Nonlinear structural analysis as an assessment tool for existing concrete structures

Damage functions for the vulnerability assessment of masonry buildings subjected to tunneling

This paper describes a new framework for the assessment of potential damage caused by tunneling-induced settlement to surface masonry buildings. Finite element models in two and three dimensions, validated through comparison with experimental results and field observations, are used to investigate the main factors governing the structural...

Concrete ice abrasion rig and wear measurements

The wear of concrete material due to ice movement is a challenge for offshore and coastal structures. Concrete surfaces exposed to moving ice are subjected to wear at various rates depending on concrete and ice properties. At NTNU, Department of Structural Engineering, concrete ice abrasion phenomena are studied both theoretically and...

Large scale non-linear finite element analyses of reinforced concrete structures

Due to practical and economic reasons the design of complex concrete structures is often based on linear FEA with rather large elements. The inelastic behavior of reinforced concrete can lead to significant load redistributions which can only be predicted using non-linear FEA (NLFEA). This work aims at developing a method for performing large...

Structural modelling of ASR-affected concrete: The approach developed in the PAT-ASR project

The Alkali-Silica Reaction is a harmful reaction which can compromise the integrity and capacity of concrete structures. Due to its nature, a multiscale material model has been chosen to perform structural analyses. The model aims to couple the chemical and mechanical effects in order to characterize the affected concrete into the structures,...

Multiscale material model for asr-affected concrete structures

One of the most harmful degradation process for concrete structures is the alkali-silica reaction. This process starts at aggregate level with a gel swelling and can produce damage up to macro level, by compromising the integrity and capacity of the structure. In order to better understand the complex nature of this phenomenon, a multiscale...

C¹ - continuous crack propagation for mixed-mode fracture problems

Non-Linear Finite Element Analyses of Existing Reinforced Concrete Bridge Beams

Three years ago, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment initiated a project to re-evaluate the carrying capacity of existing bridges and viaducts (e.g. reinforced and pre-stressed concrete beams and slabs). Due to the increase of traffic and the reallocation of emergency lanes to traffic lanes, the safety verification of some...

3D numerical analysis of tunnelling induced damage: The influence of the alignment of a masonry building with the tunnel axis

The development of infrastructure in major cities often involves tunnelling, which can cause damage to existing structures. Therefore, these projects require a careful prediction of the risk of settlement induced damage. The simplified approach of current methods cannot account for three-dimensional structural aspects of buildings, which can...

A testing preocedure for the evaluation of directional mesh bias

This paper presents a dedicated numerical test that enables to assess the directional mesh bias of constitutive models in a systematic way. The test makes use of periodic boundary conditions, by which strain localization can be analyzed for different mesh alignments with preservation of mesh uniformity and with exclusion of boundary disturbances...

Nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete slabs: Comparison of safety formats

According to the new fib Model Code 2010 the design shear resistance of a reinforced concrete (RC) structure can be evaluated through analytical and numerical calculation methods that fall into four different levels of approximations; the complexity and the accuracy of the calculated shear resistance increases with increasing the level of...

Photogrammetric measurements of the experimental analysis of a masonry façade subject to tunnelling-induced settlement

Degradation of the mechanical properties in ASR-affected concrete: Overview and modeling

The Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) can generate harmful effects in the concrete structures. In this paper the degradation of the mechanical properties of ASR-affected concrete is studied by comparing the experimental results available in literature. An overview of the macroscopic material modelling approaches related to this aspect is given....

A review of ASR modeling approaches for finite element analysis of dams and bridges

In this paper the anisotropic behavior of ASR swelling is simulated through a 1D smeared crack model. The choice of the engineering properties is discussed, in particular for the evolution of the tensile strength and the Young’s modulus during the swelling. The last one is used as the main indicator for ASRrelated damage. The model is hampered...

Vulnerability assessment of buildings subject to tunnel-induced settlements: The influence of orientation and position of the building

A tool for concrete performance assessment for ASR affected structures: An outlook

This paper outlines a project (namely PAT-ASR) which entails the development of a multi scale material performance assessment model on simulation of alkali silica reaction deployment and its effects on concrete durability. Performance models require a multi scale approach from micro (namely reaction chemistry) to macro level studies (namely...

Coupled analysis of building damage due to tunneling

Excavation works in urban areas require a preliminary risk damage assessment. In historical cities, the prediction of building response to settlements is necessary to reduce the risk of damage of the architectural heritage. The current method used to predict the building damage due to ground deformations is the Limiting Tensile Strain Method ...