Yan Zhuge - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Yan Zhuge

Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Apr 23, 2024

Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction

There is a global shift towards circular economies, which concentrate on reducing waste, extendin... more There is a global shift towards circular economies, which concentrate on reducing waste, extending the useful life of materials or transforming wastes into another useful material. Every year, Australia generates around 2.54 million tonnes (Mt) of waste plastics, 1.16 Mt of waste glass, and 0.45 Mt of end-of-life tires. Of these about 85% of the plastic, 41% of the glass, and 24% of the tires are disposed of in either licensed or unlicensed landfills at significant financial and environmental cost. The 2021 ban on the export of mixed plastics, glass, and tires has put tremendous pressure on Australia's resource recovery sector, as around 500,000 tonnes of additional landfill waste per year must be processed onshore as a consequence. This paper discusses the technical and environmental challenges associated with these landfill wastes and determines whether they can be made or recreated into useful resources. A summary of the current initiatives in value-adding landfill waste for ...

Construction and Building Materials, 2022

Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering (Transactions of AIJ), 2010

Non intersection-type beam-to-column connection of steel moment resisting frame is proposed. This... more Non intersection-type beam-to-column connection of steel moment resisting frame is proposed. This connection is composed of rectangular hollow section column, wide flange section beam and rectangular hollow section bracket. In this connection, moment is transmitted from beam to column by torsion moment of bracket. In order to evaluate the structural performances of non intersection type beam-to-column connection, a series of experimental and analytical study is carried out. From both of experimental and analytical results, it is clarified that non intersection type connection behave stable even in the plastic region.

International Conference on Mechatronics and Machine Vision in Practice, Nov 10, 2010

At the University of Southern Queensland, a research project is being carried out to study the dy... more At the University of Southern Queensland, a research project is being carried out to study the dynamic characteristics of a new innovative fibre composite polymer (FRP) sandwich panel. As a part of the project, the natural frequency behaviour of such fibre composite sandwich beam has been investigated by experimental tests and numerical simulation. The innovative FRP sandwich panel was developed by LOC Composite Pty Ltd for civil engineering applications. The FRP sandwich beam was cut from this panel for the experimental investigation. The FRP sandwich beam is made from two FRP skins and modified phenolic core material. The experimental analysis was conducted to find the FRP sandwich beam natural frequency behaviour under different support conditions. The experimental results were then compared with the FE numerical analysis and a first order shear deformation theory was used in the modelling. In addition, the experimental results were compared with the existing analytical equations. It is found that the FE analysis showed a good agreement with the existing experimental results.

Thin-Walled Structures, 2021

Abstract A novel form of thin-walled composite beams has been developed by bonding cold-formed st... more Abstract A novel form of thin-walled composite beams has been developed by bonding cold-formed steel (CFS) and engineered cementitious composites (ECC). Apart from the superior material strength and ductility of CFS and ECC, the proposed CFS/ECC composite system also benefits from the lightweight concept of thin-walled sections and improved buckling performance due to the ECC restraints on CFS. An experimental study, utilising cold-formed steel sections with a yield strength of 450 MPa and engineered cementitious composites with an ultimate tensile strength of 7 MPa, was conducted to investigate the improvement of the innovated structural system over the traditional CFS structures. Two series of composite CFS/ECC beams, namely, short- and long-span Series, were prepared and tested to monitor the shear and flexural behaviours of the novel composite system. Three locations of thin-layered ECC; outside, inside, and in–out of the CFS section were proposed to determine the perfect composite action between ECC and CFS. The load capacity of the composite beams (ECC—in composite beams) increased to eight times those of the bare CFS members in the short-span Series and up to four times in the long-span Series. The failure modes of the novel composite beams were more ductile compared to the bare CFS. Numerical modelling was conducted and validated using the results obtained from the experimental study. This FE model was employed in a small-scale parametric study to investigate the influence of beam spans on the structural behaviour of the composite CFS/ECC beams.

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2022

Engineering Structures, 2020

Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite jackets have become a popular option for repairing deter... more Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite jackets have become a popular option for repairing deteriorated structures due to the superior characteristics of composite materials in resisting corrosion and in providing a high strength but lightweight repair system. Recently, a novel prefabricated FRP composite jacket with an easyfit and self-locking mechanical joining system was developed. This paper presents the experimental and numerical studies on the effectiveness of the FRP jacket in repairing reinforced concrete (RC) columns with simulated corrosion damage under uniaxial compressive loading. The experimental results showed that the jacket successfully stabilised and restored the axial strength capacity of the damaged concrete columns. Moreover, the results of the finite element (FE) analysis revealed that the joint of the jacket should be placed away from the damaged zone to minimise stress concentration and to effectively utilise the jacket as a repair system. Finally, a joint strength of at least 20% of the hoop tensile strength of the jacket is effective in repairing damaged structures.

Composite Structures, 2018

Confining concrete structures with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) is proven to be an efficient te... more Confining concrete structures with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) is proven to be an efficient technique in improving the dilation and axial performance of concrete columns. However, a few drawbacks of using FRP, such as brittleness of FRP sheet and poor performance of the material at high temperatures, have been found in recent years. A feasibility study of a newly developed strengthening system, basalt fibre textile reinforced engineered cementitious composite (ECC), is presented in this paper. A combination of basalt textile and ECC-based matrix was used in this research to evaluate how effectively this technique to confine concrete columns. All the specimens were tested under axial load, which was applied to the concrete cores only to create pure hoop tensile stress at the confinement layer. The experimental results revealed that ECC is a promising material that can effectively bond to textile fibres. A new confinement model was also developed to predict the compressive strength for textile reinforced ECC confined concrete. The technique could be an effective alternative to overcome the drawbacks of the traditional strengthening methods.

Construction and Building Materials, 2018

Basalt fibre textile reinforced ECC was applied to strengthen square concrete column. ECC bonded ... more Basalt fibre textile reinforced ECC was applied to strengthen square concrete column. ECC bonded well to the substrate concrete, no debonding failure was observed. ECC is more efficient as a confining material compared to the normal cement mortar. Both axial and absolute lateral strain were increased due to the use of ECC. The load carrying capacity and ductility of confined column are effectively improved.

Water e-Journal, 2021

Alum sludge is produced as a by-product of drinking water treatment processes when aluminium sulf... more Alum sludge is produced as a by-product of drinking water treatment processes when aluminium sulfate is used as a coagulant. For the last decade, sludge production has increased significantly with increasing demand for drinking water due to population growth, and a green and economic management strategy is needed for this sludge. Based on our recent studies, alum sludge is a feasible substitute to replace either sand or cement in concrete blocks, which could be an efficient way to dispose of and reuse the sludge as raw material for this concrete product. For sand replacement, oven-dried sludge may deteriorate the mechanical and durability performance of concrete blocks due to its organic content hindering the cement hydration. An advanced technology, named CO2 curing, can improve the performance of sludge-derived concrete, e.g., compressive strength and resistance to sulfate attack. Also, the CO2 curing method has benefits for recycling of the abundant CO2 in the ambient environment. For cement replacement, grinding and calcining procedures have to be applied to eliminate the organic content and activate the pozzolanic activity of sludge. The obtained results show that a maximum of 10% cement can be replaced by alum sludge ash without compromising the mechanical performance of concrete blocks. This paper gives a summary of the latest alum sludge application studied by our research team.

The use of rubber particles as partial fine aggregate replacement to produce crumb rubber concret... more The use of rubber particles as partial fine aggregate replacement to produce crumb rubber concrete (CRC) can have an adverse effect on some of its mechanical properties, such as strength. Researchers have used a range of methods to overcome the material deficiencies, however the results have often been contradictory and highly variable. In this paper, the effects of many different rubber chemical pre-treatments on CRC workability, compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength were measured. The rubber pretreatments utilized chemicals such as Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), Sulfuric acid (H2SO4), Calcium Chloride (CaCl2), Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4), Sodium Bisulfite (NaHsO3), and Silane Coupling Agent. Soaking rubber particles in tap water or running them through water before mixing were also tried as pre-treatment of rubber particles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging of some of the pre-treated rubber particles were carried out. The results showed that mixing rubber with dry cement before adding to the mix increased the compressive strength by up to 3%. Pretreatment using water was more effective than other chemicals in enhancing the CRC workability. Regardless of the treatment material type, the longer the time of the treatment the more cleaning of rubber occurred.

Construction and Building Materials, Mar 1, 2020

Present study emphasizes the recent developments in aluminium metal matrix hybrid composites whic... more Present study emphasizes the recent developments in aluminium metal matrix hybrid composites which is used widely in aerospace and automobile engineering due to low wear rate, low thermal expansion, high hardness and strength properties. Present review paper discuss over mechanical as well as tribological properties of Al-B 4 C composites fabricated through stir casting route. Aluminium metal matrix composites (AMMCs) are establishing extensive thought for realistic as well as essential reasons for tribological importance. Moreover, for superior properties in AMMCs, very limited experimental data is available because of the difficulties in the homogeneous mixing of reinforcements in composite. In this study, effect of B 4 C on Aluminium/aluminium alloy matrix has been reviewed and the future scope has been presented.

Journal of building engineering, Apr 1, 2022

Journal of Building Engineering, 2021

Engineering Structures, 2021

Abstract Rubberised concrete is an eco-friendly material with reasonable mechanical strengths for... more Abstract Rubberised concrete is an eco-friendly material with reasonable mechanical strengths for potential civil engineering applications. Recent research has proved that rubberised concrete has superior properties at high strain rates such as dynamic compressive strength, dynamic splitting tensile strength, dynamic flexural strength, impact and collision resistance, repeated and reversed cyclic loads, and seismic loads. This paper presents in depth classification and summary of over ninety published articles on rubberised concrete dynamic properties and its structural applications where the dynamic properties are dominant and high strength of concrete is not necessary. The results show that structural applications such as reinforced concrete slabs, columns, beams, and walls with rubberised concrete exhibit better performance under high velocity impact and collision, bullet resistance, and blast loads compared with traditional concrete. In addition, rubberised concrete has high sensitivity to strain loading rates, high energy dissipation and ductile performance under dynamic loads compared to traditional concrete. A significant improvement in the behaviour of structural members under cyclic and seismic loads, including ductility, energy dissipation, stiffness degradation was observed. On the other hand, the reduction in load carrying capacity is significantly smaller than the reduction in the concrete strength of rubberised concrete compared with traditional concrete.

Construction and Building Materials, 2020

Background: Immigrants from developing and middle-income countries are an emerging priority in HI... more Background: Immigrants from developing and middle-income countries are an emerging priority in HIV prevention in high-income countries. This may be explained in part by accelerating international migration and population mobility. However, it may also be due to the vulnerabilities of immigrants including social exclusion along with socioeconomic, cultural and language barriers to HIV prevention. Contemporary thinking on effective HIV prevention stresses the need for targeted approaches that adapt HIV prevention interventions according to the cultural context and population being addressed. This review of evidence sought to generate insights into targeted approaches in this emerging area of HIV prevention. Methods: We undertook a realist review to answer the research question: 'How are HIV prevention interventions in high-income countries adapted to suit immigrants' needs?' A key goal was to uncover underlying theories or mechanisms operating in behavioural HIV prevention interventions with immigrants, to uncover explanations as how and why they work (or not) for particular groups in particular contexts, and thus to refine the underlying theories. The realist review mapped seven initial mechanisms underlying culturally appropriate HIV prevention with immigrants. Evidence from intervention studies and qualitative studies found in systematic searches was then used to test and refine these seven mechanisms. Results: Thirty-four intervention studies and 40 qualitative studies contributed to the analysis and synthesis of evidence. The strongest evidence supported the role of 'consonance' mechanisms, indicating the pivotal need to incorporate cultural values into the intervention content. Moderate evidence was found to support the role of three other mechanisms-'understanding', 'specificity' and 'embeddedness'which indicated that using the language of immigrants, usually the 'mother tongue', targeting (in terms of ethnicity) and the use of settings were also critical elements in culturally appropriate HIV prevention. There was mixed evidence for the roles of 'authenticity' and 'framing' mechanisms and only partial evidence to support role of 'endorsement' mechanisms. Conclusions: This realist review contributes to the explanatory framework of behavioural HIV prevention among immigrants living in high-income countries and, in particular, builds a greater understanding of the suite of mechanisms that underpin adaptations of interventions by the cultural context and population being targeted.

Structures, 2021

Abstract This study presents a systematic investigation of the bond behaviour of rubberized concr... more Abstract This study presents a systematic investigation of the bond behaviour of rubberized concrete. The local and global bond behaviours of rubberized concrete are studied experimentally using concentric pull-out test and beam end test, respectively. The test parameters include concrete strength grade, bar embedded length, bar diameter and rubber content. In addition to the bond tests and the ancillary material property tests, six large-scale reinforced rubberized concrete beams are also tested under flexural bending to evaluate the influence of the alteration of bond behaviour owing to rubber incorporation on the flexural performance of the beams. The higher deformability of rubberized concrete compared to conventional concrete at each strength grade results in altered local and global bond behaviour, where the reduced peak bond stress and an increase in the slip at the peak bond stress are observed. The altered bond in conjunction with the other reduced mechanical properties of rubberized concrete subsequently led to a reduction in the flexural stiffness at the elastic stage and a reduction in ductility at the post-peak stage of a corresponding reinforced concrete beam containing rubber. The results of the mechanics-based and code-based models for predicting the development length for a reinforced bar in rubberized concrete indicated that the code-based model to design the anchorage length in rubberized concrete could be used with confidence.

Low-carbon Materials and Green Construction

Calcium aluminate cement (CAC)—based strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) has been dev... more Calcium aluminate cement (CAC)—based strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) has been developed and used for the rehabilitation of sewerage pipelines. In addition to well-known microbiologically induced corrosion, CO2 concentration in the sewerage environment is high, which may cause significant carbonation of pipelines. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the effects of carbonation on the mechanical performance of CAC-based SHCC. Two types of CAC-based SHCC with different strength grades and a referenced OPC-based SHCC were prepared. The accelerated carbonation test was conducted in a carbonation chamber with a 5% CO2 concentration. The compressive and tensile behaviour of SHCC was tested first, and microstructure analysis, e.g., X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, was then performed. The results showed that CAC-based SHCC specimens exhibited robust strain-hardening performance as well as large deformation capacity in tension due to the fiber-bridging effec...