Sang-Su Ha

Bar Pullout Tests and Seismic Tests of Small-Headed Bars in Beam-Column Joints

Headed reinforcing bars increasingly are being used in reinforced concrete structures. This paper reports on a study to evaluate the applicability of these headed bars in exterior beam-column joints. A total of 12 pullout tests were first performed to examine anchorage behavior of headed bars subjected to monotonic and repeated loading. Variables such as the head size, shape, and head attaching technique were examined. Reversed cyclic tests of two full-scale exterior beam-column joints were conducted to assess seismic performance. The pullout test results revealed that all types of heads and head-attaching techniques performed almost equally well, while the seismic test results indicated that the joint using small-headed bars showed better seismic performance than the joint using hooked bars in terms of damage extent, joint behavior, lateral drift capacity, and energy dissipation. In particular, the joint with headed bars generally satisfied ACI 374 acceptance criteria. The findings also indicate that small-headed bars can be effectively anchored in exterior beam-column joints under inelastic deformation reversals and that they perform well with a development length shorter than that needed for hooked bars.

Development Length of GFRP Rebars Based on Pullout Test

The development length equations of the GFRP rebars are suggested based on the pullout tests performed in this study. A total of 48 pullout and modified pullout tests were completed. Test variables included embedment length (L=10, 15, 20, and ), vertical and horizontal installation of the rebars, height of the rebars (H=100 and 300 mm), and cover thickness . D13 GFRP rebars domestically developed were used in the experimental program. The average of the bond strength of all vertically installed GFRP rebars was 6.39 MPa with a 5% fractile of 4.63 MPa. A basic development length equation was derived that resulted in an equation equivalent to the one proposed in the ACI 440.1R-03. Careful reevaluation of the bond strength using the modified pullout test indicated that a modification of the design equation was necessary so that the basic development length increases by 11%. The top bar effect of the horizontally installed rebars as well as the effect of the cover thickness were determined and included in the set of suggested equations. Since the current equations were derived from testing rebars embedded in relatively low strength concrete , they result in conservative development lengths when applied to bars embedded in higher strength concretes.

Splice Length of GFRP Rebars Based on Flexural Tests of Unconfined RC Members

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are sometimes used when corrosion of conventional reinforcing steel bar is of concern. In this study, a total of 36 beams and one-way slabs reinforced using GFRP bars were tested in flexure. Four different GFRP bars of 13 mm diameter were used in the test program. In most test specimens, the GFRP bars were lap spliced at center. All beams and slabs were tested under 4-point loads so that the spliced region be subject to constant moment. Test vari- ables were splice lengths, cover thicknesses, and bar spacings. No stirrups were used in the spliced region so that the tests result in conservative bond strengths. Average bond stresses that develop between GFRP bars and concrete were determined through non- linear analysis of the cross-sections. An average bond stress prediction equation was derived utilizing two-variable linear regres- sion. A splice length equation based on 5% fractile concept was then developed. As a result of this study, a rational equation with which design splice lengths of the GFRP bars can be determined, was proposed.

Pseudo-Ductile Hybrid FRP Sheet for Strengthening Reinforced Concrete Beams

Use of both carbon fiber (CF) and glass fiber (GF) at the same time to strengthen existing flexural members was exploited. Using a proper volumetric GF / CF ratio, the CF can rupture first followed by subsequent rupture of GF at higher stress and strain showing a pseudo-ductile behavior. A theoretical study indicated that the ratio is 4.62 : 1 and higher where the pseudoductile effect can be shown. Flexural tests of plain concrete beams strengthened using fibers were first carried out. Hybrid FRP sheet using 8.8 : 1 ratio was then fabricated and the sheet was used to strengthen reinforced concrete beams. The RC beams strengthened using 1-ply and 2-ply hybrid sheets both revealed increased strength over a non-strengthened beam and ductile flexural behavior. A comparable beam strengthened using CF also showed increased strength but with limited ductility.

Development Length of GFRP Bars

The objective of this study was to propose a development length equation for GFRP bars. A total of 104 modified pullout tests were completed while the test variables were embedment length (15, 30, ), net cover thickness (), top-cast bar effect, different GFRP bar types (K2KR, K3KR and AsUS), and bar diameters (10, 13, 16 mm). Average bond stresses were determined based on modified pullout test results. Two variable linear regression analysis was performed of the average bond stresses. Utilizing 5% fractile concept, a conservative development length design equation was derived. The design equation derived in this study was compared to the ACI 440 committee equation. The cross-comparison revealed that the current equation resulted in shorter development lengths than those determined by the ACI 440 equation when the net cover thickness was large (greater than ). On the other hand, when the net cover thickness was small (equal to or less than ), the development lengths required by the current equation were larger than those by the ACI equation. The bond stresses were significantly influenced by the cover thicknesses. The current equation results in development lengths that are more economical when the cover thickness is large, and more conservative lengths when the cover thickness is small than the ACI 440 committee equation.

Application of Headed Bars with Small Head in Exterior Beam-Column Joints Subjected to Reversed Cyclic Loads

The applicability of headed bars in exterior beam-column joints under reversed cyclic loading was investigated. A total of ten pullout tests were first performed to examine pullout behavior of headed bars subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading with test variables such as connection type between head and bar stem (weld or no weld), loading methods (monotonic or cyclic loading), and head shape (small or large circular head and square head). Two full-scale beam-column joint tests were then performed to compare the structural behavior of exterior beam-column joints constructed using two different reinforcement details: i.e. standard hooks and headed bars. Both joints were designed following the recommendations of ACI-ASCE Committee 352 for Type 2 performance: i.e. the connection is required to dissipate energy through reversals of deformation into inelastic range. The pullout test results revealed that welded head to the stem did not necessarily result in increased pullout strength when compared to non-welded head. Relatively large circular head resulted in higher peak load than smaller circular and square head. Both beam-column joints with conventional hooks and headed bars behaved similarly in terms of crack development, hysteresis curves, and peak strengths. The joint using the headed bars showed better overall structural performance in terms of ductility, deformation capacity, and energy dissipation. These experimental results demonstrate that the headed bars using relatively small head can be properly designed far use in external beam-column joint.