This study concerns improvement of flexural stiffness/strength of concrete members reinforced with externally bonded, aluminum-glass fiber composite (AGC) beams. An experimental program, consisting of seven reinforced concrete slabs and seven reinforced concrete beams strengthened in flexure with AGC beams, was initiated under four-point bending in order to evaluate three parameters: the cross-sectional shape of the AGC beam, the glass fiber fabric array, and the installation of fasteners. The load-deflection response, strain distribution along the longitudinal axis of the beam, and associated failure modes of the tested specimens were recorded. It was observed that the AGC beam led to an increase of the initial cracking load, yielding load of the tension steels and peak load. On the other hand, the ductility of some specimens strengthened was reduced by more than 50%. The A-type AGC beam was more efficient in slab specimens than in beam specimens and the B-type was more suitable for beam specimens than for slabs.

This study investigates the impact of accelerated aging conditions on the long-term flexural behavior and ductility of reinforced concrete (RC) members with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars (RC-GFRP specimen) and steel bars (RC-steel specimen). A total of thirty six specimens were designed with different amounts of reinforcement with three types of reinforcing bars (i.e., helically wrapped GFRP, sand-coated surface GFRP and steel). Eighteen specimens were subjected to sustained loads and accelerated aging conditions (i.e., 47 °C and 80% relative humidity) in a chamber. The flexural behavior of specimens under 300-day exposure was compared to that of the companion specimens without experiencing accelerated aging conditions. Results indicate that the accelerated aging conditions reduced flexural capacity in not only RC-steel, but also RC-GFRP specimens, with different rates of reduction. Different types of GFRP reinforcement exhibited different rates of degradation of the flexural capacity when embedded in concrete under the same exposure conditions. Several existing models were compared with experimental results for predicting the deflection and deformability index for specimens. Bischoff and Gross’s model exhibited an excellent prediction of the time-dependent deflections. Except for the deformability index proposed by Jaeger, there was no general trend related to the aging duration. This study recommends the need for further investigation on the prediction of the deformability index.

This study concerns improvement of flexural stiffness/strength of concrete members reinforced with externally bonded, aluminum-glass fiber composite (AGC) beams. An experimental program, consisting of seven reinforced concrete slabs and seven reinforced concrete beams strengthened in flexure with AGC beams, was initiated under four-point bending in order to evaluate three parameters: the cross-sectional shape of the AGC beam, the glass fiber fabric array, and the installation of fasteners. The load-deflection response, strain distribution along the longitudinal axis of the beam, and associated failure modes of the tested specimens were recorded. It was observed that the AGC beam led to an increase of the initial cracking load, yielding load of the tension steels and peak load. On the other hand, the ductility of some specimens strengthened was reduced by more than 50%. The A-type AGC beam was more efficient in slab specimens than in beam specimens and the B-type was more suitable for beam specimens than for slabs.

This study investigates the impact of accelerated aging conditions on the long-term flexural behavior and ductility of reinforced concrete (RC) members with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars (RC-GFRP specimen) and steel bars (RC-steel specimen). A total of thirty six specimens were designed with different amounts of reinforcement with three types of reinforcing bars (i.e., helically wrapped GFRP, sand-coated surface GFRP and steel). Eighteen specimens were subjected to sustained loads and accelerated aging conditions (i.e., 47 °C and 80% relative humidity) in a chamber. The flexural behavior of specimens under 300-day exposure was compared to that of the companion specimens without experiencing accelerated aging conditions. Results indicate that the accelerated aging conditions reduced flexural capacity in not only RC-steel, but also RC-GFRP specimens, with different rates of reduction. Different types of GFRP reinforcement exhibited different rates of degradation of the flexural capacity when embedded in concrete under the same exposure conditions. Several existing models were compared with experimental results for predicting the deflection and deformability index for specimens. Bischoff and Gross’s model exhibited an excellent prediction of the time-dependent deflections. Except for the deformability index proposed by Jaeger, there was no general trend related to the aging duration. This study recommends the need for further investigation on the prediction of the deformability index.

This study presents the development of an analysis method to predict the moments at first yielding and at ultimate strength of reinforced concrete beams strengthened using a V-shaped posttensioning steel rod system. The analysis requires determination of a total elongation of the external posttensioning rods, which is interdependent upon the neutral axis depth, deflection, and strains and stresses in beam components at both internal steel yielding and ultimate strength stages. The iteration algorithm was computationally programmed. The test results from a total of 14 full-scale beams were used to verify the analysis method that predicts the yield moment, moment capacity, and corresponding unbonded steel rod stresses. Finally, a flexural design method is developed for reinforced concrete beams externally posttensioned using a V-shaped steel rod system.

A number of apple trees have collapsed in South Korea due to strong winds caused by typhoons. In fact, apple trees are protected by various types of support systems. However, despite this, they have still been damaged. The reason why the trees collapsed is that the installation of a support system is based not on scientific facts but on empirical facts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the structural safety of the anti-disaster support system of apple trees. Equivalent static tests of the support systems, i.e., fences and matrix supports, were carried out. The result of the equivalent static tests indicated that the bearing capacity of the foundation is considered an important factor for the performance of the fence support, and the elements played a major role in the case of the matrix support due to the connection of the strut wire and the mat wire. Based on this test result, design criteria and standard specifications of the apple tree support system in response to local wind speed are proposed.