Toward identifying the ASR-induced stresses from displacement measurements and crack observations—Demonstration on a beam bridge in Norway

Alkali–silica reaction (ASR) in concrete causes expansion and degradation of the material, which might give adverse structural consequences. From the structural engineer point view, the greatest concern is if ASR leads to loss of structural integrity. Two natural questions arise when assessing existing concrete structures affected by ASR: (1)...

Numerical investigation into the effects of corrosion on the shear performance of pretensioned bridge girders with cast-in-place slabs

Corrosion and shear cracking are frequently observed near supports of pretensioned bridge girders in coastal climates, so non-linear finite element analysis was used to study the effect of corrosion on shear performance in a real case study. Varying degrees of corrosion and various locations (top strands, bottom strands, vertical stirrups and...

Failure characteristics of reinforced concrete circular slabs subsequently subjected to fire exposure and static load: An experimental study

This study investigated the effect of fire on the ultimate load-bearing capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) slabs. The structural response of RC circular specimens subjected to static load conditions after exposure to a hydrocarbon fire on one side of the specimen was examined. Two fire exposure times were considered (60 and 120 min) in...

Load effects in reinforced concrete beam bridges affected by alkali–silica reaction—Constitutive modelling including expansion, cracking, creep and crushing

Material modelling, from the micro to the macro level, of concrete affected by alkali–silica reaction (ASR) has been devoted a lot of research. However, the application of the material models in structural analyses of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, showing the structural implications/consequences of ASR, has got little attention in the...

Material Characterization Approach for Modeling High-Strength Concrete after Cooling from Elevated Temperatures

Advanced numerical modeling of high-strength concrete (fc>60 MPa) structures designed to withstand severe thermal conditions requires detailed and reliable information on the mechanical properties of the material exposed to elevated temperatures. The only uniaxial compressive strength variation with temperature is not enough to satisfy the...

Experimental investigation on the structural response of RC slabs subjected to combined fire and blast

Reinforced concrete (RC) submerged floating tunnels (SFTs) represent a possible solution for crossing wide, deep fjords, and is considered for the E39 highway route along the Norwegian west coast. With regard to SFTs, the specific accidental scenario that is under investigation is the combined action of fire and subsequent internal explosion,...

Experimental investigation of ASR-affected concrete – The influence of uniaxial loading on the evolution of mechanical properties, expansion and damage indices

The alkali silica reaction (ASR) in concrete causes internal localized swelling and micro cracking, which result in expansion and correlated deterioration of the concrete material. The stress state of the concrete is known to affect expansion due to ASR, with an anisotropic stress state giving rise to anisotropic expansion. Similarly, the...

Analytical calculation model for predicting cracking behavior of reinforced concrete ties

This paper formulates an analytical calculation model for predicting the cracking behavior of reinforced concrete ties to provide more consistent crack width calculation methods for large-scale concrete structures in which large bar diameters and covers are used. The calculation model was derived based on the physical behavior of reinforced...

A numerical investigation of the cracking behaviour of reinforced-concrete tie elements

The cracking behaviours of reinforced-concrete (RC) ties are investigated by conducting virtual experiments using non-linear finite-element analysis. The assumptions in the model are verified by benchmarking the classical experiments of B. Bresler and V. V. Bertero as conducted in 1968 and P. J. Yannopoulos, conducted in 1989, which shows...

Inspection and assessment of corrosion in pretensioned concrete bridge girders exposed to coastal climate

The most common methods for detecting chloride-induced corrosion in concrete bridges are half-cell potential (HCP) mapping, electrical resistivity (ER) measurements, and chloride concentration testing, combined with visual inspection and cover measurements. However, studies on corrosion detection in pretensioned structures are rare. To...

Durability of pretensioned concrete girders in coastal climate bridges: Basis for better maintenance and future design

This study was based on findings from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration's Bridge Management System and field investigations on corrosion damage in pretensioned Norwegian standard I-beam (NIB) girders in 227 coastal climate bridges. The main durability design parameters are summarized and related to regulations over the last 80 years....

Modified cracked membrane model for consistent crack width predictions of reinforced concrete structures subjected to in-plane loading

The modified cracked membrane model (MCMM) presented in this paper was formulated to facilitate a mechanical calculation model that predicts crack widths in reinforced concrete (RC) structures subjected to in-plane loading for all cracking stages. It was formulated using the basic concepts of the existing cracked membrane model (CMM)....

Experimental and theoretical investigation of crack width calculation methods for RC ties

This paper theoretically and experimentally investigates the semi-empirical formulas recommended by Eurocode 2 (EC2), fib Model Code 2010 (MC2010), and Eurocode 2 with the German National Annex (DIN) for calculating crack widths in reinforced concrete. It is shown that the formulas can be derived from the principles for the idealized behavior...

Towards an integrated simulation of casting and structural performance of flowable fibre-reinforced concrete

Most recent studies on fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete agree on the impact of the casting conditions on the fibre orientation and distribution, and its consequence thereof on the structural performance. A substantial number of investigations are continuously contributing to gain experience on the use of flowable FRC for different...