Journal of Science and Technology in Civil Engineering (JSTCE) - HUCE

Editorial Board — 2026-03-25

Verification of large-diameter bored pile performance using full-scale static loading tests: A case study of the Anhsin bridge foundation of the Taipei MRT

Tai-Yi Liu — 2026-03-25

Full-scale pile static loading tests provide reliable field verification for large-diameter bored piles supporting long-span bridge structures subjected to extreme axial loads. This study presents a full-scale static loading test conducted for the foundation of the Anhsin Bridge in the Ankeng Light Rail MRT System, New Taipei City, Taiwan. The adoption of an asymmetrical cable-stayed truss-frame system resulted in exceptionally high axial forces concentrated on the main pylon foundation, requiring verification beyond conventional analytical design methods. A 2.0 m diameter cast-in-place bored pile was tested using a hydraulic loading system capable of applying a maximum axial load of 2,881 tons, exceeding both service-level and seismic design demands. The measured load–settlement response was smooth and progressive, with a maximum settlement of 16.67 mm at peak load and a residual settlement of 3.52 mm after unloading, indicating predominantly elastic pile–soil behavior and a safety factor greater than three with respect to service loading. The test results confirm the adequacy and robustness of the foundation design. From a sustainability perspective, the field verification reduced design uncertainty and avoided unnecessary overdesign, thereby supporting efficient material utilization and long-term structural reliability. The findings provide a practical engineering reference for foundation verification in long-span metro bridges subjected to extreme axial loads.

Seismic strengthening of RC bridge piers with high-performance cementitious jacketing: A comprehensive review, recommendations and a precast HPC-FRP grid jacket proposal

Doan Cong Chanh — 2026-03-25

This paper reviews high-performance cementitious jacketing for reinforced-concrete (RC) bridge piers under seismic loads. Specifically, the review (i) combines experimental and numerical evidence from monotonic, cyclic, and shaking-table studies; (ii) discusses the key mechanisms such as confinement, crack control, and shear transfer at the interface; and (iii) offers practical advice on jacket height and thickness, splice and plastichinge details, and construction in tight spaces. The literature shows that high-performance concrete (HPC) systems, which include ultra-high-performance concrete and ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPC/UHPFRC), generally boost lateral strength, drift capacity, and energy dissipation. Thin jackets can also enhance crack control and durability, which helps limit section enlargement, added weight, and foundation demand. They can also support staged construction while traffic remains active. Several key issues persist, including the reliability of jacket-core bonding, field placement and curing, multi-hazard durability (like chlorides, fatigue, and thermal/fire exposure), and the balance between cost and sustainability. To tackle these challenges, the paper highlights hybrid concepts where HPC/UHPC shells use FRP grids to combine compressive and shear strength with tensile crack-bridging and protection from the environment. Expanding on this idea, a precast HPC permanent-formwork jacket with embedded FRP grids and pressure-grouted infill is proposed. This aims to improve the quality of the interface while reducing thickness and shortening closure time compared to cast-in-place jacketing. The paper wraps up with recommendations for further research on interface modeling, long term durability data, performance-based optimization, life-cycle assessment, and design guidelines for practical use.

Dual effect of fly ash on the corrosion resistance of lateral reinforcement and the stress-strain curve of confined concrete

Dung Xuan Le — 2026-03-25

This paper investigates the dual effect of fly ash on the corrosion resistance of lateral reinforcement and stressstrain behavior of confined concrete in reinforced concrete (RC) columns. Twelve columns (150 mm by 150
mm cross-section and 600 mm in height), including four plain (Group 1) and eight RC columns (Groups 2 and
3) were cast with varying fly ash replacement proportions (0%, 10%, 20% and 40%) by weight of ordinary
Portland cement (OPC). Lateral reinforcements of Group 2 and 3 were subjected to induce corrosion by an anodic impressed voltage of 3V DC and 6V DC respectively for around 460 hours (19 days). All columns were
then tested, and the lateral reinforcement was retrieved to obtain the degree of corrosion. The test results show
that the corrosion resistance of the lateral reinforcement was improved significantly when fly ash was used to
replace OPC. The corrosion current density passing through lateral reinforcement reduced by more than 80%
when 40% of fly ash was used to replace OPC. Under accelerated corrosion, fly ash increases the confinement
effect of lateral reinforcement resulting in improvements to the peak stress, corresponding strain at peak stress
and ductility of confined concrete. The best improvement in the stress-strain response of confined concrete was
when fly ash was used to replace OPC at a proportion of less than 20%. The observed increases were around
10% for peak stress and 92% for strain at peak stress.

Study on treatment of human waste using co-composting with agricultural waste toward to resource recovery

Do Hong Anh — 2026-03-25

According to World Health Organization guidelines, human waste needs to be composted for 1–2 years before being reused. In Vietnam’s climatic conditions, along with the custom of adding fillers (lime, ash, etc.), the Ministry of Health has a requirement for hygienic latrines that human feces should be composted for at least 6 months to destroy pathogens before agriculture uses. In fact, not only in areas specializing in growing vegetables and crops, but also in rice growing areas, the above incubation period is not followed, so the risk of exposure is very high. This study evaluates the co-composting of waste from dry latrines using mixing methods to optimize decomposition and pathogen die-off. To shorten the composting time while still ensuring the safe reuse of excreta in agriculture, the study on the aerobic composting model combined with mixing waste from latrines with agricultural waste was taken place and shown that after 4 months of composting, the composted material is obtained, ensuring hygiene and safety according to the instructions in Circular 41/2014/TT-BNNPTNT on Regulations on main quality indicators and limiting factors in organic fertilizers and other fertilizers, reduced the required time by 2 months as recommended by the MOH and 8 months by the WHO.

Mechanical and thermal buckling analysis of functionally graded sandwich beams with foam core using different beam theories

Duc-Kien Thai — 2026-03-25

Using various beam theories, this study investigates the buckling of sandwich beams with functionally graded faces and a foam core subjected to either thermal or mechanical loading. The mechanical properties of materials constituting the sandwich beams are tailored to vary smoothly from the bottom to the top surfaces. For thermal buckling, three typical types of temperature distribution are considered: uniform, linear, and nonlinear temperature distributions. The minimum potential energy is employed to derive the governing equations and the trigonometric admissible functions-based Ritz method is adopted to discretize these equations for the approximate solution. A convergence study is performed to determine the appropriate number of terms in the admissible functions. Comparison studies are conducted to validate the results of the current study. In addition, the effects of beam theories, material distribution, slenderness ratio, temperature distributions, porosity coefficient, boundary conditions, and layer thickness ratio on the buckling of the beams are examined. Numerical results reveal that beam theories have a significant influence on the buckling behavior of sandwich beams with a foam core.

A Ritz solution for comprehensive analysis of functionally graded beams with various boundary conditions

Ngoc-Duong Nguyen — 2026-03-25

The present study applies a Ritz solution that employs Laguerre polynomials to comprehensively analyse functionally graded beams characterised by varying material properties across their thickness. The material distribution within the beams follows a power-law relationship, indicating a continuous variation in the material distribution throughout the beams. Furthermore, the beam displacement is established using the higher-order shear deformation theory, and the governing equation is formulated based on the Lagrange equation. Various typical boundary conditions, including clamped-clamped, clamped-simply supported, clamped-free, and simply-supported, are considered. The proposed method is validated through numerical simulations, shedding light on the influence of boundary conditions, power-law exponents, and slenderness on the buckling, free vibration, and bending behaviours of functionally graded beams.

AI-based estimation of vehicle dwell time at signalized intersections in motorcycle-dominated mixed traffic environment: A case study in Hanoi

Tam Vu — 2026-03-25

This study addresses the critical challenge of accurately measuring vehicle dwell times at signalized intersections characterized by motorcycle-dominated traffic flows, a common yet understudied scenario in many Southeast Asian urban centers. We propose a novel computer vision framework that integrates YOLOv8-based vehicle detection with an innovative tracking approach utilizing the H20 reference point to replace conventional centroid-based methods. This strategic reference point selection demonstrates enhanced stability against
common challenges in mixed traffic environments, including partial occlusions, and perspective distortions inherent in surveillance camera setups. Applied to a comprehensive case study at the Nguyen Trai – Nguyen Van
Loc intersection in Hanoi, Vietnam. Our area-based dwell time measurement algorithm successfully captured
stopping durations by combining velocity thresholding with geometric analysis of vehicle trajectories within
a precisely defined monitoring zone. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves significantly higher accuracy compared to conventional centroid-based approaches, with the mean absolute error reduced to approximately 2–3 seconds across all vehicle classes. These findings offer transportation authorities in developing countries an automated, scalable solution for intersection performance analysis, enabling data-driven traffic management decisions and supporting the optimization of signal timing plans for heterogeneous traffic conditions characterized by high motorcycle dominance. The method compatibility with existing surveillance infrastructure further enhances its potential for practical implementation in urban traffic monitoring systems.

Axial performance of UHPC-filled steel tube composite columns

Hoang Hieu Nghia — 2026-03-24

This study presents a comprehensive finite element investigation into the axial compressive performance of Ultra High Performance Concrete-filled steel tube (UHPC-FST) composite columns. A numerical model is developed using ABAQUS, incorporating nonlinear constitutive models for both steel and UHPC materials. The model is validated using experimental data, demonstrating a strong correlation in terms of load-displacement behavior and ultimate strength. Extensive studies are conducted to evaluate the influence of key design parameters on the axial capacity of UHPC-FST columns. Increasing the steel yield strength from 450 MPa to 750 MPa led to a 1.21-fold increase in axial load capacity. Similarly, raising the UHPC compressive strength from 110 MPa to 190 MPa enhanced the capacity by approximately 1.43 times. A twofold increase in the thickness of the steel tube yielded a modest improvement of about 1.15 times. In contrast, changing the column diameter from 400 mm to 600 mm had the most significant effect, resulting in a 1.97-fold increase in axial capacity. The study also investigates the stress distribution, confirming that the UHPC core and steel shell act synergistically to delay local buckling and failure. The findings demonstrate the significant potential of UHPC-FST composite columns for high-performance structural applications and provide useful insights for future design guidelines.