This thesis examines the effects of reinforcement ductility on the strength and ductility of reinforced concrete slabs. An extensive experimental program examining the ultimate strength, ductility and failure mode of one-way and two-way reinforced concrete slabs is described and the results are presented and analysed. A numerical finite element model is developed and calibrated using the experimental data. The model is described and shown to accurately simulate the collapse load behaviour of reinforced concrete slabs containing reinforcement of any ductility class, including Class L welded wire fabric. Parametric studies using the numerical model to assess the effects of reinforcement ductility on structural behaviour are also presented and recommendations are made on the minimum reinforcement ductility levels appropriate for use in suspended slabs. The experimental and numerical tests investigated slabs with different types of boundary conditions (simply supported and continuous one-way slabs, corner-supported single panel two slabs and edge-supported two-way slabs), support settlement, steel reinforcement ratio, steel uniform elongation (su), steel ultimate to yield stress ratio (fsu/fsy) and rectangularity aspect ratio in the two-way slabs. In total, thirty one slabs were tested. The one-way slabs included four simply supported slabs, seven continuous slabs, and five continuous slabs with support settlement. The two-way slabs included eleven square and rectangular corner-supported slabs and four rectangular edge-supported slabs. The one-way simply-supported slabs were 850mm in width, 100mm in depth and 2,500mm in length. The continuous one-way slabs were 850mm in width, 100mm in depth and 4,350mm in length. The continuous one-way slabs and subjected to support settlement were 850mm in width, 120mm in depth and 6,300mm in length. The square two-way slabs had an edge length of 2,400mm and a depth of 100mm and the rectangular two-way slabs had width of 2,400mm, a length of 3,600mm and a depth of 100mm.

This thesis examines the effects of reinforcement ductility on the strength and ductility of reinforced concrete slabs. An extensive experimental program examining the ultimate strength, ductility and failure mode of one-way and two-way reinforced concrete slabs is described and the results are presented and analysed. A numerical finite element model is developed and calibrated using the experimental data. The model is described and shown to accurately simulate the collapse load behaviour of reinforced concrete slabs containing reinforcement of any ductility class, including Class L welded wire fabric. Parametric studies using the numerical model to assess the effects of reinforcement ductility on structural behaviour are also presented and recommendations are made on the minimum reinforcement ductility levels appropriate for use in suspended slabs. The experimental and numerical tests investigated slabs with different types of boundary conditions (simply supported and continuous one-way slabs, corner-supported single panel two slabs and edge-supported two-way slabs), support settlement, steel reinforcement ratio, steel uniform elongation (su), steel ultimate to yield stress ratio (fsu/fsy) and rectangularity aspect ratio in the two-way slabs. In total, thirty one slabs were tested. The one-way slabs included four simply supported slabs, seven continuous slabs, and five continuous slabs with support settlement. The two-way slabs included eleven square and rectangular corner-supported slabs and four rectangular edge-supported slabs. The one-way simply-supported slabs were 850mm in width, 100mm in depth and 2,500mm in length. The continuous one-way slabs were 850mm in width, 100mm in depth and 4,350mm in length. The continuous one-way slabs and subjected to support settlement were 850mm in width, 120mm in depth and 6,300mm in length. The square two-way slabs had an edge length of 2,400mm and a depth of 100mm and the rectangular two-way slabs had width of 2,400mm, a length of 3,600mm and a depth of 100mm.

The present study deals with the use of fiberglass reinforced polymer bars (GFRP) as a replacement for the common steel of a reinforced concrete circular pile, in order to avoid the corrosion of durability of reinforcing bars and thus improve them. The comparative analysis was carried out between a pile reinforced with GFRP and another with steel, where the ductility was evaluated by obtaining moment-curvature diagram. As a result, said idealized moment-curvature diagrams and ductility indices are presented, concluding the ductility of the section reinforced with GFRP in 20% more than that of steel.

Inelastic design methods have been used in seismic design for several years and are well accepted in engineering practice. In contrast, an inelastic wind design method is yet to be developed, in part due to the inherent differences between seismic forces and wind forces. Current wind design practice follows a linear method to find a design windspeed for the location where the structure will be built. Once the design windspeed has been determined, the lateral force resisting system is designed such that it will behave elastically. This study was conducted with the hypothesis that by providing ductility at the material level, member level, and system level it may be possible to use a reduced design force for wind (i.e., a design force reduction that is proportional to a wind response modification factor). A three-story office building that uses steel moment frames as the primary lateral force resisting system was examined to test the hypothesis. Various levels of ductility were included based on ductility requirements for material strength, section stability and system stability originally developed for seismic design. Moment frames were designed for a range of design windspeeds and for three levels of ductility. For each design windspeed, a non-ductile (representing the moment frame as it would be designed by current standards), moderately-ductile and highly-ductile moment frame were developed. A finite element model of the building was made to capture inelastic material behavior and large displacements. The finite element model was subjected to wind loads based on wind tunnel tests data, and the static pushover, vibration, and dynamic responses of the building were evaluated. The performance of each moderately-ductile and highly-ductile moment frame was compared to the performance of each non-ductile frame of a higher design windspeed. The results show that for moderately-ductile moment frames, a wind response modification factor equal to 2 provided a collapse capacity that met or exceeded the collapse capacity of the comparative nonductile moment frame. For highly-ductile moment frames, a wind response modification factor equal to 3 met or exceeded the collapse capacity of the comparative non-ductile moment frame. In many instances, the collapse capacity of the moderately-ductile moment frame was similar to the collapse capacity of the highly-ductile moment frame. Thus, the results indicate that the use of a response modification factor for wind may be viable.

The intermetallic compound TiAl possesses a unique complex of properties that include sufficiently low material density, high values of the strength-to-ductility ratio, high elastic moduli, high oxidation resistance, low creep rate, and improved fatigue characteristics. These properties make TiAl alloys very attractive, particularly for structural applications for aerospace and aeronautic industries, where, at certain temperatures, they might be capable of replacing heavy nickel-based superalloys. However, so far applications of TiAl alloys have been limited by their poor ductility. Many of the recent studies have focused on the source of this limited ductility and on methods to improve this property. It has been found out experimentally that the strength and ductility of $gamma$-TiAl alloys can be affected by many different parameters, including alloy stoichiometry, heat treatment, deformation temperature, impurity content, grain size, and ternary element additions. In this thesis we present the results of our computer simulations of deformation and fracture in TiAl. In contrast to many previous studies our simulations include the interaction of the crack with point defects in the lattice. We use the molecular statics technique with atomic interactions described in terms of the embedded atom method. We simulate the crack propagation along (100), (001), (110) and (111) planes in TiAl. The cleavage along (100) and (001) planes shows purely brittle behavior, whereas the cleavage along (110) and (111) planes is accompanied by extensive dislocation emission. Our studies of the crack interaction with point defects reveal that vacancies and antisites near the crack tip can influence the amount of plastic deformation. Another important observation is that the antisite formation energy near the crack tip is generally lower than in the perfect lattice. This observation suggests the formation of relatively disordered zones near the crack tip at high temperatures, and leads us to a formulation of a new mechanism of a brittle-to-ductile transition in TiAl. / Ph. D.

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Wood beam-column connections have traditionally been designed as simple shear connections, ignoring their potential moment capacity. A major reason for not utilizing such moment connections is linked to the brittle limit states that wood components exhibit. The purpose of this research was to develop and test a ductile and high-strength wood moment frame connection. A design procedure for such a connection is presented herein. The proposed glulam beam-column connection utilizes an embedded steel knife plate with a reduced section that acts as a ductile yield link, thus limiting the moment that can be transferred through the connection. This configuration is intended to fail through yielding of the ductile link, thus preventing non-ductile failure mechanisms of wood from occurring. In addition, the connection provides more wood cover over the embedded steel plate, which potentially may increase the connection's fire rating as compared to typical connections. Two specimens, based on a baseline connection developed using the design procedure presented, were monotonically loaded until failure. Unlike the first specimen, the second was reinforced in the perpendicular-to-grain direction using self-tapping screws. Failure mechanisms were analyzed, and performance characteristics related to the connection's strength, stiffness, and ductility were evaluated. Results indicated that the reinforced specimen exhibited higher strength, stiffness, and ductility compared to the unreinforced specimen. The reinforced specimen showed improvements of 9.49% and 42.2% in yielding and ultimate moment, respectively, compared to the unreinforced specimen. Moreover, an improvement of 31.3% in ductility was obtained using perpendicular-to-grain reinforcement. / Master of Science / Due to the variability of wood properties and its brittle behavior, the joints of wood buildings have traditionally been designed to resist gravity loads only. These types of loads result in predictable behavior of structural wood members at the joints, which helps in simplifying the design process. However, when wood structures are subjected to lateral loads, such as earthquake and wind loads, their joints are likely to fail abruptly as the building sways, resulting in sudden, unpredictable collapse. The purpose of this research was to develop and test a high-strength wood structural joint that can fail gradually and predictably. A design procedure for such a joint is presented herein. The proposed glue-laminated wood joint utilizes an embedded steel plate with a reduced section that acts as a ductile link. This configuration is intended to fail through gradual deformation of the ductile link, thus preventing brittle wood failure at the joint. In addition, this joint provides more wood cover over the embedded steel plate, which potentially may increase the fire resistance of the joint compared to typical configurations. Two specimens, based on a baseline joint developed using the design procedure presented, were subjected to slowly-increasing loads until failure. Unlike the first specimen, the second specimen was reinforced in the direction perpendicular to wood grain using long screws to prevent separation of wood layers. Failure mechanisms were analyzed, and the performance characteristics of the two specimens were evaluated and compared. Results indicated that the reinforced specimen exhibited higher strength and improved ductility at failure.

Effects of dislocation emission from a mode I crack and of pinning distances on the behavior of the crack and on fracture toughness in aluminum were studied by using the Molecular Statics Technique with atomic interactions described in terms of the Embedded Atom Method. It was found that aluminum is a ductile material in which the cracks generate dislocations, blunting the cracks. The blunting and the dislocation shielding reduce the local stress intensity factor. Also, twinning, which has not been observed experimentally in Aluminum due to the high stacking fault, was obtained in the simulation. Probably, the low temperature facilitates twin formation. The applied stress intensity factor required to propagate the crack tip increases at first, and then becomes constant as the maximum distance that the first dislocation can travel away from the crack tip increases. These effects can be attributed to dislocation shielding and crack blunting. The maximum distance of the emitted dislocations from the crack tip is the equilibrium distance for the largest simulation performed (400,000 atoms) while for the smaller simulations the dislocations are hindered by the fixed boundary condition of the model. On the other hand, the total local stress intensity factor at the crack tip and the local stress intensity factor along the slip plane remain basically constant as the maximum distance of the emitted dislocations from the crack tip increases. For distances larger than , these local stress intensity factors start to increase slightly. / Master of Science

Este trabalho discute a utilização de armadura de confinamento em vigas superarmadas de concreto armado. Essa armadura é constituída de estribos quadrados colocados na região de compressão da seção transversal da viga, aumentando a ductilidade. Para a análise numérica, utilizou-se programa computacional baseado no Método dos Elementos Finitos e que leva em consideração o efeito do confinamento no concreto, possibilitando estudar criteriosamente a influência da armadura de confinamento em vigas superarmadas. Na etapa experimental foi investigada a influência da taxa volumétrica da armadura transversal de confinamento, sendo realizados ensaios de quatro vigas superarmadas -três detalhadas com estribos adicionais destinados ao confinamento e uma projetada sem armadura de confinamento. Todas as vigas tiveram deformações nas barras da armadura de tração próximas a 'épsilon' y e resistência média à compressão do concreto de 25MPa. Os resultados experimentais mostraram que o índice de ductilidade pós-pico é proporcional à taxa volumétrica da armadura transversal de confinamento. Isso não aconteceu para o índice de ductilidade pré-pico, que teve variação aleatória com a taxa volumétrica de armadura de confinamento. Observou-se também que a resistência à compressão do concreto confinado no núcleo de confinamento diminuiu na proximidade da linha neutra. Considerando os resultados numéricos e experimentais, foi desenvolvido um processo simplificado para o dimensionamento de vigas de concreto armado com armadura de confinamento, onde a resistência à compressão do concreto confinado é função da taxa volumétrica da armadura de confinamento e da resistência do concreto não confinado / This work discusses the use of confinement reinforcement in over designed reinforced concrete beam. This reinforcement is composed by square stirrup placed on the compression zone of the beam transversal section, which improves the ductility avoiding fragile collapse. A Finite Element program was used to make a parametric numerical study. This program considers the non-linearity of the material and the confinement effect, making possible an accuracy study of those beams. In the experimental part, the influence of volumetric confinement transversal reinforcement rate was investigated by the test of four over designed beam, where three had addiction stirrup for the confinement reinforcement and one was designed without this reinforcement. All the beams were composed by 25MPa concrete. The experimental results show that the pos-peak ductility index is proportional to the volumetric confinement transversal reinforcement rate, however it was not observed for the pre-peak ductility index. It was also observed that effect of the confinement is smaller closed to the neutral axis. A simplified design process for reinforced concrete beam with reinforcement confinement was developed based on the numerical study that was performed. In this method the concrete strength is function of the transversal reinforcement volumetric rate and the non-confined concrete strength