Civil and Structural Engineering, Engineering, Mechanics of Materials, Computational Mechanics
28
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Experimental Investigation of Wall Thickness Effect on Cold Joints in a Scaled Diaphragm Wall Model Using Fiber-Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete Rana F. Yousef, Haitham H. Muteb, Ahmed Al-Janabi Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2026 Concrete diaphragm walls are crucial structural components for permanent retaining systems and deep excavation support. The research examines how wall thickness and cold joints influence the deformation behavior of diaphragm walls. A small laboratory model with a rigidity that is comparable to the field model was used for this purpose. The scaled model was designed to preserve the relative stiffness of the field model; however, due to the slenderness of the specimens, conventional reinforcement could not be applied. Instead, polypropylene fibers were used as an effective alternative to enhance crack resistance and ensure structural integrity. Four-point bending tests were carried out under static loading conditions using a laboratory compression testing machine. The model sizes are (40, 60, 80, and 100 mm) in prismatic thickness and overall width and length (900 mm and 2600 mm), respectively. Additional tests on 60 mm walls with one and two cold joints, and on 100 mm walls with two cold joints, were compared against joint-free specimens to assess the influence of cold joints. The findings indicate that increasing wall thickness improves load-bearing capacity and reduces lateral deformation. For proposed specimens maximizing strength gains when aspect ratio ( thickness depth {{thickness} \\over {depth}} ) increase form 1 40 to 1 30 {1 \\over {40}}\\,\\,to\\,\\,{1 \\over {30}} and for increasing from 1 60 to 1 40 {1 \\over {60}}\\,\\,to\\,\\,{1 \\over {40}} deflection decreases sharply. Specimens with aspect ratio of 1 40 {1 \\over {40}} one and two joints reduced ultimate load by about 3% and 15%, respectively, while at 1 24 {1 \\over {24}} two joints caused a 10% reduction. Thinner walls proved more flexible and thus more sensitive to joint-induced weaknesses.
Experimental Study of Cold Joint Performance in a Scaled Fiber-Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete Diaphragm Wall Model Using: Effects of Geometric Profiles and Chemical Treatments Rana F. Yousef, Haitham H. Muteb, Ahmed Al-JanabI Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2026 This study investigates the influence of longitudinal cold joints on the structural performance of self-compacting concrete diaphragm walls reinforced with polypropylene fibers. Experimental quasi-static four-point bending tests were conducted on eight small-scale specimens (60 * 900 * 2600)mm to evaluate various joint configurations: flat (reference), keyed, trapezoidal, triangular, and semi-circular geometries, alongside chemical treatments (epoxy bonding) and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) shear pocket retrofitting. The instrumentation strategy utilized five strategically positioned strain gauges and a mid-span LVDT to capture localized deformation patterns at the interface and monitor vertical deflection. This setup enabled a comprehensive analysis of stiffness, ductility, and post-cracking response, providing insights into how interfacial treatments alter failure modes compared to the control. Results demonstrate that joint geometry and chemical treatments fundamentally redefine load-transfer mechanisms. The UHPC-filled shear pockets achieved the most significant performance enhancement, yielding a 29% increase in ultimate load through high-strength dowel action and the activation of a compression strut mechanism. Geometrically, triangular profiles maximized load capacity by 40% but exhibited brittle failure, whereas semi-circular joints provided superior ductility and optimized stress distribution via a hinge-like response. Furthermore, epoxy bonding enhanced interfacial shear resistance while preserving yield characteristics. The findings highlight a critical trade-off between strength and ductility; specifically, trapezoidal and keyed joints effectively restricted transverse dilation. Ultimately, advanced configurations (UHPC and semi-circular) ensured structural continuity by shielding the central wall region and inhibiting crack propagation from lateral panels.
Design and Analysis of a Double Composite Truss Girder for Long Span Bridges Using Perfobond Leiste Jaafar J. Saleem, Redvan Ghasemlounia, Haitham H. Muteb Engineering Technology and Applied Science Research, 2025 This research investigates the behavior and analyzes the response of a Double Composite Truss Girder (DCTG) under increasing static load, in comparison to a Single Composite Truss Girder (SCTG) under the same conditions. The benefits of a composite structure are demonstrated, namely its ability to produce a lightweight girder suitable for bridge superstructures, especially in long continuous spans with the idea of converting the concrete web to steel truss. The present study also aims to increase the girder’s ability to resist high hogging moments in the negative moment regions. The experimental work involved the fabrication and testing of eight composite truss girder specimens with constant dimensions of 2620 mm x 350 mm x 400 mm of steel warren truss girder under two-point static load. A validation study was conducted using numerical analysis methods along with the Abaqus software program to simulate the eight models. Perfobond Leiste (PRL) shear connectors were deployed and the slip ratio, deflection ratio, girder strength, and stress–strain relationship results for each sample were presented.
The Impact of Construction Structure Material on the Dynamic Response of Railway Bridges under Passing of High-speed Trains Ahmed Mohammed Abd Al-Mohsen, Haitham Hassan. Muteb Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 2024 With the development of life and its requirements increasing, it has become necessary to find means that reduce the time to meet them, and one of these means is high-speed trains. Many previous studies have dealt with different properties affecting the dynamic behavior of railway bridges. In this research, the effect of changing the structural material of part of the main bridge structure on its dynamic behavior were be studied. Two types of bridges were studied. The first is the steel-girder bridge, and the second is the polygonal concrete bridge. The bridge modeling was done through the program SAP2000 and the structural analysis of the study model was done by using the finite element method. Material and mechanical properties from laboratory experiments were used for previous studies. The results for the two dynamic behavior parameters that were tested showed larger values in the polygonal model of the bridge. It increases in the steel beam model by 59% for vertical displacement and by 45% for vertical acceleration. The vertical displacement values were within the limits of the international standard L/600, and the vertical acceleration was within the limits of the European standard 3.5 g. The best design for each speed should be determined by conducting more study, which should include testing models at various speeds.
Evaluation of mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls for different soil–structure interaction methods: A review Mayadah W. Falah, Haitham Hassan Muteb Open Engineering, 2024 The method for soil preservation has been completely revolutionized thanks to internally reinforced walls. Although such walls have gained significant awareness in many parts of the globe, this construction technique has only been extensively utilized lately. The primary reason may be that the costs associated with constructing such walls are likely higher than those associated with constructing conventional externally reinforced walls. The construction methods involved may be excessively time demanding. The term “mechanically stabilized Earth systems” refers to an internally stabilized fill structure that is made up of an unreinforced concrete levelling pad, precast concrete face panel units and coping units, selected granular backfill (reinforced backfill), a subsurface drainage system, and reinforcing elements (high-strength, metallic, or polymeric inclusions) to create a reinforced soil mass which is utilized to stabilize the backfill. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical overview of the mechanically stabilized Earth retaining walls by focusing on the necessary aspects required for their design, as well as to discuss how the change of the characteristics of the soil influences lateral displacements and stress responses that occur under various ground movements. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that the dynamic behaviour of the cantilever wall is very sensitive to the frequency characteristics of the seismic record and the interaction between the soil and the structure.
Experimental evaluation of bond strength performance between normal concrete substrate and different overlay materials Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 2020
