity modulus, static elasticity modulus and the compressive strength of concrete samples. Was conducted to collect the survey data, a field research aiming to gather information about dosage of concrete used in the works, as well as the collection of cylindrical specimens of 150 mm diameter by 300 mm of height, prepared according to practice of those professionals. The study indicated a clear necessity to reflection on the subject, since there is no concern, or even, a lack of knowledge by the interviewed professionals regarding the care and procedures necessary for the production of concrete with satisfactory quality, once at least 50% of evaluated construction sites presented compressive strength lower than 20 MPa, minimal strength to structural concrete, as recommended by ABNT-NBR 6118:2014.

Abstract A few international standards regulate the use of the high strength concrete, which may not be adopted generally without consideration of the differences that can be among the materials in different countries. This paper presents the results of an experimental study consisting of pull out tests of Brazilian steel, with five different concrete strengths, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 MPa, and three different steel bar diameters, 16.0, 20.0 and 25.0 mm. The experimental results for the bond stress vs. slipping relationship were compared with the provisions of the CEB and with some theoretical formulations found in literature. One statistical analysis is made and equations for predicting the bond stress were derived.

Abstract In this work, we studied the addition of sulfonated polystyrene produced from waste plastic cups as an admixture for mortars. Mortars were analyzed with polystyrene content of 0.0; 0.2; 0.6; 1.0 and 1.4% in relation to the cement mass. The influence of polystyrene on the mortars' properties was evaluated by the consistency index, water retention, water absorption, porosity, elasticity modulus, compressive strength, flexural strength, bond tensile strength and microscopy. The increase in the sulfonated polystyrene content decreased the elasticity modulus of the mortar and, despite higher porosity, there was a reduction of water absorption by capillarity. In relation to mortar without admixture, the modified mortar showed an increase in water retention and consistency index, and a large increase in flexural strength and bond tensile strength. The significant increase of bond tensile strength (214% with admixture 1%) highlights the potential of the produced material as an adhesive mortar.

Abstract Little information on experimental investigations regarding the influence of the prestressing forces in the shear resistance of prestressed beams is found in the technical literature. Thus, it was experimentally evaluated the shear resistance of six post-tensioned prestressed concrete beams with cross section of (150 x 450) mm2, total length of 2400 mm and concrete's compressive resistance of 30 MPa, with the variables of this work being the layout of the prestressing cable, straight or parabolic, and the stirrups geometric rate. Verticals displacement, steel and concrete's strains and a comparison of the experimental loads with the estimates of ACI 318, EUROCODE 2 and NBR 6118: 2014 codes are presented and discussed. The results showed that the cable's parabolic layout increased the beams' shear resistance in up to 16% when compared to beams with straight cables.

Abstract This article presents a columns reinforcement experimental study, with the use of anchor steel bolts and fill with self-compacting concrete. Were tested five columns of reinforced concrete subjected to flexion-compression: two columns were used as reference, and a cross-section equal to 120 x 250 mm; with a monolithic section equal to 155 x 250 mm cross section of the same reinforced columns and three which were initially molded with a 120 x 250 mm section and subsequently received a layer of 35 mm thick self-compacting concrete in the compressed side. Despite the studs do not present break, there was peeling of the reinforcement layer. The results indicate the possibility of using this method in reinforcing structural rehabilitation of reinforced concrete columns, with increase in load capacity on average equal to 403% in relation to the column reference.