Analysis of Crack Propagation due to Thermal Stress in Concrete Considering Solidified Constitutive Model

Abstract

In recent years, interest in early age concrete cracking has increased due to its effects on the durability and performance of concrete structures. A time-dependent material model and a structural analysis method have been developed to evaluate thermal cracking behavior. To simulate such behavior at early ages, a solidified constitutive model is proposed, which is based on the solidification concept with dependence on time and strain histories. The unified numerical model consists of a Rigid-Body-Spring Network, representing the structural behavior, combined with a truss model to represent heat transfer. Wall concrete structures are analyzed to verify the solidified constitutive model and the overall approach. The proposed model results and the experimental results show reasonable agreement in terms of cracking behavior, stress distributions and structural deformations.

Properties of early-age concrete relevant to cracking in massive concrete

“…Fracture energy of early age concrete [31][32][33] and fracture energy change after cracking [34] have been reported. And a models based on such early age properties as well as plastic behavior is applied to finite element analysis [35] as well as rigid body spring-network model analysis [36] for the prediction of cracks in mass concrete.…”

Application of finite difference method to 2D heat conduction in young hydrating mass concretes structures.

“…Temperature is monitored in mass concretes in order to control cracking and aspects linked to longevity. Cracks lead to disruptions in concretes due to chance of corrosion that may be caused by chloride ions percolating into reinforcement steel via the cracks [ 3,4]. Thermal cracks depend on the degree of uneven temperature across the mass concretes and the vicinity temperature conditions.…”

Comparative analysis of time dependent temperature profiles of hydrating mass concretes of different mix ratios

“…Cracks occurrence could lead to durability concerns and defects on the life-cycle performance requirements of such mass concrete members [3]. Cracks may lead to rust due to the chance of chloride ions from highly saline waters percolating into the reinforcement steel through the cracks [4,5]. When cracking in concretes exceed a limiting critical crack width value, it becomes a worry since the durability, serviceability and appearance of the structure become impaired [6].…”