Modelling the structural behaviour of frost-damaged reinforced concrete structures

Abstract

A methodology is introduced to predict the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete structures with an observed amount of frost damage at a given time. It is proposed that the effects of internal frost damage and surface scaling can be modeled as changes of material and bond properties, and geometry, respectively. These effects were studied and suggestions were made to relate the compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity, as the indicators of damage, to the response of the damaged concrete in compression and tension, and to the bond behavior. The methodology was applied to concrete beams affected by internal frost damage, using non-linear finite element analyses. A comparison of the results with available experimental data indicated that the changes in failure mode and, to a rather large extent, the effect on failure load caused by internal frost damage can be predicted. However, an uncertainty was the extension and distribution of the damaged region which affected the prediction of the load capacity.

Loading to failure and 3D nonlinear FE modelling of a strengthened RC bridge

“…The basics of the method are given in fib (2008). Some examples of advanced finite element modelling of large concrete structures are given in Malm (2009), Schlune, Plos, andGylltoft (2009), Shmerling and Catbas (2010) and Hanjari, Kettil, and Lundgren (2013).…”

Development of modelling strategies for two-way RC slabs

“…Consequently, as the stressstrain relation by Thorenfeldt et al [24] has been calibrated by measurements of a compression test on 300 mm long cylinders, the softening branch needs to be modified for the concrete element size used in the FE model. Thus, the stress-strain curve according to Thorenfeldt was modified for the concrete element size as suggested by Zandi et al [25], without considering the reduction due to lateral crack; see Fig. 4 (right).…”

Numerical modelling of UHPC and TRC sandwich elements for building envelopes

“…With non-linear structural analysis at levels III -V, lowered material strengths, concrete cover spalling and deteriorated reinforcement-concrete interactions may be directly included in the FE model. Recommendations on how to take into account the effect of deterioration can be found in Zandi et al [12] for corrosion and in Zandi et al [11] for frost. No deterioration however is included in the analyses presented in this paper.…”