A fictitious soil pile (FSP) model is developed to simulate the behavior of pipe piles with soil plugs undergoing high-strain dynamic impact loading. The developed model simulates the base soil with a fictitious hollow pile fully filled with a soil plug extending at a cone angle from the pile toe to the bedrock. The friction on the outside and inside of the pile walls is distinguished using different shaft models, and the propagation of stress waves in the base soil and soil plug is considered. The motions of the pile−soil system are solved by discretizing them into spring-mass model based on the finite difference method. Comparisons of the predictions of the proposed model and conventional numerical models, as well as measurements for pipe piles in field tests subjected to impact loading, validate the accuracy of the proposed model. A parametric analysis is conducted to illustrate the influence of the model parameters on the pile dynamic response. Finally, the effective length of the FSP is proposed to approximate the affected soil zone below the pipe pile toe, and some guidance is provided for the selection of the model parameters.

An algorithm based on deep semantic segmentation called LC-DeepLab is proposed for detecting the trends and geometries of cracks on tunnel linings at the pixel level. The proposed method addresses the low accuracy of tunnel crack segmentation and the slow detection speed of conventional models in complex backgrounds. The novel algorithm is based on the DeepLabv3+ network framework. A lighter backbone network was used for feature extraction. Next, an efficient shallow feature fusion module that extracts crack features across pixels is designed to improve the edges of crack segmentation. Finally, an efficient attention module that significantly improves the anti-interference ability of the model in complex backgrounds is validated. Four classic semantic segmentation algorithms (fully convolutional network, pyramid scene parsing network, U-Net, and DeepLabv3+) are selected for comparative analysis to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The experimental results show that LC-DeepLab can accurately segment and highlight cracks from tunnel linings in complex backgrounds, and the accuracy (mean intersection over union) is 78.26%. The LC-DeepLab can achieve a real-time segmentation of 416 × 416 × 3 defect images with 46.98 f/s and 21.85 Mb parameters.

The interactions between reinforced concrete (RC) frames and infill walls play an important role in the seismic response of frames, particularly for low-rise frames. Infill walls can increase the overall lateral strength and stiffness of the frame owing to their high strength and stiffness. However, local wall-frame interactions can also lead to increased shear demand in the columns owing to the compressive diagonal strut force from the infill wall, which can result in failure or in serious situations, collapse. In this study, the effectiveness of a design strategy to consider the complex infill wall interaction was investigated. The approach was used to design example RC frames with infill walls in locations with different seismicity levels in Thailand. The performance of these frames was assessed using nonlinear static, and dynamic analyses. The performance of the frames and the failure modes were compared with those of frames designed without considering the infill wall or the local interactions. It was found that even though the overall responses of the buildings designed with and without consideration of the local interaction of the infill walls were similar in terms the overall lateral strength, the failure modes were different. The proposed method can eliminate the column shear failure from the building. Finally, the merits and limitations of this approach are discussed and summarized.

Owing to advancement in advanced manufacturing technology, the reinforcement design of concrete structures has become an important topic in structural engineering. Based on bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO), a new approach is developed in this study to optimize the reinforcement layout in steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) structures. This approach combines a minimum compliance objective function with a hybrid truss-continuum model. Furthermore, a modified bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (M-BESO) method is proposed to control the level of tensile stress in concrete. To fully utilize the tensile strength of steel and the compressive strength of concrete, the optimization sensitivity of steel in a concrete–steel composite is integrated with the average normal stress of a neighboring concrete. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedures, reinforcement layout optimizations of a simply supported beam, a corbel, and a wall with a window are conducted. Clear steel trajectories of SRC structures can be obtained using both methods. The area of ​​critical tensile stress in concrete yielded by the M-BESO is more than 40% lower than that yielded by the uniform design and BESO. Hence, the M-BESO facilitates a fully digital workflow that can be extremely effective for improving the design of steel reinforcements in concrete structures.

In this study, the flexural and longitudinal shear performances of two types of precast lightweight steel–ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) composite beams are investigated, where a cluster UHPC slab (CUS) and a normal UHPC slab (NUS) are connected to a steel beam using headed studs through discontinuous shear pockets and full-length shear pockets, respectively. Results show that the longitudinal shear force of the CUS is greater than that of the NUS, whereas the interfacial slip of the former is smaller. Owing to its better integrity, the CUS exhibits greater flexural stiffness and a higher ultimate bearing capacity than the NUS. To further optimize the design parameters of the CUS, a parametric study is conducted to investigate their effects on the flexural and longitudinal shear performances. The square shear pocket is shown to be more applicable for the CUS, as the optimal spacing between two shear pockets is 650 mm. Moreover, a design method for transverse reinforcement is proposed; the transverse reinforcement is used to withstand the splitting force caused by studs in the shear pocket and prevent the UHPC slab from cracking. According to calculation results, the transverse reinforcement can be canceled when the compressive strength of UHPC is 150 MPa and the volume fraction of steel fiber exceeds 2.0%.

The aim of this study is to appraise the potential of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement-based grouts in simulated permafrost environments. The hydration and performance of CSA cement-based grouts cured in cold environments (10, 0, and −10 °C) are investigated using a combination of tests, including temperature recording, X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. The recorded temperature shows a rapid increase in temperature at the early stage in all the samples. Meanwhile, results of the TGA and XRD tests show the generation of a significant quantity of hydration products, which indicates the rapid hydration of CSA cement-based grouts at the early stage at low temperatures. Consequently, the CSA cement-based grouts exhibit remarkably high early strength. The UCS values of the samples cured for 2 h at −10, 0, and 10 °C are 6.5, 12.0, and 12.3 MPa, respectively. The UCS of the grouts cured at −10, 0, and 10 °C increases continuously with age and ultimately reached 14.9, 19.0, and 30.6 MPa at 28 d, respectively. The findings show that the strength of grouts fabricated using CSA cement can develop rapidly in cold environments, thus rendering them promising for permafrost applications.

This study presents experimental and numerical investigations on the mechanical properties of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) reinforced with single and hybrid micro- and macro-steel and polypropylene fibers. For this purpose, a series of cubic, cylindrical, dog-bone, and prismatic beam specimens (total fiber by volume = 1%, and 2%) were tested under compressive, tensile, and flexural loadings. A method, namely multi-target digital image correlation (MT-DIC) was used to monitor the displacement and deflection values. The obtained experimental data were subsequently used to discuss influential parameters, i.e., flexural strength, tensile strength, size effect, etc. Numerical analyses were also carried out using finite element software to account for the sensitivity of different parameters. Furthermore, nonlinear regression analyses were conducted to obtain the flexural load-deflection curves. The results showed that the MT-DIC method was capable of estimating the tensile and flexural responses as well as the location of the crack with high accuracy. In addition, the regression analyses showed excellent consistency with the experimental results, with correlation coefficients close to unity. Furthermore, size-effect modeling revealed that modified Bazant theory yielded the best estimation of the size-effect phenomenon compared to other models.

This study modeled the moving-vehicle-induced forcing excitation on a single-span prismatic bridge as a multiple frequency-multiplication harmonic load on the modal coordinates of a linear elastic simple Euler–Bernoulli beam, and investigated the forced modal oscillation and resonance behavior of this type of dynamic system. The forced modal responses consist of multiple frequency-multiplication steady-state harmonics and one damped mono-frequency complementary harmonic. The analysis revealed that a moving load induces high-harmonic forced resonance amplification when the moving speed is low. To verify the occurrence of high-harmonic forced resonance, numerical tests were conducted on single-span simple beams based on structural modeling using the finite element method (FEM) and a moving sprung-mass oscillator vehicle model. The forced resonance amplification characteristics of the fundamental mode for beam response estimation are presented with consideration to different end restraint conditions. The results reveal that the high-harmonic forced resonance may be significant for the investigated beams subjected to vehicle loads moving at specific low speeds. For the investigated single-span simple beams, the moving vehicle carriage heaving oscillation modulates the beam modal frequency, but does not induce notable variation of the modal oscillation harmonic structure for the cases that vehicle of small mass moves in low speed.

This study focuses on the bending failure performance of a shield tunnel segment. A full-scale test was conducted to investigate deformation and failure characteristics. During the loading, the bending failure process can be divided into four stages: the elastic stage, working stage with cracks, failure stage, and ultimate stage. The characteristic loads between contiguous stages are the cracking, failure, and ultimate loads. A numerical model corresponding to the test was established using the elastoplastic damage constitutive model of concrete. After a comparative analysis of the simulation and test results, parametric studies were performed to discuss the influence of the reinforcement ratio and proportion of tensile longitudinal reinforcement on the bearing capacity. The results indicated that the change in the reinforcement ratio and the proportion of tensile longitudinal reinforcement had little effect on the cracking load but significantly influenced the failure and ultimate loads of the segment. It is suggested that in the reinforcement design of the subway segment, the reinforcement ratio and the proportion of tensile longitudinal reinforcement can be chosen in the range of 0.7%–1.2% and 49%–55%, respectively, allowing the segment to effectively use the reinforcement and exert the design strength, thereby improving the bearing capacity of the segment.

The moving trajectory of the pipe-jacking machine (PJM), which primarily determines the end quality of jacked tunnels, must be controlled strictly during the entire jacking process. Developing prediction models to support drivers in performing rectifications in advance can effectively avoid considerable trajectory deviations from the designed jacking axis. Hence, a gated recurrent unit (GRU)-based deep learning framework is proposed herein to dynamically predict the moving trajectory of the PJM. In this framework, operational data are first extracted from a data acquisition system; subsequently, they are preprocessed and used to establish GRU-based multivariate multistep-ahead direct prediction models. To verify the performance of the proposed framework, a case study of a large pipe-jacking project in Shanghai and comparisons with other conventional models (i.e., long short-term memory (LSTM) network and recurrent neural network (RNN)) are conducted. In addition, the effects of the activation function and input time-step length on the prediction performance of the proposed framework are investigated and discussed. The results show that the proposed framework can dynamically and precisely predict the PJM moving trajectory during the pipe-jacking process, with a minimum mean absolute error and root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.1904 and 0.5011 mm, respectively. The RMSE of the GRU-based models is lower than those of the LSTM- and RNN-based models by 21.46% and 46.40% at the maximum, respectively. The proposed framework is expected to provide an effective decision support for moving trajectory control and serve as a foundation for the application of deep learning in the automatic control of pipe jacking.

In recent years, concrete and reinforced concrete piles have been widely used to stabilize soft ground under embankments. Previous research has shown that bending failure, particularly during rapid filling on soft ground, is the critical failure mode for pile-supported embankments. Here, we propose an efficient two-stage method that combines a test-verified soil deformation mechanism and Poulos’ solution for pile–soil interaction to investigate the bending behavior of piles supporting embankments on soft ground. The results reveal that there are three possible bending failure scenarios for such piles: at the interface between the soft and firm ground layers, at mid-depths of the fan zone, and at the boundary of the soil deformation mechanism. The location of the bending failure depends on the position and relative stiffness of the given pile. Furthermore, the effect of embedding a pile into a firm ground layer on the bending behavior was investigated. When the embedded length of a pile exceeded a critical value, the bending moment at the interface between the soft and firm ground layers reached a limiting value. In addition, floating piles that are not embedded exhibit an overturning pattern of movement in the soft ground layer, and a potential failure is located in the upper part of these piles.

Model tests and numerical calculations were adopted based on the New Yuanliangshan tunnel project to investigate the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints in high-pressure and water-rich karst tunnels. A large-scale model test was designed and conducted, innovatively transforming the external water pressure of the lining construction joint into internal water pressure. The effects of the embedded position and waterstop type on the water pressure resistance of the construction joint were analyzed, and the reliability of the model test was verified via numerical calculations. The results show that using waterstops can significantly improve the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints. The water pressure resistance of the lining construction joint is positively correlated with the lining thickness and embedded depth of the waterstop. In addition, the type of waterstop significantly influences the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints. The test results show that the water pressure resistance of the embedded transverse reinforced waterstop is similar to that of the steel plate waterstop, and both have more advantages than the rubber waterstop. The water pressure resistance of the construction joint determined via numerical calculations is similar to the model test results, indicating that the model test results have high accuracy and reliability. This study provides a reference for similar projects and has wide applications.

The integrity and bearing capacity of segment joints in shield tunnels are associated closely with the mechanical properties of the joints. This study focuses on the mechanical characteristics and mechanism of a bolted circumferential joint during the entire bearing process. Simplified analytical algorithms for four stress stages are established to describe the bearing behaviors of the joint under a compressive bending load. A height adjustment coefficient, α, for the outer concrete compression zone is introduced into a simplified analytical model. Factors affecting α are determined, and the degree of influence of these factors is investigated via orthogonal numerical simulations. The numerical results show that α can be specified as approximately 0.2 for most metro shield tunnels in China. Subsequently, a case study is performed to verify the rationality of the simplified theoretical analysis for the segment joint via numerical simulations and experiments. Using the proposed simplified analytical algorithms, a parametric investigation is conducted to discuss the factors affecting the ultimate compressive bending capacity of the joint. The method for optimizing the joint flexural stiffness is clarified. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the design and prediciting the damage of bolted segment joints in shield tunnels.

The grade crossings and adjacent pavements of urban trams are generally subjected to complex load conditions and are susceptible to damage. Therefore, in this study, a novel pavement structure between tram tracks and roads constructed using polyurethane (PU) elastic concrete and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), referred to as a track-road transitional pavement (TRTP), is proposed. Subsequently, its performance and feasibility are evaluated using experimental and numerical methods. First, the mechanical properties of the PU elastic concrete are evaluated. The performance of the proposed structure is investigated using a three-dimensional finite element model, where vehicle-induced dynamic and static loads are considered. The results show that PU elastic concrete and the proposed combined TRTP are applicable and functioned as intended. Additionally, the PU elastic concrete achieved sufficient performance. The recommended width of the TRTP is approximately 50 mm. Meanwhile, the application of UHPC under a PU elastic concrete layer significantly reduces vertical deformation. Results of numerical calculations confirmed the high structural performance and feasibility of the proposed TRTP. Finally, material performance standards are recommended to provide guidance for pavement design and the construction of tram-grade crossings in the future.

Extrudability is one of the most critical factors when designing three-dimensional printable foam concrete. The extrusion process likely affects the foam stability which necessitates the investigation into surfactant properties particularly for concrete mixes with high foam contents. Although many studies have been conducted on traditional foam concrete in this context, studies on three-dimensional printed foam concrete are scarce. To address this research gap, the effects of surfactant characteristics on the stability, extrudability, and buildability of three-dimensional printed foam concrete mixes with two design densities (1000 and 1300 kg/m³) using two different surfactants and stabilizers (synthetic-based sodium lauryl sulfate stabilized with carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt, and natural-based hingot surfactant stabilized with xanthan gum) were investigated in this study. Fresh density tests were conducted before and after the extrusion to determine stability of the foam concrete. The results were then correlated with surfactant qualities, such as viscosity and surface tension, to understand the importance of key parameters in three-dimensional printing of foam concrete. Based on the experimental results, surfactant solu1tion with viscosity exceeding 5 mPa·s and surface tension lower than 31 mN/m was recommended to yield stable three-dimensional printable foam concrete mixes. Nevertheless, the volume of foam in the mix significantly affected the printability characteristics. Unlike traditional foam concrete, the variation in the stabilizer concentration and density of concrete were found to have insignificant effect on the fresh-state-characteristics (slump, slump flow, and static yield stress) and air void microstructure of the stable mixes.

A disadvantage of the conventional quasi-static test method is that it does not consider the soil restraint effect. A new method to test the seismic performance of prefabricated specimens for underground assembled structures is proposed, which can realistically reflect the strata restraint effect on the underground structure. Laboratory work combined with finite element (FE) analysis is performed in this study. Three full-scale sidewall specimens with different joint forms are designed and fabricated. Indices related to the seismic performance and damage modes are analyzed comprehensively to reveal the mechanism of the strata restraint effect on the prefabricated sidewall components. Test results show that the strata restraint effect effectively improves the energy dissipation capacity, load-bearing capacity, and the recoverability of the internal deformation of the precast sidewall components. However, the strata restraint effect reduces the ductility of the precast sidewall components and aggravates the shear and bending deformations in the core region of the connection joints. Additionally, the strata restraint effect significantly affects the seismic performance and damage mode of the prefabricated sidewall components. An FE model that can be used to conduct a seismic performance study of prefabricated specimens for underground assembled structures is proposed, and its feasibility is verified via comparison with test data.

An efficient reliability-based design optimization method for the support structures of monopile offshore wind turbines is proposed herein. First, parametric finite element analysis (FEA) models of the support structure are established by considering stochastic variables. Subsequently, a surrogate model is constructed using a radial basis function (RBF) neural network to replace the time-consuming FEA. The uncertainties of loads, material properties, key sizes of structural components, and soil properties are considered. The uncertainty of soil properties is characterized by the variabilities of the unit weight, friction angle, and elastic modulus of soil. Structure reliability is determined via Monte Carlo simulation, and five limit states are considered, i.e., structural stresses, tower top displacements, mudline rotation, buckling, and natural frequency. Based on the RBF surrogate model and particle swarm optimization algorithm, an optimal design is established to minimize the volume. Results show that the proposed method can yield an optimal design that satisfies the target reliability and that the constructed RBF surrogate model significantly improves the optimization efficiency. Furthermore, the uncertainty of soil parameters significantly affects the optimization results, and increasing the monopile diameter is a cost-effective approach to cope with the uncertainty of soil parameters.

Parallel wire strands (PWSs), which are widely used in prestressed steel structures, are typically in high-stress states. Under fire conditions, significant creep effects occur, reducing the prestress and influencing the mechanical behavior of PWSs. As there is no existing approach to analyze their creep behavior, this study experimentally investigated the elevated temperature creep model of PWSs. A charge-coupled camera system was incorporated to accurately obtain the deformation of the specimen during the elevated temperature creep test. It was concluded that the temperature level had a more significant effect on the creep strain than the stress level, and 450 °C was the key segment point where the creep rate varied significantly. By comparing the elevated temperature creep test results for PWSs and steel strands, it was found that the creep strain of PWSs was lower than that of steel strands at the same temperature and stress levels. The parameters in the general empirical formula, the Bailey–Norton model, and the composite time-hardening model were fitted based on the experimental results. By evaluating the accuracy and form of the models, the composite time-hardening model, which can simultaneously consider temperature, stress, and time, is recommended for use in the fire-resistance design of pre-tensioned structures with PWSs.

Metro shield tunnels under the lateral relaxation of soil (LRS) are susceptible to significant lateral deformations, which jeopardizes the structural safety and waterproofing. However, deformation control standards for such situations have not been clearly defined. Therefore, based on a specific case, a model test is conducted to realize the LRS of a shield tunnel in a sandy stratum to reveal its effect on segment liners. Subsequently, a deformation control criterion is established. The LRS is simulated by linearly reducing the loads applied to the lateral sides of the segment structure. During lateral unloading, the lateral earth pressure coefficient on the segment decreases almost exponentially, and the structural deformation is characterized by horizontal expansion at the arch haunches and vertical shrinkage at the arch vault and arch bottom. Based on the mechanical pattern of the segment structure and the acoustic emission, the deformation response of a segment can be classified into three stages: elastic and quasi-elastic, damage, and rapid deformation development. For a shield tunnel with a diameter of approximately 6 m and under the lateral relaxation of sandy soil, when the ellipticity of the segment is less than 2.71%, reinforcement measures are not required. However, the segment deformation must be controlled when the ellipticity is 2.71% to 3.12%; in this regard, an ellipticity of 3% can be used as a benchmark in similar engineering projects.

Conventional geotechnical software limits the use of the strength reduction method (SRM) based on the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion to analyze the slope safety factor (SF). The use of this constitutive model is impractical for predicting the behavior of all soil types. In the present study, an innovative numerical technique based on SRM was developed to determine SF using the finite element method and considering the extended Cam–clay constitutive model for clayey gravel soil as opposed to the Mohr–Coulomb model. In this regard, a novel user subroutine code was employed in ABAQUS to reduce the stabilizing forces to determine the failure surfaces and resist and drive shear stresses on a slope. After validating the proposed technique, it was employed to investigate the performance of terraced slopes in the context of a case study. The impacts of geometric parameters and different water table elevations on the SF were examined. The results indicated that an increase in the upper and lower slope heights led to a decrease in SF, and a slight increase in the horizontal offset led to an increase in the SF. Moreover, when the water table elevation was lower than the toe of the terraced slope, the SF increased because of the increase in the uplift force as a resistant component.

Seismic analysis of historical masonry bridges is important for authorities in all countries hosting such cultural heritage assets. The masonry arch bridge investigated in this study was built during the Roman period and is on the island of Rhodes, in Greece. Fifteen seismic records were considered and categorized as far-field, pulse-like near-field, and non-pulse-like near-field. The earthquake excitations were scaled to a target spectrum, and nonlinear time-history analyses were performed in the transverse direction. The performance levels were introduced based on the pushover curve, and the post-earthquake damage state of the bridge was examined. According to the results, pulse-like near-field events are more damaging than non-pulse-like near-field ground motions. Additionally the bridge is more vulnerable to far-field excitations than near-field events. Furthermore, the structure will suffer extensive post-earthquake damage and must be retrofitted.

An analytical model based on complex variable theory is proposed to investigate ground responses due to shallow tunneling in multi-layered ground with an arbitrary ground surface load. The ground layers are assumed to be linear-elastic with full-stick contact between them. To solve the proposed multi-boundary problem, a series of analytic functions is introduced to accurately express the stresses and displacements contributed by different boundaries. Based on the principle of linear-elastic superposition, the multi-boundary problem is converted into a superposition of multiple single-boundary problems. The conformal mappings of different boundaries are independent of each other, which allows the stress and displacement fields to be obtained by the sum of components from each boundary. The analytical results are validated based on numerical and in situ monitoring results. The present model is superior to the classical model for analyzing ground responses of shallow tunneling in multi-layered ground; thus, it can be used with assurance to estimate the ground movement and surface building safety of shallow tunnel constructions beneath surface buildings. Moreover, the solution for the ground stress distribution can be used to estimate the safety of a single-layer composite ground.

The seismic performance of a fully fabricated bridge is a key factor limiting its application. In this study, a fiber element model of a fabricated concrete pier with grouting sleeve-prestressed tendon composite connections was built and verified. A numerical analysis of three types of continuous girder bridges was conducted with different piers: a cast-in-place reinforced concrete pier, a grouting sleeve-fabricated pier, and a grouting sleeve-prestressed tendon composite fabricated pier. Furthermore, the seismic performance of the composite fabricated pier was investigated. The results show that the OpenSees fiber element model can successfully simulate the hysteresis behavior and failure mode of the grouted sleeve-fabricated pier. Under traditional non-near-fault ground motions, the pier top displacements of the grouting sleeve-fabricated pier and the composite fabricated pier were less than those of the cast-in-place reinforced concrete pier. The composite fabricated pier had a good self-centering capability. In addition, the plastic hinge zones of the grouting sleeve-fabricated pier and the composite fabricated pier shifted to the joint seam and upper edge of the grouting sleeve, respectively. The composite fabricated pier with optimal design parameters has good seismic performance and can be applied in high-intensity seismic areas; however, the influence of pile-soil interaction on its seismic performance should not be ignored.

Prefabricated internal structures of road tunnels, consisting of precast elements and the connections between them, provide advantages in terms of quality control and manufacturing costs. However, the limited construction space in tunnels creates challenges for on-site assembly. To identify feasible connecting joints, flexural tests of precast straight beams connected by welding-spliced or lap-spliced reinforcements embedded in normal concrete or ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) are first performed and analyzed. With an improvement in the strength grade of the closure concrete for the lap-spliced joint, the failure of the beam transforms from a brittle splitting mode to a ductile flexural mode. The beam connected by UHPFRC100 with short lap-spliced reinforcements can achieve almost equivalent mechanical performance in terms of the bearing capacity, ductility, and stiffness as the beam connected by normal concrete with welding-spliced reinforcements. This favorable solution is then applied to the connection of neighboring updeck slabs resting on columns in a double-deck tunnel. The applicability is validated by flexural tests of T-shaped joints, which, fail in a ductile fashion dominated by the ultimate bearing capacity of the precast elements, similar to the corresponding straight beam. The utilization of UHPFRC significantly reduces the required lap-splice length of reinforcements owing to its strong bonding strength.

Tunnels constructed in gas-bearing strata are affected by the potential leakage of harmful gases, such as methane gas. Based on the basic principles of computational fluid dynamics, a numerical analysis was performed to simulate the ventilation and diffusion of harmful gases in a shield tunnel, and the effect of ventilation airflow speed on the diffusion of harmful gases was evaluated. As the airflow speed increased from 1.8 to 5.4 m/s, the methane emission was diluted, and the methane accumulation was only observed in the area near the methane leakage channels. The influence of increased ventilation airflow velocity was dominant for the ventilation modes with two and four fans. In addition, laboratory tests on methane leakage through segment joints were performed. The results show that the leakage process can be divided into “rapid leakage” and “slight leakage”, depending on the leakage pressure and the state of joint deformation. Based on the numerical and experimental analysis results, a relationship between the safety level and the joint deformation is established, which can be used as guidelines for maintaining utility tunnels.

The performance of a new fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) system developed using custom-designed mortar and fabrics is investigated in this study. The behavior of this system is evaluated in terms of both the flexural and shear strengthening of reinforced concrete beams. Eight beams are designed to assess the effectiveness of the FRCM system in terms of flexural strengthening, and four specimens are designed to investigate their shear behavior. The parameters investigated for flexural strengthening are the number of layers, span/depth ratio, and the strengthening method. Unlike previous studies, custom fabrics with similar axial stiffness are used in all strengthening methods in this study. In the shear-strengthened specimens, the effects of the span/depth ratio and strengthening system type (fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) or FRCM) are investigated. The proposed FRCM system exhibits desirable flexural and shear strengthening for enhancing the load capacity, provides sufficient bonding with the substrate, and prevents premature failure modes. Considering the similar axial stiffness of fabrics used in both FRCM and FRP systems and the higher load capacity of specimens strengthened by the former, cement-based mortar performs better than epoxy.

Autogenous self-healing is the innate and fundamental repair capability of cement-based materials for healing cracks. Many researchers have investigated factors that influence autogenous healing. However, systematic research on the autogenous healing mechanism of cement-based materials is lacking. The healing process mainly involves a chemical process, including further hydration of unhydrated cement and carbonation of calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide. Hence, the autogenous healing process is influenced by the material constituents of the cement composite and the ambient environment. In this study, different factors influencing the healing process of cement-based materials were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy were used to examine the autogenous healing mechanism, and the maximum healing capacity was assessed. Furthermore, detailed theoretical analysis and quantitative detection of autogenous healing were conducted. This study provides a valuable reference for developing an improved healing technique for cement-based composites.

Sheathed post-and-beam wooden structures are distinct from light-wood structures. They allow for using sheathing panels that are smaller (0.91 m × 1.82 m) than standard-sized panels (1.22 m × 2.44 m or 2.44 m × 2.44 m). Evidence indicates that nail spacing and panel thickness determine the lateral capacity of the wood frame shear walls. To verify the lateral shear performance of wood frame shear walls with smaller panels, we subjected 13 shear walls, measuring 0.91 m in width and 2.925 m in height, to a low-cycle cyclic loading test with three kinds of nail spacing and three panel thicknesses. A nonlinear numerical simulation analysis of the wall was conducted using ABAQUS finite element (FE) software, where a custom nonlinear spring element was used to simulate the sheathing-frame connection. The results indicate that the hysteretic performance of the walls was mainly determined by the hysteretic performance of the sheathing-frame connection. When same nail specifications were adopted, the stiffness and bearing capacity of the walls were inversely related to the nail spacing and directly related to the panel thickness. The shear wall remained in the elastic stage when the drift was 1/250 rad and ductility coefficients were all greater than 2.5, which satisfied the deformation requirements of residential structures. Based on the test and FE analysis results, the shear strength of the post-and-beam wooden structures with sheathed walls was determined.

Groundwater leakage in shield tunnels poses a threat to the safety and durability of tunnel structures. Disturbance of adjacent constructions during the operation of shield tunnels frequently occurs in China, leading to deformation of tunnel lining and leakage in joints. Understanding the impact of adjacent constructions on the waterproofing performance of the lining is critical for the protection of shield tunnels. In this study, the weakening behavior of waterproof performance was investigated in the joints of shield tunnels under transverse deformation induced by adjacent construction. First, the relationship between the joint opening and transverse deformation under three typical adjacent constructions (upper loading, upper excavation, and side excavation) was investigated via elaborate numerical simulations. Subsequently, the evolution of the waterproof performance of a common gasket with a joint opening was examined by establishing a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian model of joint seepage, and a formula describing the relationship between waterproof performance and joint opening was proposed. Finally, the weakening law of waterproofing performance was investigated based on the results of the aforementioned studies. It was determined that the joints with the greatest decline in waterproof performance were located at the tunnel shoulder in the upper loading case, tunnel crown in the upper excavation case, and tunnel shoulder in the side excavation case. When the waterproof performance of these joints decreased to 50% and 30%, the transverse deformations were 60 and 90 mm under upper loading, 90 and 140 mm under upper excavation, and 45 and 70 mm under side excavation, respectively. The results provide a straightforward reference for setting a controlled deformation standard considering the waterproof performance.

To realize seismic-resilient reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frame structures, a novel self-centering RC column with a rubber layer placed at the bottom (SRRC column) is proposed herein. For the column, the longitudinal reinforcement dissipates seismic energy, the rubber layer allows the rocking of the column, and the unbonded prestressed tendon enables self-centering capacity. A refined finite element model of the SRRC column is developed, the effectiveness of which is validated based on experimental results. Results show that the SRRC column exhibits stable energy dissipation capacity and no strength degradation; additionally, it can significantly reduce permanent residual deformation and mitigate damage to concrete. Extensive parametric studies pertaining to SRRC columns have been conducted to investigate the critical factors affecting their seismic performance.