The effect of crack width on the service life of reinforced concrete structures

Abstract

Reinforced concrete has become a widely used construction material around the world. Nowadays, the assessment of deterioration and life expectancy of reinforced concrete structure is very important and necessary as concrete is a complex material with brittle failure. Under the effect of load and over time, cracks occur in the structure, significantly reducing its performance and durability. Therefore, a number of models for predicting the penetration of chloride ions into the concrete were proposed to assess the durability of the structure. In the study performed by T B Viet (2016) [1], the author proposed a new theoretical model, especially considering the effects of macro and micro cracking on the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion in the cracked concrete. The following experimental results, in term of electrical indication of concrete’s ability to resist chloride ion penetration, are used to calculate the lifespan of a reinforced concrete structure according to Dura Crete approach [8] with different crack widths to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the above model in the range of concrete compressive strength of 30-70MPa.

Numerical Simulation of Asymmetric Composite Patch Repair for Fatigue Damaged Aluminum Plate

“…Consequently, manufacturers seek reliable and cost-effective repair methods to keep the structure in service safely for a limited lifespan [1]. Various repair techniques have been developed, involving the bonding of composite patches to reinforce the cracked structure by modifying its behavior at the crack tip and thus extending its overall lifespan [2,3]. This technique is widely applicable in the aeronautical industry with the aim of maximizing operational lifespan.…”