Experimental Study on the Bonding Performance between Shaped Steel and High-Strength Concrete
, Weiping Pei 1, Hao Zhang 1, Yi Hu 2, Yuandi Qian 2, Yingtong Wang 1,2 and Zhengyi Kong 1,3,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors-Add more literature about steel concrete work.
-State the literature gap properly.
-Mention about the designing and testing standards used.
-Give proper references to the governing equations.
-How mesh size has been chosen? Discuss about the convergence test.
-State the conditions for defining the boundary conditions.
-You have not mentioned about how many days of casting, the concrete strength increased?
-State the applicability of the work.
- Add convergence of your results with previous research.
-Discuss about the error % between FEA and experimental analysis.
-Add some future scope.
Author Response
Reviewer #1:
Comment #1
Add more literature about steel concrete work.
Response #1
We have added more literature about steel concrete work.
Comment #2
State the literature gap properly.
Response #2
We have added more literature and stated the literature gap properly.
We have stated that “However, current studies primarily focus on the bond performance between the shape steel and reinforced concrete, overlooking the impact of high-strength concrete on the bond performance. To address this gap, this study investigates the bonding performance between the shape steel and high-strength concrete, considering various parameters such as steel fiber content, concrete strength grade, stirrup ratio, steel embedment depth, and concrete cover thickness.”
Comment #3
Mention about the designing and testing standards used.
Response #3
We have mentioned about the designing and testing standards used.
Comment #4
Give proper references to the governing equations.
Response #4
We have given proper references to the governing equations.
Comment #5
How mesh size has been chosen? Discuss about the convergence test.
Response #5
The mesh size of all specimens is set as 0.02 to achieve convergence and accuracy of the model.
Comment #6
State the conditions for defining the boundary conditions.
Response #6
We have stated the conditions for defining the boundary conditions.
We have stated that “Identical with the boundary conditions in the test, the bottom displacement of the concrete is restricted in the X, Y, and Z directions. Additionally, a 50 mm displacement is imposed at the top of the shaped steel along the Z-axis, as depicted in Figs. 7 and 8.”
Comment #7
You have not mentioned about how many days of casting, the concrete strength increased?
Response #7
We have mentioned the days of casting and added the material properties including the strength of concrete and steel.
Comment #8
State the applicability of the work.
Response #8
We have stated the applicability of the work.
We have stated that “Before the application of the conclusion in engineering structures, such as steel-concrete composite column in high-rise buildings or steel-concrete composite pier in a bridge, more specimens under different conditions, such as the durability and serviceability, should be investigated.”
Comment #9
Add convergence of your results with previous research
Response #9
We have added convergence of your results with previous research.
We have stated that “Currently, there are some models for the prediction of the bond strength between the shape steel and reinforced concrete. However, there is a limited model reflecting the influence of high-strength concrete on the bond performance.”
Comment #10
Discuss about the error % between FEA and experimental analysis.
Response #10
We have discussed about the error % between FEA and experimental analysis.
We have stated that “The error of ultimate load estimated from the finite element method is only 5.2%, 9.6%, 6.5%, and 10.2%, respectively. The small differences may be attributed by the micro defect of concrete in casting.”
Comment #11
Add some future scope.
Response #11
We have added some future scope.
We have stated that “In this work, only thirteen specimens are performed to investigate the bond strength between high-strength concrete and the shape steel, and several parameters (i.e., steel fiber volume ratio, concrete strength grade, reinforcement ratio, steel embedment depth, and cover thickness) are considered in the analysis. Before the application of the conclusion in engineering structures, such as steel-concrete composite column in high-rise buildings or steel-concrete composite pier in a bridge, more specimens under different conditions, such as the durability and serviceability, should be investigated.”
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper presents the bonding performance between the shape steel and high-strength concrete. The investigation is interesting and valuable. However, several technical issues are suggested to be addressed before the publication of the manuscript.
1. Some latest publications related to bonding performance of concrete should be included in the Introduction.
2. Some terms in this work should be consistent. For example, “steel fiber dosage” and “steel fiber volume ratio”, “displacement gauge” and “displacement meter”. Please check them carefully.
3. The size of the embedded shape steel is suggested to be provided.
4. More details of spring element for the slip between the shaped steel and concrete are suggested to be provided. Some explanation of Fig. 9 is recommended to be provided.
5. Some symbols are not defined. For example, the symbols in Fig. 9 and Eqs. (7)- (9).
6. The quality of several figures should be improved, such as Fig. 2. A sketch of the experimental setup is suggested to be provided.
7. In Fig. 8, what does “displacement set” mean?
8. The format of references should be consistent. Some format may not be in line with those in the Journal of Buildings. Please check them carefully.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Moderate editing of English language required
Author Response
Reviewer #2:
Comment #1
Some latest publications related to bonding performance of concrete should be included in the Introduction.
Response #1
We have added some latest publications related to bonding performance of concrete.
Comment #2
Some terms in this work should be consistent. For example, “steel fiber dosage” and “steel fiber volume ratio”, “displacement gauge” and “displacement meter”. Please check them carefully.
Response #2
We have check them carefully and revised them.
Comment #3
The size of the embedded shape steel is suggested to be provided.
Response #3
We have provided the size of the embedded shape steel.
Comment #4
More details of spring element for the slip between the shaped steel and concrete are suggested to be provided. Some explanation of Fig. 9 is recommended to be provided.
Response #4
We have more details of spring element for the slip between the shaped steel and concrete and provided some explanation of Fig. 9.
Comment #5
Some symbols are not defined. For example, the symbols in Fig. 9 and Eqs. (7)- (9).
Response #5
We have defined the symbols.
Comment #6
The quality of several figures should be improved, such as Fig. 2. A sketch of the experimental setup is suggested to be provided.
Response #6
We have added a sketch of the experimental setup and improved the quality of figures.
Comment #7
In Fig. 8, what does “displacement set” mean?
Response #7
“Displacement set” means displacement status of steel and concrete, and we have revised it.
Comment #8
The format of references should be consistent. Some format may not be in line with those in the Journal of Buildings. Please check them carefully.
Response #8
We have checked them and revised them to be in line with those in the Journal of Buildings.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsAll the revisions are ok.
