Analysis of a radioactive, coated concrete core from the decommissioned, spent nuclear fuel cooling pond at the Hunterston-A nuclear site (UK) has provided a unique opportunity to study radionuclides within a real-world system. The core, obtained from a dividing wall and sampled at the fill level of the pond, exhibited radioactivity (dominantly (137)Cs and (90)Sr) heterogeneously distributed ac...

The cognitive and neural representation of abstract words is still an open question for theories of embodied cognition. Generally, it is proposed that abstract words are grounded in the activation of sensorimotor or at least experiential properties, exactly as concrete words. Further behavioral theories propose multiple representations evoked by abstract and concrete words. We conducted a funct...

Both the hardening process and formation of microstructure of concrete are significantly influenced by the curing condition. The capillary absorption of concrete is closely related to the structure and distribution of the pores within the material. This paper presents an experimental study on the influence of four curing conditions, i.e., standard curing, natural curing, water curing, and seale...

A finite element-finite difference numerical model is developed for predicting non-uniform temperature development in hydrating concrete with respect to time and space. The results obtained from this model can be used by structural and construction engineers to predict critical thermal stresses induced due to differential temperatures between the core and the surface of the concrete at early ag...

This paper explores the effects o f adding synthetic reinforcing fibres to highstrength reinforced concrete columns and in particular only to the cover o f the columns. An experimental program was conducted where seven circular reinforced concrete columns were tested with varying fibre content one contained no fibres, two contained fibres throughout the cross-section and four contained fibres o...

A comprehensive computational model to simulate the nonlinear seismic response of composite frames with rectangular concrete-filled steel tube (RCFT) beam-columns and steel girders and braces is presented in this work. A three-dimensional fiber-based distributed plasticity mixed finite element formulation is introduced. The finite element formulation of RCFT beam-columns was derived with separa...

This paper presents the development and properties assessment of braided reinforced composite rods (BCR) able to both reinforce and monitor the stress state of concrete infrastructures. The research study aims at understanding the tensile behaviour and self-monitoring ability of composite rods reinforced by a textile structure braided structure with core reinforcement for civil engineering appl...