On the numerical modelling of bond for the failure analysis of reinforced concrete

The structural performance of reinforced concrete relies heavily on the bond between reinforcement and concrete. In nonlinear finite element analyses, bond is either modelled by merged, also called perfect bond, or coincident with slip, also called bond-slip, approaches. Here, the performance of these two approaches for the modelling of failure of reinforced concrete was investigated using a damage-plasticity constitutive model in LS-DYNA. Firstly, the influence of element size on the response of tension-stiffening analyses with the two modelling approaches was investigated. Then, the results of the two approaches were compared for plain and fibre reinforced tension stiffening and a drop weight impact test. It was shown that only the coincident with slip approach provided mesh insensitive results. However, both approaches were capable of reproducing the overall response of the experiments in the form of load and displacements satisfactorily for the meshes used

The human papillomavirus 16 E2 protein is stabilised in S phase

The human papillomavirus 16 E2 protein regulates transcription from, and replication of, the viral genome and is also required for segregation of the viral genome via interaction with mitotic bodies. To regulate DNA replication E2 interacts with sequences around the origin of replication and recruits the viral helicase E1 via a protein-protein interaction, which then initiates viral genome replication. The replication role of E2 must originally function in a host cell S phase. In this report, we demonstrate that E2 is stabilised in the S phase of the cell cycle and that this stabilisation is accompanied by an increase in phosphorylation of the protein. This increased phosphorylation and stability are likely required for optimum viral DNA replication and therefore identification of the enzymes involved in regulating these properties of E2 will provide targets for therapeutic intervention in the viral life cycle. Preliminary studies have identified E2 as a Cdk2 substrate demonstrating this enzyme as a candidate kinase for mediating the in vivo phosphorylation of HPV16 E2

Recommendations for Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Slabs: Enhanced structural analysis with the finite element method

Reinforced concrete structures show a pronounced non-linear response, with cracking of concrete for service loads and reinforcement yielding and concrete crushing at ultimate load. With non-linear finite element (FE) analysis, the structural response can be captured, and such analyses have shown great potential to reveal higher load carrying capacity compared to simplified and linear analysis methods. A multi-level structural assessment strategy, developed in previous research, provides a framework for more advanced, successively improved analysis of reinforced concrete slabs.This report provides recommendations for practicing structural engineers on structural assessment using FE analysis. The focus is on enhanced assessment with non-linear FE analysis, and the scope is reinforced concrete slabs with limited membrane effects. The intention is to facilitate the use of non-linear analysis in engineering practice by providing detailed recommendations on how such analyses can be made to provide increased understanding of the structural behaviour and reliable estimations of the load-carrying capacity of concrete slabs. However, the framework presented is general, and the approach can in many aspects also be used for other types of reinforced concrete structures. The recommendations given here are based on previous research performed by the authors, information from literature and engineering judgement based on practical experience. They are intended to give conservative estimates of the load-carrying capacity, fulfilling the required safety level. The report includes a thorough description of the assessment strategy. The global safety format recommended for non-linear analysis is presented and its application for different assessment levels is described. Furthermore, recommendations on how to take deterioration into account are given. Non-linear FE analysis of concrete structures is presented together with general advices for its application. Furthermore, general recommendations are presented for simplified and linear analysis, corresponding to today’s practice. For assessment with non-linear FE analysis, detailed recommendations for use in engineering practice are presented. Advices are given on idealization of the structure, choice of material models, determination of material parameters, modelling and analysis. Furthermore, the evaluation of structural response, determination of load carrying capacity and response under service conditions are described. For non-linear analysis with shell elements, resistance models on higher Level-of-Approximation according to Model Code 2010 are used. Finally, examples are showing the application of the strategy on two slabs tested in laboratory and one bridge deck slab

Innovative flexural strengthening of RC beams using self-anchored prestressed CFRP plates: Experimental and numerical investigations

This paper presents an innovative method of prestressing carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates used as externally bonded reinforcement for flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The proposed method aims to achieve self-anchorage of the prestressed CFRP plate and thus eliminate the need for conventional mechanical anchorage at its ends. Experimental tests of RC beams in four-point bending were conducted to investigate the strengthening efficiency of the self-anchored prestressed CFRP plate. The experimental results showed that using the self-anchored prestressed CFRP significantly improved the flexural performance of the strengthened beam in terms of bending stiffness, crack widths, and load-carrying capacity. The utilisation ratio of the prestressed CFRP plate reached 81% at its debonding. Numerical analyses using nonlinear finite element (FE) method were conducted to model the tested specimens. Based on the reliable simulation of flexural cracks and crack-induced CFRP debonding, parametric studies were conducted using FE analyses, in order to investigate the effect of prestressing levels and the CFRP plate\u27s stiffness on the flexural behaviour. Recommendations were then made for selecting a proper prestressing level and the mechanical properties of CFRP plates

Design of impulse loaded concrete structures: a comparison of FKR 2011 with various design regulations

The Swedish Fortifications Agency has a long history in the design and maintenance of military fortifications and recently published a revised version of their design regulations; FKR 2011. These regulations can be said to represent the traditional Swedish view of the design of impulse loaded concrete structures and differs from the regulations normally used (i.e. Eurocode) for static design in Sweden today. Further, even though many parts of the content of FKR 2011 are similar to that of corresponding regulations in other countries it is not identical. The purpose of this project was to assess different regulations for the design of reinforced concrete structures subjected to impulse loading. The focus was on FKR 2011 and its applicability for some common design criteria. One aim was to compare FKR 2011 with other similar regulations in order to identify similarities and differences to these; and if necessary, recommend possible improvements. Another aim was to provide an improved basis in order to give general recommendations of further investigations that is deemed necessary. The main subjects compared were how the different regulations treated material strength, bending moment, shear and spalling/breaching. The comparisons were made based on the concept/expressions used in the respective regulations, and using several case studies of a simply supported slab strip of different geometry, concrete strength and reinforcement amount. Based on this it was concluded that the concept used for bending stiffness and moment capacity was similar in all the recommendations compared. Further, the method used in FKR for plastic deformation capacity is based on an older, today non-existing, reinforcement type and there is a need of further comparisons of the method used. The concept used in FKR for shear differs much compared with the regulations compared and it is suggested that further development of it should be made. Finally, the concept used for spalling and breaching is deemed to be okay to use

A Reanalysis of theUltraviolet Extinction from Interstellar Dust in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We have reanalyzed the Large Magellanic Cloud's (LMC) ultraviolet (UV) extinction using data from the IUE final archive. Our new analysis takes advantage of the improved signal--to--noise of the IUE NEWSIPS reduction, the exclusion of stars with very low reddening, the careful selection of well matched comparison stars, and an analysis of the effects of Galactic foreground dust. Differences between the average extinction curves of the 30 Dor region and the rest of the LMC are reduced compared to previous studies. We find that there is a group of stars with very weak 2175 Ang. bumps that lie in or near the region occupied by the supergiant shell, LMC 2, on the southeast side of 30 Dor. The average extinction curves inside and outside LMC 2 show a very significant difference in 2175 Ang. bump strength, but their far--UV extinctions are similar. While it is unclear whether or not the extinction outside the LMC 2 region can be fit with the relation of Cardelli, Clayton and Mathis (CCM), sightlines near LMC 2 cannot be fit with CCM due to their weak 2175 Ang. bumps. While the extinction properties seen in the LMC lie within the range of properties seen in the Galaxy, the correlations of UV extinction properties with environment seen in the Galaxy do not appear to hold in the LMC.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Ap

The effect of explosions in road tunnels on critical structural elements

In the present paper, the walls of a concrete frame used for over-decking in a road tunnel were first designed using the relevant design provisions. The response of the wall was then analysed using non-linear finite element analysis, and the results of the finite element analysis were compared to what was predicted using the design guidelines. Additionally, simulations of the blast load resulting from gas leakage during transportation were conducted as a separate study. The results from two vapour clouds containing gases of hydrogen and propane were compared

Key aspects of digital image correlation in impact tests of reinforced concrete beams

This paper studies 2-D high speed photography combined with digital image correlation (DIC) applied to experimental research of reinforced concrete beams at moderate loading rates. The aim of the present research is to understand the influence of 2-D DIC set-up parameters in the results. Drop-weight tests have been completed in 1180 7 100 7 100 mm longitudinally reinforced concrete beams. The study has confirmed results sensitivity to image subdivision and mesh properties. While smaller subdivision sizes allow to obtain results nearby boundaries, being more suitable to study local effects, larger sizes enhance computational cost, increase mesh stability and accuracy. A discussion of key aspects of 2-D DIC for measuring different parameters (such as acceleration, displacements, strains and strain-rate) is presented along this paper