A new dynamic neutralisation system for lumbar spine segments has been developed and tested on four cadaveric lumbar spines. Segments L4/5 (3 cases) and L3/4 (1 case) were tested on a new lumbar spine simulator which allowed the simultaneous application of bending moments, compressive and shear loads. The average applied loads were 18.3 Nm flexion moment, 2296 N compressive and 458 N anterior shear load for flexion, and 12.5 Nm extension moment, 667 N compressive and 74 N posterior shear load for extension. The relative motion of the upper vertebra in respect to the lower vertebra was measured with the three-dimensional FASTRAK system, using an advanced computer software. The endplate centres as well as the centre of the screw heads were taken as reference points, identified by orthogonally taken radiographs. The dynamic neutralisation system described reduces bending angles and horizontal translations, but it expands vertical translations. The bulging of the posterior annulus is also reduced.

This paper provides an overview of serviceability specifications given by the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 (fib MC2010 [1]). First, the reasons behind crack control and deflection control are discussed, then specific design rules are provided. Simple rules as well as detailed models are also presented. Numerical examples are provided in order to assist in the application of the design recommendations for crack control and deflection control (reinforced and prestressed concrete elements).Simple rules mean indirect control of cracking or deflections without calculations. Indirect crack control may include limitation of stresses and selection of maximum bar diameter or maximum bar spacing. Indirect deflection control normally means limiting the span‐to‐depth ratio.Detailed models are based on physical and mathematical approaches to cracking and deflections. The design crack width is expressed as the maximum bond transfer length multiplied by the mean strain between cracks. Deflection analysis can be provided by integrating curvatures or by using a simplified or refined method. Vibrations and numerical modelling of cracking are also briefly discussed.

This study analyzes the feasibility of using steel-concrete bond tests for determining the compressive strength of concrete in order to use it as a complement in the quality control of reinforced concrete. Lorrain and Barbosa (2008) 14] and Lorrain et al. (2011) 15] justify the use of a modified bond test, termed APULOT, to estimate the compressive strength of concrete, hence increasing the possibilities for the technological control of reinforced concrete for constructions. They propose an adaptation of the traditional pull-out test (POT) method, standardized by the CEB / FIP RC6: 1983 8], because it is a low complexity and low cost test. To enable the use of the APULOT test as a technological control test of concrete at construction sites requires determining its methodology and adapting the experimental laboratory practice to the construction itself. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of conducting compressive strength estimates using bond stress data obtained by the traditional pull-out tests (POT). Thus, two concrete compositions of different classes were tested at 3, 7 and 28 days. Ribbed bar specimens (nominal diameters of 8, 10 and 12.5 mm) were also used in the preparation stage, totaling 108 POT tests. The results show that the correlation between the maximum bond stress and the compressive strength of concrete is satisfactory in predetermined cases, at all ages tested, reinforcing the purpose of consolidating this test as a complementary alternative to control the quality of reinforced concrete. In the second part of this paper the test results obtained with the APULOT method are presented and discussed.

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Quality control of structural concrete has been conducted for several decades based mainly on the results of axial compression tests. This kind of test, although widely used, is not exempt from errors and has some considerable drawbacks that may affect its reliability, such as the need for appropriate and careful specimen conditioning and adoption of adequate capping techniques. For these reasons, it would be useful to have complementary or alternative ways to check compressive strength, in order to improve concrete quality control. The use of a bond test to monitor concrete strength is being proposed by an international group of researchers from France, Tunisia and Brazil as a potential means to this end. Given the fact that the link between bond resistance and concrete strength is already well established, this type of test seems to be a viable alternative to traditional methods. Nonetheless, to check if the underlying principle is sound when used in different circumstances, the group has been gathering data from several studies conducted by different researchers in various countries, with distinct concretes and rebar types. An analysis of the data collected shows that there is a clear and strong correlation between bond resistance and compressive strength, no matter the influence of other variables. This result validates the basic idea of using an Appropriate Pull-Out (APULOT) bond test to assess concrete strength. If the general principle is valid for random data obtained from different studies, the definition of a clear and appropriate test will probably lead to the reduction of experimental noise and increase the precision of the strength estimates obtained using this method.Keywords: bond stress, concrete compressive strength, quality control of concrete, pull-out test.O controle de qualidade do concreto estrutural vem sendo realizado, há várias décadas, baseado principalmente nos resultados de ensaios de compressão axial. Este tipo de ensaio, embora amplamente utilizado, não está isento de erros e tem algumas desvantagens consideráveis que podem afetar sua confiabilidade, tais como a necessidade de condicionamento adequado e cuidadoso dos corpos-de-prova e de adoção de adequadas técnicas de nivelamento e capeamento. Por estas razões, seria útil ter maneiras complementares ou alternativas para verificar a resistência à compressão, a fim de melhorar o processo de controle de qualidade do concreto. O uso de um ensaio de arrancamento para monitorar a resistência do concreto está sendo proposto por um consósrcio internacional de pesquisadores da França, Tunísia e Brasil como um meio potencial de atingir essa meta. Dado que a existência de uma relação direta entre a tensão de aderência e a resistência do concreto já está bem estabelecida, este tipo de teste parece ser uma alternativa viável aos métodos tradicionais. No entanto, para verificar se o princípio subjacente é valido quando usado em diferentes circunstâncias, o grupo tem buscado recolher dados de vários estudos, realizados por diferentes pesquisadore...

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The bond between steel and concrete is essential for the existence of reinforced concrete structures, as both materials act together to absorb structural strain. The bond phenomenon is considered to be complex regarding many factors that affect it. Several types of bond tests have been proposed over years. One is the modified proposed of pull-out test, which was elaborated by Lorrain and Barbosa [1] called APULOT test (Appropriete pull-out-test). Based on experimental results obtained by Vale Silva[2] either by conventional pull-out tests, or by modified pull-out test, APULOT, seeks to know the numeric behavior of bond steel-concrete through a numerical simulation using a calculation code ATENA which is based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). The numerical simulation provided better evaluate the stress distribution and cracking that occurs during the test, thereby becoming a valuable tool to support the experimental project that aims to validation, validation partially or not recommend the modified bond test steel-concrete -APULOT test -as quality control test of structural concrete. The numerical results showed good representation compared to experimental results.Keywords: bond steel-concrete, numerical analysis, pull-out, APULOT, pull-out test.A aderência entre o aço e o concreto é fundamental para a existência das estruturas de concreto armado, uma vez que os dois materiais atuam em conjunto para absorver os esforços solicitantes. O fenômeno da aderência é considerado complexo no que se refere aos vários fatores que o influenciam. Vários tipos de ensaios de aderência foram propostos ao longo dos anos. Um deles é a proposta modificada do ensaio de arrancamento pull-out-test, que foi elaborada por Lorrain e Barbosa [1] denominado de ensaio APULOT (Appropriete Pull-Out-Test). Com base nos resultados experimentais obtidos por Vale Silva [2] para os ensaios pull-out convencionais e para o ensaio pull-out modificado, APULOT, procura-se conhecer o comportamento numérico da aderência aço-concreto através de uma simulação numérica utilizando um código de cálculo chamado ATENA que é baseado no Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF). A simulação numérica permitiu melhor avaliar a fissuração e a distribuição de tensões que ocorre durante o ensaio de arrancamento, tornando-se com isso, uma ferramenta de apoio preciosa ao projeto experimental que visa à validação, validação parcial, ou não recomendação do ensaio de aderência aço-concreto modificado -Ensaio APULOT -como ensaio de controle de qualidade do concreto armado. Os resultados numéricos obtidos apresentaram boa representatividade quando comparados aos resultados experimentais.Palavras-chave: aderência aço-concreto, análise numérica, pull-out, APULOT, ensaio de arrancamento.