D.A. Hordijk
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52 records found
1
As an important aspect in the asset management of the existing concrete bridges, a proper evaluation of the conditions of the concrete, especially the width and the distribution of cracks in the concrete structure turns out to be rather important. Conventional approaches usually require onsite investigations and are labour intensive. On the other hand, it has been recognized since long time that the elastic wave transfer properties through solid can reflect the change of properties inside the material. Smart Aggregate (SA) is a newly developed ultrasonic sensor based on this effect. Casted into the target structures, these sensors make it possible to detect the change of ultrasonic wave transfer properties and evaluate the damages of the structures from the inside. This paper presents a structure condition assessment strategy by making use of SA grid through a lab test on a scaled specimen.
An experimental study was performed aiming to investigate the cracking behaviour of reinforced concrete beams enhanced with SHCC layers in the beam tension zone (hybrid SHCC - concrete beams). Specimens with SHCC layers of different thickness were tested. The hybrid SHCC/concrete beams were compared to regular reinforced concrete (control) beams with the same dimensions and rebar position. Specimens were tested in four-point bending while Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and an image analysis software package (ImageJ) were used to evaluate crack pattern development and crack widths. In the experiments, hybrid beams showed better cracking behaviour compared to control beams, whereas also a higher bending moment capacity was found. The thicker the SHCC layer, the higher the load capacity is. More importantly for the aim of this study, composite beams with a 70 mm SHCC layer showed a better crack width control compared to the reference beams. The maximum crack width exceeded 0.3 mm at approximately 64 kN load, whereas in the control beam it exceeded 0.3 mm at 35 kN load. In hybrid beams with a 30 mm SHCC layer, the benefits were much lower, as expected.
The study indicates that by using a combination of conventional concrete and advanced concrete (SHCC in this case), possibly optimal design of reinforced concrete structures could be achieved by eliminating the crack width as governing design parameter and thus saving on reinforcement needed for crack width control. ...
An experimental study was performed aiming to investigate the cracking behaviour of reinforced concrete beams enhanced with SHCC layers in the beam tension zone (hybrid SHCC - concrete beams). Specimens with SHCC layers of different thickness were tested. The hybrid SHCC/concrete beams were compared to regular reinforced concrete (control) beams with the same dimensions and rebar position. Specimens were tested in four-point bending while Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and an image analysis software package (ImageJ) were used to evaluate crack pattern development and crack widths. In the experiments, hybrid beams showed better cracking behaviour compared to control beams, whereas also a higher bending moment capacity was found. The thicker the SHCC layer, the higher the load capacity is. More importantly for the aim of this study, composite beams with a 70 mm SHCC layer showed a better crack width control compared to the reference beams. The maximum crack width exceeded 0.3 mm at approximately 64 kN load, whereas in the control beam it exceeded 0.3 mm at 35 kN load. In hybrid beams with a 30 mm SHCC layer, the benefits were much lower, as expected.
The study indicates that by using a combination of conventional concrete and advanced concrete (SHCC in this case), possibly optimal design of reinforced concrete structures could be achieved by eliminating the crack width as governing design parameter and thus saving on reinforcement needed for crack width control.
In the Netherlands, existing bridges are being assessed to investigate whether they are still capable to resist current and future traffic loads. Bridges that are compiled of single span prestressed girders, appear to have insufficient resistance to diagonal tension cracking. This concerns bridges that do not contain sufficient stirrups. Consequently, diagonal tension cracking could result in an abrupt brittle failure. However, the assessments are performed using the Eurocode model and there is doubt about its accuracy. In this research the accuracy of the Eurocode model is determined by comparing predicted resistances with experimentally found resistances. Moreover the stress distribution according to the Eurocode model is compared with the stress distribution of a linear elastic finite element analysis. Based on the comparison, an alternative model is suggested, that predicts the resistance to diagonal tension cracking more accurately.
This paper presents an experimental study on the development of material properties over time (up to around 2 years) and the structural behavior of reinforced beams, for two types of alkali-activated concrete (AAC). Compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile splitting strength, elastic modulus, and flexural behavior of reinforced beams are investigated. Tested material properties of AAC are compared with the properties of conventional concrete, as predicted by Eurocode. For the mixes of AAC and the conventional concretes with the same 28 days compressive strength, flexural and tensile splitting strength at 28 days are found to be similar, whereas the elastic moduli of AAC mixtures is up to 30% lower than those of conventional concrete. Related to the long term behavior, after 28 days moist-curing and subsequently exposing AAC specimens to laboratory conditions (50% RH/20°C), a reduction of flexural strength, tensile splitting strength and elastic modulus, is observed. Structural behavior of the reinforced AAC beams in four-point bending test seems not to be affected significantly by the observed decrease in material properties, and is found to be similar to that of conventional concrete beams. The acquired results indicate that the observed decrease of material properties over time might be related to drying (moisture loss). However, more research is needed to understand the phenomenon, especially related to the aimed structural application and safe upscaling of AAC.
The sustainability of infrastructure projects is becoming increasingly important issue in engineering practice. This means that in the future the construction materials will be selected on the basis of the contribution they can make to reach sustainability requirements. Geopolymers are materials based on by-products from industries. By using geopolymer concrete technology it is possible to reduce our waste and to produce concrete in the environmental-friendly way. An 80% or greater reduction of greenhouse gases compared with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) can be achieved through geopolymer technology. However, there are limited practical applications and experience. For a broad and large scale industrial application of geopolymer concrete, challenges still exist in the technological and engineering aspects. The main goal of GeoCon Bridge project was to develop a geopolymer concrete mixture and to upscale it to structural application. The outputs of projects provide input for development of recommendations for structural design of geopolymer based reinforced concrete elements. Through a combination of laboratory experiments on material and structural elements, structural design and finite element simulations, and based on previous experience with OPC concrete, knowledge generated in this project provides an important step towards a “cement free” construction. The project was performed jointly by three team members: Microlab and Group of Concrete Structures from Technical University of Delft and Technical University of Eindhoven.
Interaction of ultrasonic waves with partially-closed surface-breaking cracks in concrete structures has been studied. Measurements have been conducted on a reinforced concrete beam containing various mechanical-load-induced cracks and compared with the baseline measurements at those locations. Influence of crack width, incident angle of waves with cracks, and distance from the cracks on travel time and amplitude of the waves have been investigated when the beam was unloaded. It has been observed that a measurable part of the waves propagate through the cracks due to the acoustic coupling between the crack faces, although attenuation can be relatively high. The travel time has shown a nearly independent behavior from remaining crack opening in the measured range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. Measurements in directions orthogonal and parallel to the crack suggest that there is substantial anisotropy in the cracking zone. Furthermore, an effective width of the micro-cracking area around the cracks has been estimated from the measurements.
This paper presents a development of a ductile alkali-activated fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) based composite as an environmentally friendly material for structural concrete application. For this purpose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres and sand aggregate were combined with alkali-activated paste. Workability, setting time, mechanical properties and failure mode of PVA fibres in the mixture were studied by slump test, Vicat needle test, flexural and compression tests, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging, respectively. Although the mixture sets in a short period of time (less than 30 min), the workability was good and the developed fibre reinforced composite was used for a large scale application in a canoe. Casting a large volume (45 l compared to 3 l, as initially designed) did not affect the workability and the setting time of the mixture. Mechanical properties of specimens coming from “small” (3 l) and “large” (45 l) batches were tested at different ages (up to 120 days) and compared. It was shown that their flexural and compressive strength are similar, i.e. not affected by the upscaling. Furthermore, it was shown that the mixture with PVA fibres exhibits deflection hardening behaviour even with aggregate particles as large as 4 mm, although single crack localization led to failure. The SEM images of fractured surfaces indicated that combined fibre pull-out and fibre rupture occurred, with the latter one causing the final failure. The developed mixture, additionally reinforced with the plastic fiberglass mesh, was used in the 5.8 m long and 16 mm thick canoe for the student competition, which for the very first time, was constructed without the use of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The upscaling was successful and the results show the potential of fibre-reinforced alkali-activated FA and GBFS composite to be used as a durable and resistant material suitable for the structural application in thin shell elements, exemplified by the canoe. Such an application and a low risk project was suitable to gain the necessary experience and confidence with this innovative, “concrete like” material for which no codes or regulations are available. Furthermore, similar applications are the first step for larger scale structural applications, like structural elements in the building industry, bridges and other civil engineering structures.
insufficient information about a bridge is available. To safely carry out a proof
loading test, high loads are placed on the bridge. To avoid permanent damage to
the structure, a controlled loading protocol needs to be described, and the
measurements need to be closely monitored to identify the onset of distress. The
criteria from existing codes and guidelines to evaluate the measurements, called
stop criteria, are not universally applicable. To develop recommendations for
proof loading of reinforced concrete solid slab bridges, beam experiments were
analysed. The beams were heavily instrumented to evaluate the existing stop
criteria, and possibly develop new stop criteria. The result of these experiments
is the development of a standard loading protocol for the proof loading of
reinforced concrete slab bridges. Recommendations for the use of the stop
criteria are also formulated. These insights are used to develop a new guideline
for the proof loading of reinforced concrete slab bridges in the Netherlands. ...
insufficient information about a bridge is available. To safely carry out a proof
loading test, high loads are placed on the bridge. To avoid permanent damage to
the structure, a controlled loading protocol needs to be described, and the
measurements need to be closely monitored to identify the onset of distress. The
criteria from existing codes and guidelines to evaluate the measurements, called
stop criteria, are not universally applicable. To develop recommendations for
proof loading of reinforced concrete solid slab bridges, beam experiments were
analysed. The beams were heavily instrumented to evaluate the existing stop
criteria, and possibly develop new stop criteria. The result of these experiments
is the development of a standard loading protocol for the proof loading of
reinforced concrete slab bridges. Recommendations for the use of the stop
criteria are also formulated. These insights are used to develop a new guideline
for the proof loading of reinforced concrete slab bridges in the Netherlands.
This work investigates the predictive capability of several shear strength models for reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement. Particular attention is given to the application domain of relatively low reinforced and high depth concrete beams where limited shear test data is available. The predictive capability of the models for this area of interest is analyzed with Bayesian Inference. This probabilistic technique calculates the posterior distributions of uncertain parameters, given a set of measured test data and some prior knowledge.
The predictive capability of each shear strength model is quantified by means of a calculated model uncertainty. Furthermore, the influence of the uncertainty in model parameter values on the calculated model uncertainties is evaluated. Bayesian Inference is also used to estimate the model evidences conditionally on the used data. ...
This work investigates the predictive capability of several shear strength models for reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement. Particular attention is given to the application domain of relatively low reinforced and high depth concrete beams where limited shear test data is available. The predictive capability of the models for this area of interest is analyzed with Bayesian Inference. This probabilistic technique calculates the posterior distributions of uncertain parameters, given a set of measured test data and some prior knowledge.
The predictive capability of each shear strength model is quantified by means of a calculated model uncertainty. Furthermore, the influence of the uncertainty in model parameter values on the calculated model uncertainties is evaluated. Bayesian Inference is also used to estimate the model evidences conditionally on the used data.