In the present study, an analysis of plain and reinforced concrete beams under monotonic loading was made based on the Fixed Smeared Crack approach. The objectives of this research were to analyze the nonlinear behavior of the selected cases of analysis and to propose an alternative and simple model for the analysis of beams under service loadings, by means of Committee 435 of the American Concrete Institute. A brittle model for concrete and a linear-elastic behavior for steel reinforcement bars were considered. Results are presented through force-displacement curves and the sequence of cracking propagation. Also, a comparison of calculated instantaneous deflections of simply supported beams was made between the proposed model and other researches. It was verified that the proposed algorithm can predict adequately the cracking process and the deflections of beams subjected to service loadings, taking into account experimental results from other authors.

The experimental study reported upon in this thesis focused on the development of physical data characterizing the behavior of single-shear, laterally-loaded connections when loaded up to and beyond capacity (i.e., maximum resistance). Specimens included a wide array of connection configurations common in wood construction. All connections were tested monotonically in tension under displacement-controlled loading, parallel to the grain. Results of these tests are presented and discussed. Test variables of nailed connections included nail diameter, side member material type, and side member thickness. Test variables of bolted connections included bolt diameter, commercial species grouping of the main and side members, and main member thickness. Conclusions drawn from this research include mechanics-based explanations of numerous connection response trends observed with respect to test variables. Additionally, observed factors of safety and over-strengths of current design values are quantified on a capacity-basis. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Asadollah Esmaeily / The accuracy and applicability of the existing stress-strain models for concrete confined by Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) were analytically and experimentally explored. This investigation includes major parameters affecting the stress-strain response of confined concrete, including the loading pattern and protocol. It has been observed and reported that the experimentally recorded stress-strain relationship of the same specimen will be different if the loading protocol of the test is switched from displacement control to load control. In the experimental phase of this study, four standard 6" by 12" concrete cylinders were constructed using the same concrete batch for consistency. Three two-inch strain gauges were affixed equally spaced at mid-height on the surface of the specimen in the longitudinal direction, and two two-inch strain gauges were applied in the lateral direction at mid-height opposite each other. CFRP was then impregnated with a two-part epoxy and applied externally in two continuous layers, with an overlap. During the first phase of the experimental program, the tests were conducted with a constant load rate or with a constant displacement rate. The data was collected from externally mounted strain gauges and potentiometers positioned on the opposite sides of the cylinder in the longitudinal direction. Since the capacity of the existing actuator in the structural lab was less than the required failure level of the specimens, a nutcracker-like device was constructed to increase the mechanical advantage of the test frame in the second phase of the experimental program. In this phase, all tests were conducted in displacement control. Various models were selected to be studied from a large number of existing models that propose to determine the stress-strain relationship of concrete. Analytical predictions of the models were compared against the experimental data. Results show that some of the models provide a reasonable prediction of the real performance of the specimen. However, in general, predictions are different from the real performance for most models.

The effect of cyclic moisture infiltration on connections in light-frame wood buildings has received limited research attention. Specifically, the connections between wood-based sheathing materials (OSB, plywood) and solid wood studs are of interest. A comprehensive understanding of connection performance will enhance structure and material design, thereby improving the overall integrity and robustness of light-frame structures. The focus of this research project was to evaluate the strength and stiffness of wood-frame connections exposed to cyclic humidity conditioning. Nailed sheathing/stud connection samples were tested for lateral resistance following various periods of moisture exposure. Elastic stiffness, 5% offset yield load, maximum yield load, and failure yield were computed and analyzed using the data collected. The parameters were compared among connection specimens receiving either 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 25, or 40 periods of cyclic moisture conditioning. In addition, the bearing resistances of the materials were investigated for application to the general dowel equations for calculating lateral connection values, the current basis for design of single dowel-type fastener connections between wood-based members. An x-ray density profilometer was used to observe the de-densification processes within the composite sheathing materials throughout the moisture conditioning regime. Results indicated moderate to extreme changes in the performance of cycled connections involving lower density sheathing materials. Higher density sheathing materials performed favorably at each cycle test period. Comparisons to the yield model were similar to the control results, but usually differed as cycling increased. Analysis of connection performance following cyclic moisture loading is a vital component in developing a holistic model for service-life prediction of nailed connections in light-frame residential construction. / Master of Science

Em virtude da presença cada vez mais frequente de solicitações cíclicas nas estruturas de engenharia e do aprimoramento da análise de projetos, os ensaios em solos sob carregamentos cíclicos tiveram seu interesse renovado nos últimos anos. Os ensaios de laboratório são realizados de forma que simulem, da melhor maneira possível, as condições observadas em campo. Tais condições auxiliam na escolha dos ensaios a serem conduzidos para a determinação de parâmetros geotécnicos relevantes a cada situação observada em campo. Dentre os ensaios empregados na Engenharia Geotécnica, destaca-se o simple shear. Este ensaio é conhecido e utilizado para medir a resistência ao cisalhamento e a rigidez de solos. Este é o único ensaio de laboratório capaz de submeter uma amostra a condições de deformação plana sob volume constante e permitir a rotação das tensões principais. Tais condições são frequentemente representativas em diversas situações em campo como, por exemplo, o modo de cisalhamento adjacente ao fuste de uma estaca ou sob plataformas offshore com base gravitacional. Nesse contexto, um equipamento foi desenvolvido para a realização de ensaios do tipo simple shear. O aparato conta com uma câmara, na qual é aplicada pressão à amostra de solo. Diferenciando-se do equipamento comercial para tais ensaios, que emprega uma membrana com anéis metálicos, a amostra de solo neste equipamento é envolta por uma membrana de látex, o que possibilita a consolidação de forma isotrópica ou anisotrópica. Quanto ao carregamento, o equipamento desenvolvido permite que o carregamento seja realizado de forma monotônica ou clíclica. Quando do carregamento cíclico, este pode ainda ser realizado de forma a se manter a tensão controlada ou a deformação. Foram conduzidos ensaios de calibração e validação do equipamento empregando-se uma areia fina de granulometria uniforme cujas propriedades são amplamente conhecidas através de outros ensaios. Os resultados obtidos foram então comparados com estudos no mesmo material em equipamentos triaxiais, cisalhamento direto e outro simple shear. Os resultados mostraram-se satisfatórios, validando o equipamento desenvolvido. / In view of the ever more frequent presence of the cyclic solicitations on Engineering structures and the enhancement of design analysis, the soil testing under cyclic loading conditions had its interest renewed in the last years. The laboratory tests are conduced in a way that simulates, in the best way possible, the observed field conditions. Said conditions aid on the choice of the tests to be conducted in order to determinate the relevant geomechanics parameters.to each situation observed on the field. Among the employed tests in Geotechnical Engineering, it is highlighted the simple shear. This test is known and used to measure the shear strength and soil righty. This is the only laboratory test capable of submitting the sample to plane strain conditions under constant volume and allows the main stress rotations. Said conditions are frequently representative in many field situations, such as, the adjacent shear mechanism to the shaft of a pile or, under offshore platforms with gravitational base. In this context, a equipment was developed to perform simple shear tests. The apparatus has a chamber, in which it is applied confining pressure to the soil sample. Contrasting from the commercial equipment for said tests, that uses a membrane with metallic rings, in this equipment the soil sample is involved by a latex membrane, allowing the consolidation being carried out isotropically or anisotropically. The loading on this equipment can be conduced on monotonic or cyclic conditions. The cyclic loading can even be conduced by controlling the deformation or the stress. Calibration and validation testes where conduced on the equipment using a fine sand of uniform granulometry which properties are largely known through other tests. The obtained results where then compared to other tests carried out on the same material in triaxial tests, direct shear and other simple shear, The results obtained were considered satisfactory, validating the developed equipment.

An ever increasing demand to exploit oil and natural gas reserves has significantly increased extraction activities even in the remotest regions of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the Canadian North. Steel pipelines are the most efficient mode for transporting and distributing these resources. These pipelines, particularly buried in cold region, often subjected to extreme geo-environmental conditions, where significant inelastic deformation may occur resulting in localized wrinkles. Under continued deformation, there is a possibility of excessive cross-sectional deformation at wrinkle locations, eventually leading to fracture or damage in the pipe wall jeopardizing pipeline safety and integrity . Prior research indicated that occurrence of fracture in pipe wrinkle is rare under monotonic load-deformation process. However, a recent field fracture was observed within the wrinkle location of an energy pipeline. Similar failure mode was observed in a laboratory specimen at the University of Alberta. Both field and laboratory observations had indicated that the final failure was a “tearing” failure at the fold of the telescopic wrinkles resulting from monotonic application of axial load not aligned with pipe axis. This research program was designed to study this specific failure mode and to develop design tool for pipeline engineers. This research started with examining the failed field and test specimens. A preliminary investigation was carried out using nonlinear finite element (FE) model to simulate test and field behaviour. Numerical results have indicated that even under monotonic loading, significant strain reversals could occur at the wrinkle fold . Presence of these strain reversals was proposed as the preliminary failure criterion responsible for this unique failure mechanism. In next phase, a full-scale ‘pipe-wrinkling’ test program was carried out concurrent to this research to better understand the loading condition responsible for this type of failure. Results of this test program have shown the presence of tearing fracture or rupture in the pipe walls of several of test specimens. A series of FE analyses was then carried out to predict and verify the behaviour of these test specimens. After successful simulation of the test behaviour, further numerical analyses were carried out using tension coupon model developed herein to simulate the material behaviour using the material test data and hence to formulate the limiting conditions in terms of critical strain responsible for the tearing failure. Based on these numerical results, a double criterion  ‘Strain Reversal’ and ‘Critical Equivalent Plastic Strain Limit’, were proposed to predict tearing fracture of wrinkled pipe under monotonic loading. Results of these numerical analyses have demonstrated that the proposed criteria predict this failure mode with reasonable accuracy. In the final phase of this research, a parametric study was carried out to consider the effect of different parameters on failure modes of wrinkled pipe. Results of this parametric study describe the range of parameters under which the tearing mechanism can/may exhibit. / Structural Engineering

No description available.

Em virtude da presença cada vez mais frequente de solicitações cíclicas nas estruturas de engenharia e do aprimoramento da análise de projetos, os ensaios em solos sob carregamentos cíclicos tiveram seu interesse renovado nos últimos anos. Os ensaios de laboratório são realizados de forma que simulem, da melhor maneira possível, as condições observadas em campo. Tais condições auxiliam na escolha dos ensaios a serem conduzidos para a determinação de parâmetros geotécnicos relevantes a cada situação observada em campo. Dentre os ensaios empregados na Engenharia Geotécnica, destaca-se o simple shear. Este ensaio é conhecido e utilizado para medir a resistência ao cisalhamento e a rigidez de solos. Este é o único ensaio de laboratório capaz de submeter uma amostra a condições de deformação plana sob volume constante e permitir a rotação das tensões principais. Tais condições são frequentemente representativas em diversas situações em campo como, por exemplo, o modo de cisalhamento adjacente ao fuste de uma estaca ou sob plataformas offshore com base gravitacional. Nesse contexto, um equipamento foi desenvolvido para a realização de ensaios do tipo simple shear. O aparato conta com uma câmara, na qual é aplicada pressão à amostra de solo. Diferenciando-se do equipamento comercial para tais ensaios, que emprega uma membrana com anéis metálicos, a amostra de solo neste equipamento é envolta por uma membrana de látex, o que possibilita a consolidação de forma isotrópica ou anisotrópica. Quanto ao carregamento, o equipamento desenvolvido permite que o carregamento seja realizado de forma monotônica ou clíclica. Quando do carregamento cíclico, este pode ainda ser realizado de forma a se manter a tensão controlada ou a deformação. Foram conduzidos ensaios de calibração e validação do equipamento empregando-se uma areia fina de granulometria uniforme cujas propriedades são amplamente conhecidas através de outros ensaios. Os resultados obtidos foram então comparados com estudos no mesmo material em equipamentos triaxiais, cisalhamento direto e outro simple shear. Os resultados mostraram-se satisfatórios, validando o equipamento desenvolvido. / In view of the ever more frequent presence of the cyclic solicitations on Engineering structures and the enhancement of design analysis, the soil testing under cyclic loading conditions had its interest renewed in the last years. The laboratory tests are conduced in a way that simulates, in the best way possible, the observed field conditions. Said conditions aid on the choice of the tests to be conducted in order to determinate the relevant geomechanics parameters.to each situation observed on the field. Among the employed tests in Geotechnical Engineering, it is highlighted the simple shear. This test is known and used to measure the shear strength and soil righty. This is the only laboratory test capable of submitting the sample to plane strain conditions under constant volume and allows the main stress rotations. Said conditions are frequently representative in many field situations, such as, the adjacent shear mechanism to the shaft of a pile or, under offshore platforms with gravitational base. In this context, a equipment was developed to perform simple shear tests. The apparatus has a chamber, in which it is applied confining pressure to the soil sample. Contrasting from the commercial equipment for said tests, that uses a membrane with metallic rings, in this equipment the soil sample is involved by a latex membrane, allowing the consolidation being carried out isotropically or anisotropically. The loading on this equipment can be conduced on monotonic or cyclic conditions. The cyclic loading can even be conduced by controlling the deformation or the stress. Calibration and validation testes where conduced on the equipment using a fine sand of uniform granulometry which properties are largely known through other tests. The obtained results where then compared to other tests carried out on the same material in triaxial tests, direct shear and other simple shear, The results obtained were considered satisfactory, validating the developed equipment.

Em virtude da presença cada vez mais frequente de solicitações cíclicas nas estruturas de engenharia e do aprimoramento da análise de projetos, os ensaios em solos sob carregamentos cíclicos tiveram seu interesse renovado nos últimos anos. Os ensaios de laboratório são realizados de forma que simulem, da melhor maneira possível, as condições observadas em campo. Tais condições auxiliam na escolha dos ensaios a serem conduzidos para a determinação de parâmetros geotécnicos relevantes a cada situação observada em campo. Dentre os ensaios empregados na Engenharia Geotécnica, destaca-se o simple shear. Este ensaio é conhecido e utilizado para medir a resistência ao cisalhamento e a rigidez de solos. Este é o único ensaio de laboratório capaz de submeter uma amostra a condições de deformação plana sob volume constante e permitir a rotação das tensões principais. Tais condições são frequentemente representativas em diversas situações em campo como, por exemplo, o modo de cisalhamento adjacente ao fuste de uma estaca ou sob plataformas offshore com base gravitacional. Nesse contexto, um equipamento foi desenvolvido para a realização de ensaios do tipo simple shear. O aparato conta com uma câmara, na qual é aplicada pressão à amostra de solo. Diferenciando-se do equipamento comercial para tais ensaios, que emprega uma membrana com anéis metálicos, a amostra de solo neste equipamento é envolta por uma membrana de látex, o que possibilita a consolidação de forma isotrópica ou anisotrópica. Quanto ao carregamento, o equipamento desenvolvido permite que o carregamento seja realizado de forma monotônica ou clíclica. Quando do carregamento cíclico, este pode ainda ser realizado de forma a se manter a tensão controlada ou a deformação. Foram conduzidos ensaios de calibração e validação do equipamento empregando-se uma areia fina de granulometria uniforme cujas propriedades são amplamente conhecidas através de outros ensaios. Os resultados obtidos foram então comparados com estudos no mesmo material em equipamentos triaxiais, cisalhamento direto e outro simple shear. Os resultados mostraram-se satisfatórios, validando o equipamento desenvolvido. / In view of the ever more frequent presence of the cyclic solicitations on Engineering structures and the enhancement of design analysis, the soil testing under cyclic loading conditions had its interest renewed in the last years. The laboratory tests are conduced in a way that simulates, in the best way possible, the observed field conditions. Said conditions aid on the choice of the tests to be conducted in order to determinate the relevant geomechanics parameters.to each situation observed on the field. Among the employed tests in Geotechnical Engineering, it is highlighted the simple shear. This test is known and used to measure the shear strength and soil righty. This is the only laboratory test capable of submitting the sample to plane strain conditions under constant volume and allows the main stress rotations. Said conditions are frequently representative in many field situations, such as, the adjacent shear mechanism to the shaft of a pile or, under offshore platforms with gravitational base. In this context, a equipment was developed to perform simple shear tests. The apparatus has a chamber, in which it is applied confining pressure to the soil sample. Contrasting from the commercial equipment for said tests, that uses a membrane with metallic rings, in this equipment the soil sample is involved by a latex membrane, allowing the consolidation being carried out isotropically or anisotropically. The loading on this equipment can be conduced on monotonic or cyclic conditions. The cyclic loading can even be conduced by controlling the deformation or the stress. Calibration and validation testes where conduced on the equipment using a fine sand of uniform granulometry which properties are largely known through other tests. The obtained results where then compared to other tests carried out on the same material in triaxial tests, direct shear and other simple shear, The results obtained were considered satisfactory, validating the developed equipment.

Bolted connection with perpendicular to grain loading has been considered as a high priority research area by Smith and Foliente (2002), for the advancement of the load resistance factor design (LRFD) of connections. The results obtained from the experimental testing of this research will provide information regarding the behavior of connections at conditions of capacity and yield, and a comparison between single and two bolted connections for laminated veneer lumber (LVL) from different manufacturers. Comparison of the experimental results with the predicted results from three models: Technical Report -12 (AF&PA 1999), Van der Put and Leijten (2000) and Jensen et. al. (2003), for single and two bolt connections loaded perpendicular to grain will help in accurately predicting LVL connection behavior. Success in achieving the goals of this research will provide enhancement of knowledge and information for single and two bolted connections loaded in perpendicular to the grain connections for LVL and thereby help in calibrating LRFD parameters on pure reliability basis in future. The variables considered included LVL from two different manufacturers, single and two bolt connections with different bolt sizes and loaded edge distances. The connections were loaded to capacity for all the tests. Tests for the material property input values required for these models were also performed as a part of this research. Connection testing showed splitting failures combined with crushing of main member material and formation of a single plastic moment. Connection resistance increased with increased loaded edge distance and number of bolts. The allowable shear design value controlled the National Design Specification Allowable Stress Design (NDS ASD) lateral design value to the connection design except for one connection configuration with 7D loaded edge distance for two bolts of ½ inch, where connection design strength values controlled. The displacement limit decided for the dowel bearing strength test had a direct impact on the predicted TR-12 capacity values. The capacity resistance calculated by both fracture models increased with increase in loaded edge distances. The Mode-I fracture energy values directly affected the predicted fracture model values. The tension perpendicular to grain strength values directly affected the Jensen model values. Statistical comparison of 4D and 7D loaded edge distances and LVL-1 and LVL-2 material revealed that Van der Put model had no difference in the calculated to test (C/T) ratios with respect to different loaded edge distances and materials and the Jensen model predicted the C/T ratios at 4D to be significantly greater than at 7D and for LVL-1 to be significantly greater than LVL-2. Van der Put model over predicts at capacity and the C/T values are consistent with change in loaded edge distance. Jensen model C/T ratios over predicted for single bolt connection and predicts accurate for two bolt connection with respect to loaded edge distances. Comparing the two fracture models with a ductile model TR-12 with respect to different loaded edge distances, material, number and size of bolts, Jensen model best predicted the C/T ratios. The Van der Put model tended to over predict values, while the TR-12 model had no consistent trend in C/T ratios, but seemed to be affected inversely by changes in loaded edge distance. / Master of Science