The three dimensional modelling of thermal cracks in concrete structure

Authors
Citation
Cx. Huang, The three dimensional modelling of thermal cracks in concrete structure, MATER STRUC, 32(223), 1999, pp. 673-678
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Material Science & Engineering
Journal title
MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
ISSN journal
13595997 → ACNP
Volume
32
Issue
223
Year of publication
1999
Pages
673 - 678
Database
ISI
SICI code
1359-5997(199911)32:223<673:TTDMOT>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
The occurence of thermal cracks in massive concrete structures is a common phenomenon. In order to modell this kind of cracks the material properties of hardening concrete, temperature and stress developments must be dealt wi th. According to Laube [1] the thermal and mechanical properties of concret e may be expressed as functions of the reference parameter - the degree of hydration which depends on the hardening time and on the temperature proces s, therefore, a non-linear coupled calculation of temperatures and stresses should be carried out. On the basis of these material laws a numerical modell is set up for the pr ocess simulations of the material properties, the temperature and the stres s fields as well as the development of cracks. Then the modell is implement ed into a three dimensional finite element programme. As an example a fresh ly concreted wall on top of an old foundation is investigated. Finally atte ntion is paid to the numerical process modelling two typical thermal cracks , i.e, the surface cracks and the inner cracks, by employing the smeared ap proach of crack: distributions in three dimensional hardening concrete.