Experimental research was conducted to investigate the influence of axial load and prestress on the shear strength of web-shear critical reinforced concrete elements. The ability of two design codes, the ACI code and the CSA code, to accurately predict the shear strength of web-shear critical reinforced concrete elements was investigated through two sets of experiments performed for this thesis, the panel tests and the beam tests. The experimental results indicated that the CSA code provided better predictions for the shear strength of web-shear critical reinforced concrete members subjected to combined axial force and shear force than the ACI code. A total of six panels, reinforced almost identically, were tested under different combinations of uni-axial stress and shear stress. In addition to the panel tests, a total of eleven I-shaped beams, with the same web thickness, were tested under different combinations of axial force and shear force. The parameters for these beams were the amount of longitudinal reinforcement, the amount of transverse reinforcement, and the thickness of the flanges. The beams were simply supported, but the loading geometry was specially designed to simulate the loading conditions in continuous beams near points of inflection. The experimental results from the panel tests and the beam tests followed a similar trend of variations. Both the inclined cracking strength and the ultimate shear strength were increased by compression and were reduced by tension. The specimens subjected to very high compression failed explosively without developing many cracks. The inclined cracking strength could be predicted with good accuracy if the influence of the co-existing compression on the cracking strength of the concrete and the non-uniform distribution of the stresses over the depth of the cross-section were considered. The strength predictions using the ACI code for these tests were neither accurate nor consistent. The ACI code was unconservative for members subjected to compression and was excessively conservative for members subjected to tension. In contrast, the strength predictions using the CSA code for these tests were generally conservative and consistent. The CSA code accurately predicted the response of specimens subjected to compression and was somewhat conservative in predicting the shear strength of specimens subjected to tension.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridge piers, RC columns along exterior of buildings or those located in parking garages are designed to support large compressive axial loads but are vulnerable to transverse out-of-plane loadings, such as those arising from impacts or explosions. To address a lack of understanding regarding blast and impact response of RC members and the need for retrofit techniques to address deficiencies in existing structures, a multi-disciplinary team including various institutes of the National Research Council and the University of Ottawa has initiated work towards developing a fibre reinforced polymer composite protection system for RC columns subjected to extreme shocks. This thesis will focus on the impact program of the aforementioned project. An extensive literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of: impact loading and associated dynamic effects; experimental testing of RC members subjected to impact; experimental testing of axially loaded members; and retrofit methods for the protection of RC under impact loading. Five half-scale RC columns were constructed and tested using a drop-weight impact machine and two additional specimens were tested under static loading. Deflections, strain distributions within the columns, impact loads and reaction loads were measured during the testing of the built RC members. Comparisons of experimental datum were established between members with differing levels of axial load and between a retrofitted and a non-retrofitted member. Single-degree-of-freedom analysis was used to obtain the predicted response of certain columns under impact loading allowing for comparisons with experimental data.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridge piers, RC columns along exterior of buildings or those located in parking garages are designed to support large compressive axial loads but are vulnerable to transverse out-of-plane loadings, such as those arising from impacts or explosions. To address a lack of understanding regarding blast and impact response of RC members and the need for retrofit techniques to address deficiencies in existing structures, a multi-disciplinary team including various institutes of the National Research Council and the University of Ottawa has initiated work towards developing a fibre reinforced polymer composite protection system for RC columns subjected to extreme shocks. This thesis will focus on the impact program of the aforementioned project. An extensive literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of: impact loading and associated dynamic effects; experimental testing of RC members subjected to impact; experimental testing of axially loaded members; and retrofit methods for the protection of RC under impact loading. Five half-scale RC columns were constructed and tested using a drop-weight impact machine and two additional specimens were tested under static loading. Deflections, strain distributions within the columns, impact loads and reaction loads were measured during the testing of the built RC members. Comparisons of experimental datum were established between members with differing levels of axial load and between a retrofitted and a non-retrofitted member. Single-degree-of-freedom analysis was used to obtain the predicted response of certain columns under impact loading allowing for comparisons with experimental data.

The rollers of run out table in Hot Strip Mill are operated with variable high rotational speed under a severe environment of high temperature and much cooling water around. And the table takes long space about 128 meters of length with over 330 rollers. The rollers of this area often break down, and it takes long to make urgent repair. So it costs about ten million NT dollars per year for mill shut-down. Although some improvements have been made before, the troubles still happens frequently. Then the temporary countermeasures of shortening the maintenance cycle and increasing the grease supply have been applied to prevent the break-down frequency from aggravation . But it wastes the cost and does not meet the environmental policy. This study analyzes many damage phenomena. Then it assumes that the 75% of roller running break-down is bearing damage resulting from bad lubrication condition and abnormal axial load. The cooling water which penetrates into bearing housing will result in grease emulsification and its consistency diluting. This certainly causes the bad lubrication condition and bearing rusting. In the meantime, if the floating function of roller bearing is inactive, the bearings will be operated under abnormal high axial load and without appropriate lubrication. Then the bearing will be damaged rapidly and must be repaired quickly. In order to improve bad lubrication and bearing rusting, this study modifies sealing arrangement and grease feeding circuit for bearing housing with the special functions of water obstruction, drainage and resistance to prevent water penetration. In addition, the overflow of grease will be collected to meet the environmental needs. Meanwhile, to look for better water resistance and mechanical stability for greasing, the study also discusses the relationship between consistency variation and thickening soap base after grease emulsification. During a three-month running of the new design , the water contents are stably under 1.5% which has greatly advanced. And the quantity of grease supply is under 10% of existing one. In order to improve the inactive floating function of roller bearings, this study not only analyzes the derivation of problems but also modifies the dimensional tolerance and adds cylindricity of geometric tolerance for the bore of bearing housing. This will ensure complete loose fit and shape accuracy to prevent the interference fit between the bore and bearing caused by manufacturing inaccuracy or other mistakes

Experimental research was conducted to investigate the influence of axial load and prestress on the shear strength of web-shear critical reinforced concrete elements. The ability of two design codes, the ACI code and the CSA code, to accurately predict the shear strength of web-shear critical reinforced concrete elements was investigated through two sets of experiments performed for this thesis, the panel tests and the beam tests. The experimental results indicated that the CSA code provided better predictions for the shear strength of web-shear critical reinforced concrete members subjected to combined axial force and shear force than the ACI code. A total of six panels, reinforced almost identically, were tested under different combinations of uni-axial stress and shear stress. In addition to the panel tests, a total of eleven I-shaped beams, with the same web thickness, were tested under different combinations of axial force and shear force. The parameters for these beams were the amount of longitudinal reinforcement, the amount of transverse reinforcement, and the thickness of the flanges. The beams were simply supported, but the loading geometry was specially designed to simulate the loading conditions in continuous beams near points of inflection. The experimental results from the panel tests and the beam tests followed a similar trend of variations. Both the inclined cracking strength and the ultimate shear strength were increased by compression and were reduced by tension. The specimens subjected to very high compression failed explosively without developing many cracks. The inclined cracking strength could be predicted with good accuracy if the influence of the co-existing compression on the cracking strength of the concrete and the non-uniform distribution of the stresses over the depth of the cross-section were considered. The strength predictions using the ACI code for these tests were neither accurate nor consistent. The ACI code was unconservative for members subjected to compression and was excessively conservative for members subjected to tension. In contrast, the strength predictions using the CSA code for these tests were generally conservative and consistent. The CSA code accurately predicted the response of specimens subjected to compression and was somewhat conservative in predicting the shear strength of specimens subjected to tension.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridge piers, RC columns along exterior of buildings or those located in parking garages are designed to support large compressive axial loads but are vulnerable to transverse out-of-plane loadings, such as those arising from impacts or explosions. To address a lack of understanding regarding blast and impact response of RC members and the need for retrofit techniques to address deficiencies in existing structures, a multi-disciplinary team including various institutes of the National Research Council and the University of Ottawa has initiated work towards developing a fibre reinforced polymer composite protection system for RC columns subjected to extreme shocks. This thesis will focus on the impact program of the aforementioned project. An extensive literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of: impact loading and associated dynamic effects; experimental testing of RC members subjected to impact; experimental testing of axially loaded members; and retrofit methods for the protection of RC under impact loading. Five half-scale RC columns were constructed and tested using a drop-weight impact machine and two additional specimens were tested under static loading. Deflections, strain distributions within the columns, impact loads and reaction loads were measured during the testing of the built RC members. Comparisons of experimental datum were established between members with differing levels of axial load and between a retrofitted and a non-retrofitted member. Single-degree-of-freedom analysis was used to obtain the predicted response of certain columns under impact loading allowing for comparisons with experimental data.

Como conseqüência do atual desenvolvimento tecnológico dos materiais aço e concreto, várias pesquisas têm surgido com vistas a um melhor aproveitamento da capacidade desses dois materiais, exigindo um maior conhecimento sobre o comportamento dos elementos, inclusive sobre sua vulnerabilidade a estados limites últimos. Sendo a instabilidade um estado limite último possível de ocorrer em configurações de equilíbrio de peças de concreto armado submetidas a determinadas solicitações normais, seu estudo torna-se fundamental para que seja possível propor soluções estruturais seguras e economicamente viáveis. Este trabalho apresenta a análise de alguns aspectos que interferem no estudo da estabilidade de pilares esbeltos de concreto armado, através de uma abordagem envolvendo aspectos teóricos, como também aspectos práticos oriundos da resolução de exemplos. O estudo é feito com base nos métodos geral e do equilíbrio, com os processos exato e do pilar padrão, através de um software (SISTEMA FLEXOR), desenvolvido por CADAMURO Jr. (1997). O objetivo é testar a viabilidade desses métodos a fim de propor soluções e, com isso, tornar mais amplo e acessível o uso de pilares esbeltos de concreto armado, incentivando a adoção de projetos mais arrojados sem subutilização dos materiais. / As a consequence of the actual technological development of the materials steel and concrete, many researches have come up with proposal of better use of these two materials capacity, demanding a bigger knowledge about the behaviour of the elements, included your vulnerability to ultimate limit states. Being the instability a possible ultimate limit state of reinforced concrete columns equilibrium configuration, this study has been fundamental to make possible to propose safe and economically reasonable structural solutions. This work presents the analysis of some aspects that interfere in the study of slender reinforced concrete columns stability, through an approach involving theoretical and practical aspects derived from numerical solutions. The scheme is based in the General and Equilibrium Methods with the Exact Process and Model Column Method, through a software (SISTEMA FLEXOR) developed by CADAMURO Jr. (1997). The objective is to testify the practicability of these methods, to propose solutions and to render wider and more practical the use of slender reinforced concrete columns, stimulating the adoption of projects bolders without underutilisation of the materials.

A total of 47 lightweight aggregate concrete columns were constructed from four different types of lightweight aggregate and provided with different quantities of transverse reinforcement. The specimens were tested under a monotonically increasing level of compressive axial load. The rate of load application was varied from pseudo-static to the rate of dynamic loading expected during a major seismic excitation. The results from the experimental testing of the column members were used to derive a theoretical stress-strain model to predict the behaviour of lightweight aggregate concrete members under imposed loads. The stress-strain model was derived to predict the response of both lightweight aggregate and conventional weight concretes with compressive strengths up to and including 100 MPa. The model was calibrate against the experimental results obtained in this study and previously tested lightweight aggregate and conventional weight concrete columns. A series of pseudo-cyclic moment-curvature analyse were undertaking using the derived stress-strain model, to predict the behaviour of the lightweight aggregate concrete members when subjected to axial load and flexure. The results were compared to the confinement requirements in the potential plastic hinge regions of column elements required by the New Zealand Concrete Structures Standard, NZS3101: 1995. It was determined that the confinement requirements of NZS3101: 1995 were could be used to accurately determine the required quantity of transverse reinforcement for lightweight aggregate concrete members with a concrete density greater than 1700 kg/m3. A total of four lightweight aggregate concrete beam column subassemblies were constructed and tested under reversed cyclic lateral loading. The results from the specimen indicate that cyclic behaviour of the lightweight aggregate concrete was similar to conventional weight concrete. However the bond capacity between the longitudinal reinforcement and the surrounding concrete was weaker than previously tested conventional weight concrete members.

Como conseqüência do atual desenvolvimento tecnológico dos materiais aço e concreto, várias pesquisas têm surgido com vistas a um melhor aproveitamento da capacidade desses dois materiais, exigindo um maior conhecimento sobre o comportamento dos elementos, inclusive sobre sua vulnerabilidade a estados limites últimos. Sendo a instabilidade um estado limite último possível de ocorrer em configurações de equilíbrio de peças de concreto armado submetidas a determinadas solicitações normais, seu estudo torna-se fundamental para que seja possível propor soluções estruturais seguras e economicamente viáveis. Este trabalho apresenta a análise de alguns aspectos que interferem no estudo da estabilidade de pilares esbeltos de concreto armado, através de uma abordagem envolvendo aspectos teóricos, como também aspectos práticos oriundos da resolução de exemplos. O estudo é feito com base nos métodos geral e do equilíbrio, com os processos exato e do pilar padrão, através de um software (SISTEMA FLEXOR), desenvolvido por CADAMURO Jr. (1997). O objetivo é testar a viabilidade desses métodos a fim de propor soluções e, com isso, tornar mais amplo e acessível o uso de pilares esbeltos de concreto armado, incentivando a adoção de projetos mais arrojados sem subutilização dos materiais. / As a consequence of the actual technological development of the materials steel and concrete, many researches have come up with proposal of better use of these two materials capacity, demanding a bigger knowledge about the behaviour of the elements, included your vulnerability to ultimate limit states. Being the instability a possible ultimate limit state of reinforced concrete columns equilibrium configuration, this study has been fundamental to make possible to propose safe and economically reasonable structural solutions. This work presents the analysis of some aspects that interfere in the study of slender reinforced concrete columns stability, through an approach involving theoretical and practical aspects derived from numerical solutions. The scheme is based in the General and Equilibrium Methods with the Exact Process and Model Column Method, through a software (SISTEMA FLEXOR) developed by CADAMURO Jr. (1997). The objective is to testify the practicability of these methods, to propose solutions and to render wider and more practical the use of slender reinforced concrete columns, stimulating the adoption of projects bolders without underutilisation of the materials.

No / Axially loaded rubber blocks of long, thin rectangular and circular cross section whose ends are bonded to rigid plates are studied. Closed-form expressions, which satisfy exactly the governing equations and conditions based upon the classical theory of elasticity, are derived for the total axial deflection and stress distribution using a superposition approach. The corresponding relations are presented for readily calculating the apparent Young's modulus, Ea, the modified modulus, E'a, and the deformed lateral profiles of the blocks. From these, improved approximate elementary expressions for evaluating Ea and E'a are deduced. These estimates, and the precisely found values, agree for large values of the shape factor S, with those previously suggested, but also fit the experimental data more closely for small values of S. Confirmation is provided that the assumption of a parabolic lateral profile is invalid for small values of S.