Thermal shrinkage cracking in steel fibre reinforced underwater concrete floors: A probabilistic finite element approach

This thesis explores a suitable method and appropriate input to determine the failure probability of thermal shrinkage cracking in a steel fibre-reinforced underwater concrete floor by examining the factors that influence this failure probability.<br/><br/>An underwater concrete (UWC) floor is a common construction type in the Netherlands that...

Analysis of Single and Group Micropile Behavior: The Bearing Capacity of Single Pile and Pile Groups under Axial Tensile Loading using FEM

This thesis investigates the behavior of single and group micro piles under axial tensile loading. Micro piles are small diameter piles consist of grout and steel rebar and they are capable of absorbing tensile loads. By constructing a group of piles the bearing capacity of each pile within a group is less compared to the single pile. The reason...

Fatigue assessment in finite element analysis: A post-processor to FEA output for hot spot stress calculation

For the fatigue assessment of welded structures, several design methods are described by the design codes of IIW, Eurocode3 and DNV. The relation between the stress range and cycles to failures were derived from experiments: the SN curves. With the increased accessibility of finite element software to engineers, a more flexible approach emerged:...

Calculation Methods for Steel Joints: Comparative Study of European Design Regulations and Partial Finite Element Analyses

Traditionally, steel joints are calculated by the calculation rules described in the Eurocode 3: NEN-EN 1993-1-8. Effective lengths are important parameters to determine the different resistances of the components in the steel joint. Finite Element Analyses (FEA)...

Homogeneous Orthotropic Masonry Material Model: Research, development and implementation for explicit analysis

The Groningen region, in the Netherlands, experiences earthquakes since 1986. These earthquakes are new to the region and the structures built there are not designed for it. Therefore, they pose a great risk for the historical structures and people living in the area. Most of the buildings there are built using masonry and to analyze such...

Dwarskrachtsterkte van verticaal voorgespannen tandopleggingen / Shear capacity of vertically prestressed half joints

The application of prefabricated and usually prestressed concrete elements has increased since mid-20th century. These elements are at the point of reaching the end of their life span, are subjected to damages or a change in functionality. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their structural safety. In many cases, existing structures do not...

Numerical modeling of dam-reservoir interaction seismic response using the Hybrid Frequency–Time Domain (HFTD) method

The research work studies the fundamentals of the Hybrid Frequency-Time Domain (HFTD) method for dynamic analysis of structures, applied to the seismic analysis of dam-reservoir interaction systems. The theoretical consistency and accuracy of the HFTD method, based on the frequency domain Fourier analysis, is demonstrated through all the parts...

Feasibility study on fiber reinforced polymer cylindrical truss bridges for heavy traffic

Considering the recent increase in the use of fiber reinforced polymers in the civil engineering industry in general and in the bridge engineering industry in particular, as well as the recently more and more applied cylindrical truss bridge type, this research focuses on the question whether it is possible to combine fiber reinforced polymers...

Three-dimensional numerical analysis of tunnelling induced damage: The influence of masonry building geometry and location

Recent tunnelling projects have received a great amount of media attention due to settlement induced damage. Due to the simplified approach of existing risk assessment methods, a new assessment system is in development, which can account for three-dimensional structural aspects of buildings. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence...