Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2023) | Viewed by 12896

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Architectural Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
Interests: compressive strength; recycled concrete aggregate; residual mortar; mortar volume; elastic modulus
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are inviting submissions to this Special Issue entitled Fatigue, Performance and Damage Assessment of Concrete.

Concrete fatigue is the phenomenon by which a concrete structure is caused to fail by the repeated application of loads. Fatigue-related long-term concrete performance may be influenced by various loading conditions, material properties, reinforcements, or environmental conditions. Progressive permanent internal structural change due to those influencing factors may be damaging and result in poor performance of the concrete structures. In recent years, the use of supplementary cementitious materials, recycled aggregates, nano-materials, and fibers which can improve long-term concrete performance in diverse aspects has been strongly encouraged. Thus, any research findings on fatigue, performance, and damage of concrete structures, pavements, and railway bridges made up of the aforementioned innovative materials are attracting more interest from the research society.

In this Special Issue, we invite submissions exploring cutting-edge research and recent advances in the fields of fatigue, performance and damage assessment of concrete. Both theoretical and experimental studies in accelerated testing facilities or in air-field conditions, or nondestructive testing methods are welcome, as well as comprehensive review and survey papers.

Prof. Dr. Sungchul Yang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fatigue tests of concretes
  • performance of deteriorated structures
  • mechanisms of concrete damage
  • life-cycle assessment of concrete structures
  • testing of sustainable and innovative materials
  • accelerated testing for airfield concrete pavements
  • data analysis and modelling
  • instrumentation and data processing
  • monitoring and non-destructive testing

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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8 pages, 437 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessments of Concrete
by Sungchul Yang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1845; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app14051845 - 23 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 352
Abstract
This Special Issue covers the latest research on fatigue, performance, and damage assessments of concrete. Concrete fatigue is known as a phenomenon characterized by the repetition of loads. The fatigue-based performance of concrete may be affected by a combination of diverse loads, mechanical [...] Read more.
This Special Issue covers the latest research on fatigue, performance, and damage assessments of concrete. Concrete fatigue is known as a phenomenon characterized by the repetition of loads. The fatigue-based performance of concrete may be affected by a combination of diverse loads, mechanical strength properties, and environmental changes. These factors eventually lead to poor concrete performance. In this Special Issue, nine papers were accepted, divided into three subgroups: two papers on fatigue, two papers on performance, and five papers on damage assessment. Unlike articles published in past Special Issues, our Special Issue contains papers that address concrete performance in concrete pavement applications. In particular, six of the articles contained in this issue concentrate on pavement performance and damage assessments, especially in terms of the Pavement Condition Index. Together with a brief introduction, the keywords, research significance and potential impacts of each article are summarized in this Editorial. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

32 pages, 13816 KiB  
Article
Development of Analytical Model for Bonding of CFRP Rod in Concrete Subjected to Cyclic Loads
by Arash Azarkerdar and Farzad Hejazi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 1134; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app14031134 - 29 Jan 2024
Viewed by 643
Abstract
Recent material science advances have resulted in the use of High-Performance Concrete (HPC) and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) in superstructures, which were chosen for their superior strength. However, under cyclic loads, these materials frequently show fatigue. Carbon-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) rods are replacing steel rebars [...] Read more.
Recent material science advances have resulted in the use of High-Performance Concrete (HPC) and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) in superstructures, which were chosen for their superior strength. However, under cyclic loads, these materials frequently show fatigue. Carbon-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) rods are replacing steel rebars due to their corrosion resistance and excellent strength-to-weight ratio and are thus gaining popularity in both infrastructural and superstructural design. However, due to a lack of understanding of their bond mechanics, modelling the interaction between CFRP rods and these advanced concretes in finite element simulations remains complex, particularly under cyclic loading. The bond behaviour of CFRP rods and both standard Grade 40 concrete and Ultra High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) under cyclic stresses is investigated in this work. A finite element model of connected concrete cube samples was built and analysed under cyclic stress, combining these concretes with CFRP rods. Furthermore, these samples were subjected to dynamic actuation testing to develop a traction-based constitutive model for the CFRP–concrete interface. In finite element models, an interface element devised for this study effectively approximated the binding, matching experimental data. The new analytical interface element improved simulation precision by 19% in displacement and 49% in pull-out force, resulting in a significant improvement in predicting the performance of the CFRP–UHPFRC bond under cyclic loading. The improved performance of the CFRP–UHPFRC bond under cyclic loading is attributed to the optimised interface model that enhances the bond integrity between CFRP rods and concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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21 pages, 26547 KiB  
Article
A Case Study on Distresses of Concrete Pavements Supported on a Retaining Wall
by Heejun Lee, Niwesh Koirala, Pangil Choi and Hoyoung Seo
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11226; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app132011226 - 12 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1029
Abstract
Embankments and retaining walls are integral parts of the bridge system and provide a smooth transition from lower elevations (i.e., roadways) to higher elevations (i.e., bridge decks). Performances of pavement structures supported on embankments or retaining walls are directly related to their conditions. [...] Read more.
Embankments and retaining walls are integral parts of the bridge system and provide a smooth transition from lower elevations (i.e., roadways) to higher elevations (i.e., bridge decks). Performances of pavement structures supported on embankments or retaining walls are directly related to their conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive case study of the evaluation of pavement structures supported on an in-service mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall that showed significant distresses, such as lane separation, faulting, lane settlement, and tilting of the MSE wall. The conditions of the pavement structures were evaluated via visual observations, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests, and coring through pavement structures. The conditions of the MSE wall were evaluated through dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) tests, cone penetration tests (CPTs), LiDAR surveys, and soil borings. Detailed analysis of the data obtained in this study provides valuable insights into potential distress mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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23 pages, 13389 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Applicability of Waste Glass Wool and Waste Mineral Wool as Fiber Reinforcement
by Chi-Su Lim, Dae-Seong Jang, Jin-Cheol Kim, Hong-Sam Kim and Jae-Jun Lee
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10738; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app131910738 - 27 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 882
Abstract
Recently, the handling of waste industrial resources has become an issue, and the importance of sustainable resources has increased. Among these waste industrial materials are glass wool and mineral wool, which are fibrous materials used as insulation materials with characteristics such as sound [...] Read more.
Recently, the handling of waste industrial resources has become an issue, and the importance of sustainable resources has increased. Among these waste industrial materials are glass wool and mineral wool, which are fibrous materials used as insulation materials with characteristics such as sound absorption, insulation, and non-flammability. However, after their service life, glass wool and mineral wool used for insulation are generally buried or incinerated, causing problems such as air and soil contamination. This research was conducted to examine the applicability of waste glass wool and mineral wool obtained from expired insulation as fiber reinforcement in cement concrete. The research aimed to evaluate the fresh concrete properties, strength properties, and durability properties by adding waste glass wool and waste mineral wool up to 0.5–2.0% of the cement weight. Regarding the slump and air content of fresh concrete, the results showed that the addition of waste fibers within this range did not significantly affect the air content. However, the slump decreased as the addition amount increased due to the high absorption, which is a characteristic of the fibers. In addition, the evaluation of strength revealed that the incorporation of fibers decreased the compressive strength compared to the reference concrete. However, the tensile strength increased due to the load-supporting function of the waste fibers. In the evaluation of freezing–thawing resistance and chloride ion penetration resistance, it was confirmed that the freezing–thawing resistance improved in all cases where waste glass wool was added. The chloride ion penetration resistance was found to be similar to that of the reference concrete. However, in the case of waste mineral wool, it was observed that an addition rate of more than 2.0% of fibers was required to ensure freezing–thawing resistance. As the addition rate increased, the total charge passed (permeability) increased significantly, leading to a decrease in chloride ion penetration resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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14 pages, 6030 KiB  
Article
Development of an Estimation Method for Depth of Spalling Damage in Concrete Pavement by Ultrasonic Velocity Measurement
by Gyumin Yeon, Hojun Yoo, Sungjin Hong, Jeongyeon Cho and Intai Kim
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9881; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12199881 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1192
Abstract
As the amount of aged pavement increases, functional damage, such as spalling, occurs frequently on Portland Cement Concrete pavement (PCC) in South Korea. However, the existing management method does not properly reflect the scope of deterioration of the pavement causing early damage. To [...] Read more.
As the amount of aged pavement increases, functional damage, such as spalling, occurs frequently on Portland Cement Concrete pavement (PCC) in South Korea. However, the existing management method does not properly reflect the scope of deterioration of the pavement causing early damage. To overcome the problem of the existing repair method, this study evaluated the deterioration of functional damage on the surface of the slab as soundness through ultrasonic velocity measurement method among non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques and suggested a method to estimate the depth of deterioration. To develop a method for estimating the depth of the deterioration a slab, a preliminary investigation was conducted to check the range of ultrasonic velocity of concrete pavement in South Korea and to evaluate the variability of NDT equipment. Based on the ultrasonic velocity, the sound rating of concrete pavement was graded from 5 for “very good” to 0 for “very poor”, and the tendency of the ultrasonic velocity to increase according to the depth of the deteriorated areas was confirmed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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22 pages, 6328 KiB  
Article
A New Approach to Machine Learning Model Development for Prediction of Concrete Fatigue Life under Uniaxial Compression
by Jaeho Son and Sungchul Yang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9766; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12199766 - 28 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1694
Abstract
The goal of this work is to show how machine learning models, such as the random forest, neural network, gradient boosting, and AdaBoost models, can be used to forecast the fatigue life (N) of plain concrete under uniaxial compression. Here, we developed our [...] Read more.
The goal of this work is to show how machine learning models, such as the random forest, neural network, gradient boosting, and AdaBoost models, can be used to forecast the fatigue life (N) of plain concrete under uniaxial compression. Here, we developed our final machine learning model by generating the following three data files from the original data used in the work of Zhang et al.: (a) grouped data with the same input variable value and different output variable logN value, (b) data excluding outliers selected by three or more outlier detection methods; (c) average data excluding outliers, created by averaging the grouped data after excluding outliers from among the grouped data. Excluding the sustained strength of the concrete variable, originally treated as the seventh input variable in the work of Zhang et al., resulted in improving the determination coefficient (R2) values. Moreover, the gradient boosting model showed a high R2 value at 0.753, indicating a high accuracy in predicting outcomes. Further analysis using data excluding outliers shows that the R2 value increased to 0.803. Moreover, the average data excluding outliers provided the best R2 value at 0.915. Finally, a permutation feature importance (PFI) analysis was carried out to determine the strength of the relationship between the feature and the target value for the gradient boosting model. The analysis results showed that the maximum stress level (Smax) and loading frequency (f) were the most significant input variables, followed by compressive strength (fc) and maximum to minimum stress ratio (R). Shape and height to width ratio (h/w) were the features with a non-significant influence on the model. This trend was previously confirmed by a Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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13 pages, 6070 KiB  
Article
Optimal Longitudinal Texture on Concrete Pavement to Reduce Lateral Vibration of Vehicles
by Sungwoo Ryu, Jongho Kim, Duecksu Sohn and Sungho Bae
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9661; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12199661 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1060
Abstract
Since the mid-2000 s, longitudinal tinning has been applied to concrete pavements of expressways to improve the comfort and safety of road vehicle users. However, in certain longitudinal tinning sections, lateral vibrations occur during driving, which poses a safety hazard. This paper analyzes [...] Read more.
Since the mid-2000 s, longitudinal tinning has been applied to concrete pavements of expressways to improve the comfort and safety of road vehicle users. However, in certain longitudinal tinning sections, lateral vibrations occur during driving, which poses a safety hazard. This paper analyzes the cause behind this problem and proposes a longitudinal texturing specification that can minimize lateral vibration. To perform this analysis, the accelerations of driving vehicles and the degree of lateral vibration transmitted to panels in the vehicles were evaluated for each longitudinal texture applied in South Korea. Structural analysis was also conducted for the lateral force and moment according to the tire tread profile and longitudinal texturing specifications using the finite element method. In addition, field investigation, indoor drivability evaluation, and field application were performed to evaluate the optimal longitudinal texturing specification. The results indicate that the texture designated as 2 × 3 × 19 mm is the optimal longitudinal texture on hardened concrete pavement. However, because this specification is difficult to apply to fresh concrete, 3 × 3 × 16 mm is proposed as the optimal longitudinal texture owing to its excellent performance in the panel survey and in structural analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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13 pages, 2433 KiB  
Article
A Feasibility Study for the Prediction of Concrete Pavement Condition Index (CPCI) Based on Machine Learning
by Jin-Hyuk Lee, Dong-Hyuk Jung, Moon-Sub Lee and Sung-Il Jeon
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8731; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12178731 - 31 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1344
Abstract
In South Korea, various attempts have been made to utilize the Pavement Management System database (PMS DB) more efficiently as a basis for preventive maintenance. Data for the PMS DB is extensively collected every year. This study aims to predict future pavement conditions [...] Read more.
In South Korea, various attempts have been made to utilize the Pavement Management System database (PMS DB) more efficiently as a basis for preventive maintenance. Data for the PMS DB is extensively collected every year. This study aims to predict future pavement conditions by introducing the concept of machine learning instead of regression modeling. We selected 469 sections that satisfied the analysis conditions and used them for analysis. We used particle filtering, a machine learning technique, to predict future pavement conditions. We found that the function of the particle filtering technique itself increases the prediction accuracy for the target section analyzed as the number of particles increases. Furthermore, the number of time series points in one section had a higher impact on the improvement of prediction accuracy than the number of sections analyzed. Finally, the relative error by each predicted age for the same section decreased as the number of time series points increased. These findings indicate that the rate of decrease in the performance index can be quantitatively presented in the future, and the method developed in this study could be used by pavement managers during the decision-making process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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15 pages, 3196 KiB  
Article
Development of Korea Airport Pavement Condition Index for Panel Rating
by Nam-Hyun Cho, Hong-Joon Kwon, Young-Chan Suh and Jangrak Kim
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8320; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12168320 - 19 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1437
Abstract
Airports strive to prevent safety issues, such as foreign object debris (FOD), by pavement management using the pavement condition index (PCI). The index is used in decision-making processes for overall pavement maintenance and repair, such as the prevention of additional damage due to [...] Read more.
Airports strive to prevent safety issues, such as foreign object debris (FOD), by pavement management using the pavement condition index (PCI). The index is used in decision-making processes for overall pavement maintenance and repair, such as the prevention of additional damage due to cracks and the like. However, considering the current situation in Korea where mostly mid-sized and large commercial airports exist, problems regarding direct applications of the existing PCI deduct value have been consistently pointed out. In addition, as the relationship between the PCI and whether maintenance and repair are required is unrealistic, there have been difficulties in communication between maintenance and repair staff and decision makers. Therefore, to resolve these problems, this study first analyzed the calculation procedure of the existing PCI and then redefined the main distress type of Korean airport pavements. In addition, a deduct value curve (DVC) in terms of the severity level for six main distress factors of asphalt pavements and eight main distress factors of concrete pavements and a corrected deduct value curve (CDVC) for multiple distresses in terms of the pavement form were developed using panel rating, which is an engineering approach, by forming an airport pavement expert panel. Finally, a Korea airport pavement condition index (KPCI) was proposed using the curves, and the field application results were compared against the existing PCI to examine the adequacy of the KPCI. As a result, the developed criteria showed an overall trend lower than existing PCI. Moreover, it was verified that this trend increases with worsening pavement condition. It appears that a more discriminating evaluation may be possible when determining pavement conditions by PCI results of the developed criteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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14 pages, 5516 KiB  
Article
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis on Application of Asphalt and Concrete Pavement Overlay
by Haekook Jung, Topendra Oli, Jeonghee Nam, Kyongku Yun, Seungwon Kim and Cheolwoo Park
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 5098; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12105098 - 18 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2061
Abstract
Concrete pavement proportions are increasing in Korean expressways, resulting in increased maintenance cost. The length of degenerate concrete pavements that have exceeded the design life (20 years) was 1150 km in 2015 and 2605 km in 2020 and is expected to rapidly increase. [...] Read more.
Concrete pavement proportions are increasing in Korean expressways, resulting in increased maintenance cost. The length of degenerate concrete pavements that have exceeded the design life (20 years) was 1150 km in 2015 and 2605 km in 2020 and is expected to rapidly increase. To extend the service life of concrete pavements, life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis was conducted on asphalt and concrete overlays, based on the different maintenance methods. LCC analysis was performed when the shoulder was used and when it was not used between 6000 and 35,000 AADT traffic according to the two-lane and four-lane traffic. During overlay, one lane was completely blocked, and the value per vehicle was converted into the user cost using the Construction Analysis for Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies software, according to whether the shoulder was used to maintain the number of lanes. In addition, LCC analysis was conducted by examining the construction cost and life-cycle according to each overlay method. When the shoulder was used, the total construction cost decreased, owing to the reduction in user cost, indicating that the implementation of the traffic measure of using the road shoulder improves user satisfaction and cost. The asphalt overlay was observed to be more favorable than concrete overlay in terms of the initial total construction cost. However, under a 20-year cycle, the economic efficiency of concrete overlay was higher than that of asphalt overlay. After repairing the deteriorated target sections of concrete pavements, the overlay method (asphalt or concrete) ought to be selected according to the target service life for beneficial economic effect. Concrete overlay was to obtain about 20% or greater LCC effect compared to asphalt overlay, and at least 5% or more additional LCC effect obtained when the shoulder was used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Performance, and Damage Assessment of Concrete)
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