Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2023) | Viewed by 33571

Special Issue Editors

School of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technololy, Lanzhou, China
Interests: steel and composite structures; progressive collapse; fire resistance; seismic performance
School of Civil Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: composite structures; seismic design of structures; green building materials; resource utilization of industrial solid waste
School of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Interests: steel and composite structures; fire resistance; seismic design of structures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainability and resiliency of building materials and structures under single/multiple loading conditions is worthy of attention, since complex loading conditions reduce the durability of building materials and structures, especially under fire/high-temperature, freeze–thaw cycling, dry–wet cycling and salt corrosion.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish papers that advance the sustainability and resiliency of building materials and structures under complex loading conditions.

Dr. Shan Gao
Dr. Jingxuan Wang
Dr. Dewen Kong
Dr. Yong Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • green materials
  • environmental conditions
  • structural application
  • extreme loading
  • sustainability
  • resiliency

Published Papers (20 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 40734 KiB  
Article
Study on the Eccentric Compressive Performance of Steel Fibre Reinforced Coal Gangue Concrete Columns
by Bin Cai, Bingyang Bai, Wenfeng Duan, Lin Wang and Shengda Wang
Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051290 - 16 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 780
Abstract
Coal gangue is the waste created in the coal mining process and can be utilised as a coarse aggregate in construction projects to solve the environmental problems it causes. To study the mechanical properties of steel fibre reinforced coal gangue concrete (SFCGC) columns [...] Read more.
Coal gangue is the waste created in the coal mining process and can be utilised as a coarse aggregate in construction projects to solve the environmental problems it causes. To study the mechanical properties of steel fibre reinforced coal gangue concrete (SFCGC) columns under eccentric compression, two natural aggregate concrete (NAC) columns and eight SFCGC columns were designed and fabricated for eccentric compression loading tests. The variables involved in the tests include gangue substitution rate (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%), steel fibre volume content (SFVC) (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%), and eccentricity (0.25, 0.5). The experimental work and theoretical analysis were used to investigate the failure mode, cracking, and ultimate bearing capacity of SFCGC columns. The effects of various variation parameters on the longitudinal strain, concrete strain, transverse displacement, crack width, and bearing capacity were analysed in detail. The digital image correlation (DIC) technique was used to compare with the conventional observation and to analyse the cracking trend of the specimens. The testing results revealed that the damage pattern of SFCGC columns under eccentric compression was similar to that of NAC columns. The eccentricity significantly affected the damage pattern (or bearing capacity) of SFCGC columns. The effect of the coal gangue replacement rate on the lateral displacement corresponding to the ultimate load can be neglected under the same eccentricity. The incorporation of steel fibres effectively inhibited the development of cracks in the columns, with an average increase in crack load and ultimate load of 7.36% and 17.1%. The equations were also established to determine the crack width and bearing capacity of the studied SFCGC columns, and the theoretical predictions agreed with the experimental results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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24 pages, 10651 KiB  
Article
Associated Effects of Sodium Chloride and Dihydrate Gypsum on the Mechanical Performance and Hydration Properties of Slag-Based Geopolymer
by Quan Shen, Benxiao Li, Wei He, Xia Meng and Yinlan Shen
Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1285; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051285 - 15 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 988
Abstract
The associated effect of sodium chloride and dihydrate gypsum on the mechanical performance of a slag-based geopolymer activated by quicklime was investigated by compressive strength, shrinkage, and square circle anti-cracking tests of mortar with a 0.5 water–binder ratio and a 1:3 binder–sand ratio, [...] Read more.
The associated effect of sodium chloride and dihydrate gypsum on the mechanical performance of a slag-based geopolymer activated by quicklime was investigated by compressive strength, shrinkage, and square circle anti-cracking tests of mortar with a 0.5 water–binder ratio and a 1:3 binder–sand ratio, as well as paste soundness, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) of the paste. The results indicate that (1) when dihydrate gypsum is used alone, it combines with calcium aluminate hydrate (C-A-H) to form calcium sulfoaluminate hydrate (AFt), which encourages the hydration process of slag. A 7.5% addition can result in an increase of 97.33% and 36.92% in 3-day and 28-day compressive strengths, respectively. When NaCl is used by itself, it facilitates the condensation of the aluminum silicate tetrahedron unit and generates zeolite. A 2% dosage can lead to a 66.67% increase in the 3-day compressive strength, while causing a 15.89% reduction in the 28-day compressive strength. (2) The combined effect of 2% NaCl and 7.5% gypsum results in the formation of needle-like and rod-shaped AFt, Friedel’s salt, and plate-like Kuzel’s salt in the geopolymer. This leads to an increase in 3-day and 28-day compressive strengths by 148% and 37.85%, respectively. Furthermore, it reduces the porosity by 18.7%. (3) Both NaCl and gypsum enhance the paste soundness of the slag-based geopolymer, and they do no harm to the crack resistance of the geopolymer. The drying shrinkage of the geopolymer at 28 days is just 0.48 × 10−3, which is only 66.7% of OPC. This slag-based geopolymer has a simple preparation process, good volume stability, low raw material cost, low energy consumption, and low carbon emissions. It can be used instead of 32.5 slag Portland cement in plain concrete applications, and has high engineering, economic, and environmental values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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16 pages, 12112 KiB  
Article
Bond Performance of Anti-Corrosion Bar Embedded in Ceramsite Concrete in Freeze–Thaw Cycles and Corrosive Environments
by Yan Liu, Qiang Zhu, Jinhua Teng, Peng Deng and Yan Sun
Buildings 2023, 13(4), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13040884 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 834
Abstract
At present, basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars and epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars (ECRs) are very promising in ocean engineering. In this study, the bond strength degradation characteristics of BFRP bars, ECR, and ordinary steel bars (OSBs) embedded in ceramsite concrete (CC) were compared [...] Read more.
At present, basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars and epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars (ECRs) are very promising in ocean engineering. In this study, the bond strength degradation characteristics of BFRP bars, ECR, and ordinary steel bars (OSBs) embedded in ceramsite concrete (CC) were compared in a single-corrosive environment (acid, salt, and alkaline salt, respectively) coupled with freeze–thaw (FT) cycles (0, 15, or 30); a total of 111 specimens were designed. In the three corrosive environments, the BFRP-bar-CC specimens and OSB-CC specimens all failed to pull out, while the ECR-CC specimens showed splitting failure. When corrosive and FT cycles acted together, the failure modes of BFRP-bar-CC specimens and ECR-CC specimens did not change. However, when the FT cycles increased from 15 to 30, the type of failure for the OSB-CC specimens changed from pullout failure to splitting failure. In addition, the bonding strength of the three kinds of bars decayed most rapidly in an acid environment. When 30 FT cycles were applied, the bond strength of ECR-CC specimens and OSB-CC specimens decreased most rapidly in the acid environment, by 9.12% and 18.62%, respectively. However, the bond strength of BFRP-bar-CC decreased most rapidly, by 17.2%, in an alkaline salt environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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17 pages, 10202 KiB  
Article
Failure Analysis of Damaged High-Strength Bolts under Seismic Action Based on Finite Element Method
by Yang Liu, Linlin Fan, Wentao Wang, Yaobin Gao and Jintao He
Buildings 2023, 13(3), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030776 - 15 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1361
Abstract
Damage of high-strength bolt (DHSB) is inevitable during long-term use. Such damage is irreversible that may not be replaced in time, and the potential danger is proven by the changes of the mechanical properties of DHSB. To investigate the mechanical properties of DHSB, [...] Read more.
Damage of high-strength bolt (DHSB) is inevitable during long-term use. Such damage is irreversible that may not be replaced in time, and the potential danger is proven by the changes of the mechanical properties of DHSB. To investigate the mechanical properties of DHSB, this paper uses the software ABAQUS to simulate the stress of various types of DHSB under earthquake, and compares with undamaged high-strength bolts (UDHSB). The results show that the most unfavorable position of the crack is at the bottom of the second ring thread. The model with shorter crack length will have greater stress concentration and displacement deformation. The more the number of cracks, the greater the concentrated stress value. The concentrated stress generated by the tooth deformation is at the top of the thread tooth, and the concentrated stress generated by the crack is at the bottom of the thread tooth. Changing the tooth shape in the appropriate position is beneficial to reduce the degree of bolt damage. Bolt damage will double the harm, and timely replacement of damaged bolts is very time-sensitive and necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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15 pages, 5860 KiB  
Article
Numerical Investigations of Progressive Collapse Behaviour of Multi-Storey Reinforced Concrete Frames
by Qiao-Ling Fu, Liang Tan, Bin Long and Shao-Bo Kang
Buildings 2023, 13(2), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020533 - 15 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1217
Abstract
This paper presents numerical simulations of multi-storey reinforced concrete frames under progressive collapse scenarios. Reinforced concrete frames with different storeys are modelled using DIANA. The load resistance and failure mode of frames are obtained from the numerical simulation. Variations in axial force and [...] Read more.
This paper presents numerical simulations of multi-storey reinforced concrete frames under progressive collapse scenarios. Reinforced concrete frames with different storeys are modelled using DIANA. The load resistance and failure mode of frames are obtained from the numerical simulation. Variations in axial force and bending moment at the beam end are also determined and analysed to shed light on the force transfer mechanism. Numerical results show that the single-storey frame can develop compressive arch action at the initial loading stage and subsequent catenary action at large deformations. However, in multi-storey frames, only the first-storey beam develops compressive arch action and catenary action, whereas beams in other storeys show rather limited axial compression force. Based on numerical results, a design method is proposed for multi-storey frames to resist progressive collapse. Comparisons between numerical results and design methods suggest that the design method can evaluate the progressive collapse resistance of multi-storey frames with good accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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20 pages, 10050 KiB  
Article
Study of the Axial Compressive Behaviour of Cross-Shaped CFST and ST Columns with Inner Changes
by Zhong Tao, Md Mehedi Hasan, Dongji Han, Qiudong Qin and Wahab Abdul Ghafar
Buildings 2023, 13(2), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020423 - 03 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1662
Abstract
In this study, novel cross-shaped concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) and steel tube (ST) columns were developed. CFST columns have a high load-carrying capacity and excellent performance under seismic conditions, and the construction process is fast. In order to investigate the axial load bearings [...] Read more.
In this study, novel cross-shaped concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) and steel tube (ST) columns were developed. CFST columns have a high load-carrying capacity and excellent performance under seismic conditions, and the construction process is fast. In order to investigate the axial load bearings and failure mechanisms, six specimens of CFST and ST columns were tested under the axial load. Three different forms of CFST were employed in this study; one was an ordinary cross-shaped CFST (OC-CFST), while the other two were executed with significant inner changes; namely, stiffeners cross-shaped CFST (SC-CFST), and multi-cell cross-shaped CFST (MC-CFST) filled with concrete. The other group has the same OC-ST, SC-ST, and MC-ST, but these test subjects were without filled concrete. Through discussion of the failure mechanism, load displacement and load strain correlations are determined. The effects of parameters on ultimate resistance, failure pattern, and ductility index were studied. The axial load-carrying performance of the cross-shaped CFST columns was 75–80% better than that of ST columns; and each ST column displayed cooperative behavior. The finite element model (FEM) was simulated, and the outcomes of the experiments were used to validate it. The load–displacement relationships were established using parametric analysis. Existing design standards were used to calculate CFST column loading capacity. Finally, mathematical formulas were improvised to determine the ultimate load of the cross-shaped CFST column. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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16 pages, 4555 KiB  
Article
Analytical and Numerical Study on the Performance of the Curved Surface of a Circular Tunnel Reinforced with CFRP
by Fan Yang, Gan Qin, Kang Liu, Feng Xiong and Wu Liu
Buildings 2022, 12(11), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12112042 - 21 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1166
Abstract
Pasting carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has become an effective method to reinforce the circular tunnel. For this reinforcement method, the mechanical performance of the curved substrate is important to keep the coordinated deformation of CFRP and the lining concrete. To investigate the [...] Read more.
Pasting carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has become an effective method to reinforce the circular tunnel. For this reinforcement method, the mechanical performance of the curved substrate is important to keep the coordinated deformation of CFRP and the lining concrete. To investigate the effect of interface curvature on the stresses of the reinforced interface, an analytical model is proposed for the curved reinforced interface with the consideration of the interface bond–slip relationship. Additionally, a 3D numerical model is established to further investigate the effects of some important parameters (CFRP’s layer, length, elastic modulus, thickness and the adhesive’s elastic modulus, thickness) on the reinforced interface stresses. The results reveal that the stress state of the curved reinforced interface is more complex than that of the plane reinforced interface. With decreasing the radius of the curved reinforced interface, the interface radial stresses are increased significantly, while the circumferential stresses hardly change. For the adhesive, decreasing the elastic modulus and thickness of the adhesive layer can significantly improve the stress state of the reinforced interface. For the CFRP, decreasing the thickness, elastic modulus and layer number of CFRP is conducive to full utilization of materials and long-term combined work of the concrete and CFRP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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23 pages, 11049 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation and Numerical Analyses on Cyclic Behavior of the Prefabricated Concrete Frame Infilled with CFS-CLPM Composite Walls
by Peifang Hu, Yong Liu, Jingfeng Wang, Wanqian Wang and Guangdong Pan
Buildings 2022, 12(11), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111991 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1118
Abstract
A novel CFS composite wall filled with cement-based lightweight polymer material (CFS-CLPM composite wall) has been proposed and proven to have excellent architectural and mechanical performance. To promote its application in prefabricated concrete (PC) frame structures, two full-scale specimens were designed and tested [...] Read more.
A novel CFS composite wall filled with cement-based lightweight polymer material (CFS-CLPM composite wall) has been proposed and proven to have excellent architectural and mechanical performance. To promote its application in prefabricated concrete (PC) frame structures, two full-scale specimens were designed and tested under cyclic loading to investigate the failure mode, hysteretic response and energy dissipation of the PC frame infilled with the CFS-CLPM composite wall. The experimental results indicated that CFS-CLPM composite walls can significantly improve the lateral behavior of the PC frame in terms of load capacity, elastic stiffness and energy dissipation capacity, while slightly reducing its ductility because of the infill-frame interaction. Subsequently, finite element (FE) analyses for the PC frame infilled with CFS-CLPM composite walls were developed and verified against the experimental results. The force-transferring mechanisms between the PC frame and the CFS-CLPM composite walls were revealed by analyzing the stress distributions. The parametric analyses demonstrated that the influential parameters for lateral resistances of the PC frame structure infilled with CFS-CLPM composite walls were the strength of CLPM, the span-to-height ratio and the thickness of CFS-CLPM composite walls. Finally, a formula considering the mechanical contribution of the CFS-CLPM composite wall was proposed to predict the elastic lateral stiffness of the structures. The results of this study could provide a basis for the application of CFS-CLPM composite walls in PC frame structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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25 pages, 9461 KiB  
Article
A New Steel-Joint Precast Concrete Frame Structure: The Design, Key Construction Techniques, and Building Energy Efficiency
by Xiaona Shi, Xian Rong, Lin Nan, Lida Wang and Jianxin Zhang
Buildings 2022, 12(11), 1974; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111974 - 14 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4657
Abstract
Assembled methods play a critical role in the construction of precast concrete structures. However, conventional dry-connections-like sleeve grouting joints in precast concrete structures lagged at a low construction and management efficiency with poor quality control. In this study, a novel steel joint for [...] Read more.
Assembled methods play a critical role in the construction of precast concrete structures. However, conventional dry-connections-like sleeve grouting joints in precast concrete structures lagged at a low construction and management efficiency with poor quality control. In this study, a novel steel joint for precast reinforced concrete beam-column components is proposed to improve constructability. New joints transform the assembled method from reinforced concrete members into a steel structure by setting a pre-embedded steel connector at both ends of reinforced concrete beams and columns, showing outstanding economic, durability, and fire resistance capabilities. The construction process, construction efficiency, economy, and energy consumption were discussed based on the material, structure, and construction hybrid characteristics. Numerical simulation and structural health monitoring methods are used to monitor and evaluate the deformation and stress state of the proposed system in the whole construction process, so as to optimize the construction scheme and ensure safe and orderly construction. The results reveal that the FEA-simulated values of key building components during construction are in good agreement with the actual monitoring values, which verifies the feasibility of the FEM models and provides a guarantee for construction safety; the construction period of the proposed assemble system is reduced by approximately 56% and 40%, compared with the conventional reinforced concrete frame structure and cast-in-place joints in the precast concrete frame structure, respectively. Meanwhile, the energy consumption of buildings decreases by 20%. This research provides a theoretical basis for the design, calculation, and application of assembled precast structural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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16 pages, 2579 KiB  
Article
Study on Durability and Piezoresistivity of Cement-Based Piezoelectric Materials Mixed with Carbon Fiber and Iron Tailings under Salt-Freezing Erosion
by Jin Xu, Sheliang Wang, Jiaojiao Bai, Yifan Li and Xiaoyi Quan
Buildings 2022, 12(8), 1150; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12081150 - 02 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1301
Abstract
Under the complex working conditions in cold areas, in order to achieve health monitoring of engineering structures, carbon fiber and iron tailings sand were added to ordinary cement-based materials to prepare cement-based piezoelectric composites, and the deterioration of their pressure-sensitive properties and mechanical [...] Read more.
Under the complex working conditions in cold areas, in order to achieve health monitoring of engineering structures, carbon fiber and iron tailings sand were added to ordinary cement-based materials to prepare cement-based piezoelectric composites, and the deterioration of their pressure-sensitive properties and mechanical properties under the action of the sulfate-freeze-thaw cycle was studied. Six groups of specimens and a set of benchmark specimens were prepared according to different contents of carbon fiber and iron tailings sand, and the specimens of each group were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively after 50, 100, and 150 freeze-thaw cycles. Based on the external damage analysis, it was concluded that with the increase in the number of freeze-thaw cycles, the apparent morphology of the specimens in each group continued to deteriorate. After 150 freeze-thaw cycles, the addition of a certain proportion of carbon fiber and iron tailings can improve the compactness of cement-based composites, effectively inhibit the development of cracks, maintain the integrity of the apparent morphology of the specimen, and the quality loss rate of the specimen does not exceed 5%. Based on the internal damage analysis, it is concluded that the specimen mixed with carbon fiber and iron tailings has undergone the freeze-thaw cycles, and its relative dynamic elastic modulus generally shows a trend of first rising and then falling, and after 150 freeze-thaw cycles, the relative dynamic elastic modulus of C04T30 specimen is 85.5%, and its compressive strength loss rate is 20.2%, indicating that its freeze resistance is optimal. The compressive stress and resistivity change rate of each group of cement-based piezoelectric composite specimens that have not undergone freeze-thaw cycles are approximately consistent with the linear attenuation relationship. Those that have undergone 150 freeze-thaw cycles approximately conform to the polynomial attenuation relationship. The correlation coefficient between the compressive stress and the resistivity rate of the change fitting curve are all above 0.9, and the correlation is high; therefore, the deterioration of the structural mechanical properties after freeze-thaw cycles can be reflected by the resistivity change rate. After 150 freeze-thaw cycles, the pressure sensitivity coefficient of the C04T30 specimen is 0.007294, which has good pressure sensitivity. So, cement-based piezoelectric composite material can be embedded as an impedance sensor to monitor the health of engineering structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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26 pages, 26254 KiB  
Article
Lateral Impact Response of Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubes with Local Defects
by Yulin Wang, Shan Gao, Youchun Xu and Fangyi Li
Buildings 2022, 12(7), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12070996 - 13 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1317
Abstract
A numerical model of 84 high-strength concrete-filled square steel tubular columns (HSCFST) with local defects is developed using ABAQUS. The effects of parameters such as crack angle, crack length, impact surface and impact energy on the impact resistance of HSCFST columns are considered. [...] Read more.
A numerical model of 84 high-strength concrete-filled square steel tubular columns (HSCFST) with local defects is developed using ABAQUS. The effects of parameters such as crack angle, crack length, impact surface and impact energy on the impact resistance of HSCFST columns are considered. The results show that under the effect of local corrosion, a model with horizontal cracks will show the phenomenon of crack closure when subjected to the front impact. The impact force platform value is mainly affected by the impact surface, followed by the crack angle, while the increase of the crack length mainly has a greater effect on the model of the rear impact. The impact resistance of the front impact model is better than that of the side and rear impact models. Increasing the crack length and decreasing the crack angle will increase the mid-span deflection of the model, and the mid-span deflection of the front impact model is smaller than that of the side and rear impact models. The energy absorption ratio of the model is proportional to the increase of the crack length and inversely proportional to the increase of the crack angle. Decreasing the crack angle will reduce the increase coefficient (Rd) of the dynamic flexural capacity of the model. A practical calculation method for the increased coefficient of the dynamic flexural capacity of HSCFST columns under local corrosion is proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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14 pages, 5320 KiB  
Article
Mesoscale Study on Dilation Behavior of Plain Concrete under Axial Compression
by Peng Chen, Xiaomeng Cui, Huijun Zheng and Shengpu Si
Buildings 2022, 12(7), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12070908 - 27 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1281
Abstract
The dilation of concrete in the radial direction is crucial in understanding the failure process and the key to predicting the confining level of passively confined concrete. To better understand this problem, we established a mesoscale model of concrete by considering the random [...] Read more.
The dilation of concrete in the radial direction is crucial in understanding the failure process and the key to predicting the confining level of passively confined concrete. To better understand this problem, we established a mesoscale model of concrete by considering the random distribution of coarse aggregate and the different properties between mortar and concrete. The model’s validity was demonstrated by comparing with the stress–strain curves in code and the lateral–axial strain curves in test. The simulation results show that the lateral dilation is non-uniformly distributed along the specimen height and the circumferential direction of sections. Moreover, the deformation mainly occurs in the middle part of the specimen ranging from 3/8 to 5/8. The strength of concrete influences the stress ratio at maximum compressive strain, while it slightly influences the stress ratio at zero volumetric strain. The secant strain ratio is about 0.5 as the compressive stress reaches the strength of concrete. Compared with the simulation, the relationship between lateral strain and axial strain proposed by Teng and Binici shows excellent performance on the dilation trend prediction of plain concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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12 pages, 3627 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Study on Rapid Evacuation Characteristics of Staircases in Campus Buildings
by Qian Zhang, Fei Yu, Shan Gao, Chen Chang and Xusheng Zhang
Buildings 2022, 12(6), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12060848 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1730
Abstract
In this work, we conducted downward evacuation experiments in four types of staircases under various smoke visibility conditions of the naked eye, wearing sunglass and wearing eyeshades. Ten male and ten female college students were recruited to conduct the evacuation as a single [...] Read more.
In this work, we conducted downward evacuation experiments in four types of staircases under various smoke visibility conditions of the naked eye, wearing sunglass and wearing eyeshades. Ten male and ten female college students were recruited to conduct the evacuation as a single male, single female, two males supporting one another, two females supporting one another and one male carrying another on his back. The evacuation time on each floor was recorded. The corresponding evacuation models were established by Pathfinder and verified against the test data. The effects of evacuation crowd density and response time considering gender factors on the evacuation time were simulated using the models. The results show that under the experimental condition of low visibility, the curve of evacuation time presents a stable state, whose change with the increase in the floors is not obvious. The increase in the evacuation time under different visibility indicates that males have better adaptability to the environment than females. The curves of SSP (straight running stairs with platform) and DSS (double split parallel stairs) are smoother than those of DPS (double running parallel stairs) and CS (corner stairs), indicating less pressure and less congestion during evacuation. During the emergency evacuation, the crowd pressure on the platform of the staircases is small. The front section of the flight and the corner part of the staircases are prone to congestion during evacuation. Under the influence of gender factors, since the response time of males is longer than that of females, the smaller the proportion of males, the smaller the time growth rate considering the reaction time. With the increase in crowd density, the effect of response time on total evacuation time becomes smaller. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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14 pages, 8353 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Residual Lateral Capacities of Impact-Damaged Reinforced Concrete Members
by Jiabin Ye, Yingtao Wang, Jian Cai, Qingjun Chen and An He
Buildings 2022, 12(5), 669; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12050669 - 17 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1533
Abstract
To study the residual lateral capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) columns after being subjected to static and horizontal impact action, static and horizontal impact tests of a total of sixteen RC columns were conducted. The variables considered in the tests included the shear-span [...] Read more.
To study the residual lateral capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) columns after being subjected to static and horizontal impact action, static and horizontal impact tests of a total of sixteen RC columns were conducted. The variables considered in the tests included the shear-span ratio, the impact weight and the velocity. The experimental results, including the impact force, the deflection and the strain, as well as the cracking pattern and the failure mode, were discussed. Compared with the load–deflection curves under static and impact loading, it can be found that the inertial effect plays a significant part in the dynamic behaviour of the RC columns. Subsequently, static tests of six specimens with slight impact damage were carried out to obtain their residual performance. Based on the Park–Ang damage model that is widely used for assessing the post-seismic performance of RC members, an evaluation method for the structural residual capacity of RC columns after being subjected to impact loading was developed, with its accuracy confirmed by the experimental results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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17 pages, 5860 KiB  
Article
The Investigation on Static Stability Analysis for Reticulated Shell with Initial Defect Value Using Stochastic Defect Mode Method
by Sheng He, Xinheng Huang, Peng Yu and Weijing Yun
Buildings 2022, 12(5), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12050615 - 07 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1600
Abstract
Regarding the effect of the initial geometric defect (IGD) on the static stability of single-layer reticulated shells, its distribution pattern and magnitude are the main concerns to researchers. However, the suitable selection of the initial geometric defect magnitude (IGDM) is still a controversial [...] Read more.
Regarding the effect of the initial geometric defect (IGD) on the static stability of single-layer reticulated shells, its distribution pattern and magnitude are the main concerns to researchers. However, the suitable selection of the initial geometric defect magnitude (IGDM) is still a controversial topic. Therefore, it is intended to study the determination of the proper IGDM based on the structure force state (SFS) and the defect coefficient. In order to find out a qualified IGDM, more than 5200 numerical cases are carried out for four types of commonly used single-layer reticulated shells with the span ranging from 40 to 70 m and the rise–span ratio from 1/4 to 1/7, within the random defect mode method, by taking both geometric and material nonlinearity into account. The results show that it is more feasible to set the L/500 as IGDM when evaluating the stability of the single-layer reticulated shell. In addition, an updated criterion to identify the SFS at the stability critical state (SCS) is developed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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11 pages, 2546 KiB  
Article
Experimental Application of Cement-Stabilized Pavement Base with Low-Grade Metamorphic Rock Aggregates
by Qian Yang, Yi Liu, Haotian Zou, Xiaoxiong Wang, Guohuan Gong, Yinnan Cheng, Liang Zhang and Zhengwu Jiang
Buildings 2022, 12(5), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12050589 - 02 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1229
Abstract
Low-grade metamorphic rock (LMR) is a kind of stone that is widely distributed in China. The alkali activity strictly prevents its application in conventional concrete. This paper evaluates the possibility of using LMR aggregate in cement-stabilized pavement base (CSPB). The compressive strength of [...] Read more.
Low-grade metamorphic rock (LMR) is a kind of stone that is widely distributed in China. The alkali activity strictly prevents its application in conventional concrete. This paper evaluates the possibility of using LMR aggregate in cement-stabilized pavement base (CSPB). The compressive strength of CSPB prepared with LMR and limestone aggregates at various curing conditions was measured. Expansion rates were determined via accelerated simulation tests to assess the alkali reactivity of LMR, followed by microscopic analysis. Finally, the possibility of using LMR in CSPB was evaluated from the economic viewpoint. Results indicate that CSPB specimens prepared with LMR have similar compressive strength at each content of cement, regardless of curing conditions. The expansion rates of all CSPB specimens with LMR were lower than 0.1%, indicating the absence of an AAR, which was further validated by the absence of the AAR product in microscopic observations. It is inferred from the economic analysis that 70.9% lower cost can be achieved by the replacement of limestone aggregate with LMR aggregate. This demonstrates that technical, economic and environmental benefits endow LMR with wide market potential as the aggregate of CSPB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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21 pages, 5919 KiB  
Article
Characteristics and Mechanism of Fire Spread between Full-Scale Wooden Houses from Internal Fires
by Shasha Yuan, Kun Xiang, Feng Yan, Qing Liu, Xuan Sun, Yinqing Li and Peng Du
Buildings 2022, 12(5), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12050575 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2299
Abstract
In ancient villages, the spread of uninterrupted fires caused great damage to clustered wooden houses. Thus, the spread of fire among wooden houses should be systematically studied to explore its characteristics. Statistical analysis is a feasible way to study the characteristics and underlying [...] Read more.
In ancient villages, the spread of uninterrupted fires caused great damage to clustered wooden houses. Thus, the spread of fire among wooden houses should be systematically studied to explore its characteristics. Statistical analysis is a feasible way to study the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of fire in full-scale wooden houses. In this study, 4 full-scale wooden buildings were built in an ethnic village in Guizhou Province, and the fire spread test was conducted by igniting a 0.63-MW power wood crib. To investigate the fire spread, the visual characteristics were observed, and the temperatures and heat radiation at special locations were monitored with thermocouples and radiation flowmeters, respectively. The effect of relative slope, heat radiation, and wind direction on fire spread characteristics was established by mathematical statistics, and the measured temperatures were used to verify the statistics’ regularity. The results showed that in wooden houses, fire spread was mainly influenced by the slope, the distance between houses, and wind direction. When the inner wall of a wooden house is protected by a fireproof coating, the thermal radiation spread and fire spread are both slower. The slope and distance had the same influence weight (0.41) on fire spread; however, since they affect the process in different ways, they should be analyzed separately for fire risk evaluation. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the fire spread process in wooden buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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13 pages, 4325 KiB  
Article
Study on Erosion Characteristics and Mechanisms of Recycled Concrete with Tailings in Salt Spray Environments
by Jin Xu, Tao Li, Meng Zhan, Xiuyun Chen, Fan Xu and Sheliang Wang
Buildings 2022, 12(4), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12040446 - 05 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1581
Abstract
To improve the utilization efficiency of iron tailings (IOT) and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA), the mechanical properties, erosion depth and other erosion characteristics of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) with different IOT amounts were studied in salt spray erosion environments and the erosion mechanisms [...] Read more.
To improve the utilization efficiency of iron tailings (IOT) and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA), the mechanical properties, erosion depth and other erosion characteristics of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) with different IOT amounts were studied in salt spray erosion environments and the erosion mechanisms were analyzed by SEM technology. The results showed that at the same erosion age, IOT caused the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of RAC to tend to first increase and then decrease, with the optimum mixing amount being approximately 40%. Under the same conditions, the erosion depth of RAC was much higher than that of ordinary concrete. The erosion depth first decreased and then increased with an increasing amount of IOT. When the IOT content was 30–40%, the salt spray erosion depth reached its minimum. The solidification coefficient K1 first decreased and then increased with the increase in iron tailings content. At its lowest point, the iron tailings content was approximately between 30% and 50%, which demonstrated that the higher the salt spray erosion age, the larger the solidification coefficient. Through SEM microscopic images, it could be seen that the appropriate amount of iron tailings caused the formation of salt spray erosion crystals and that the effect of physical expansion pressure caused a reduction in the porosity of RAC and a slight increase in its mechanical properties and salt spray erosion resistance. When the iron tailings content was large, the optimal mix ratio of the concrete also changed and then harmful pores and cracks were regenerated. Therefore, resistance to salt spray erosion was weakened. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the engineering application of recycled concrete with tailings in salt spray environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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16 pages, 2388 KiB  
Article
Rational Use of Idealized Shear-Building Models to Approximate Actual Buildings
by Zhanxuan Zuo, Yiting He and Shuang Li
Buildings 2022, 12(3), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12030273 - 26 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2217
Abstract
The paper aims to investigate the accuracies of idealization methods of the well-known shear-building models. Five idealization methods are adopted to idealize the structural story capacity curve within the range from zero to the deformation corresponding to the peak shear point. After the [...] Read more.
The paper aims to investigate the accuracies of idealization methods of the well-known shear-building models. Five idealization methods are adopted to idealize the structural story capacity curve within the range from zero to the deformation corresponding to the peak shear point. After the peak shear point, a skew branch followed by a constant branch are used to approximate the capacity curve. The five idealization methods are verified by using four reinforcement concrete (RC) frames with 3, 8, 12, and 18 stories. Results reveal that all the five idealization methods may cause remarkable errors in prediction of the period, displacements and accelerations of the actual buildings. The errors of the structural period by the five idealization methods are almost above 10–40%. The errors of the structural displacements and accelerations by the five idealization methods are almost above 30–90%. For all the five idealization methods, the prediction accuracy on displacement and acceleration will be dramatically increased if the comparison is only focused on the maximum value within all story rather than the maximum values of each story. The initial stiffness method provides the best predictions on periods of the actual buildings. The farthest point method provides better prediction than the other four idealization methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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17 pages, 3857 KiB  
Article
Proportion and Performance Optimization of Lightweight Foamed Phosphogypsum Material Based on an Orthogonal Experiment
by Tao Zheng, Xun Miao, Dewen Kong, Lin Wang, Lili Cheng and Ke Yu
Buildings 2022, 12(2), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12020207 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2094
Abstract
A lightweight foam phosphogypsum material (LFPM) was prepared by multi-factor orthogonal and optimization experiments. The effects of foam, quicklime, silica fume and cement on the mechanical and physical properties of this LFPM were studied. The orthogonal experimental results showed that the silica fume [...] Read more.
A lightweight foam phosphogypsum material (LFPM) was prepared by multi-factor orthogonal and optimization experiments. The effects of foam, quicklime, silica fume and cement on the mechanical and physical properties of this LFPM were studied. The orthogonal experimental results showed that the silica fume content exhibited the most significant effect on the strength of this material, and the cement content exhibited the most obvious influence on the softening coefficient. The comprehensive index analysis indicated that the LFPM with 8% foam, 3.5% quicklime, 3% silica fume and 15% cement was selected as the optimal proportion. The 28 d compressive strength and flexural strength were 3.15 and 0.97 MPa, respectively. The dry density was 809.1 kg/m3, and the 28 d softening coefficient was 0.628. The optimization experimental results showed that the strength and dry density of the sample increased first and then decreased with an increase in the foam stabilizer content. The strength and dry density increased, and water absorption decreased with increasing waterproof agent content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resiliency of Building Materials and Structures)
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