Simulation of Corrosion-Induced Cracking of Reinforced Concrete Based on Fracture Phase Field Method

Accurate simulation of the cracking process caused by rust expansion of reinforced concrete(RC)structures plays an intuitive role in revealing the corrosion-induced failure mechanism.Considering the quasi-brittle fracture of concrete,the fracture phase field driven by the compressive-shear term is constructed and added to the traditional brittle fracture phase field model.The rationality of the proposed model is verified by a mixed fracture example under a shear displacement load.Then,the extended fracture phase model is applied to simulate the corrosion-induced cracking process of RC.The cracking patterns caused by non-uniform corrosion expansion are discussed for RC specimens with homogeneous macroscopically or heterogeneous with different polygonal aggregate distributions at the mesoscopic scale.Then,the effects of the protective layer on the crack propagation trajectory and cracking resistance are investigated,illustrating that the cracking angle and cracking resistance increase with the increase of the protective layer thickness,consistent with the experimental observation.Finally,the corrosion-induced cracking process of concrete specimens with large and small spacing rebars is simulated,and the interaction of multiple corrosion cracking is easily influenced by the reinforcement spacing,which increases with the decrease of the steel bar interval.These conclusions play an important role in the design of engineering anti-corrosion measures.The fracture phase field model can provide strong support for the life assessment of RC structures.

Numerical investigation of the effects of soil-structure and granular material-structure interaction on the seismic response of a flat-bottom reinforced concrete silo

In this work,a numerical study of the effects of soil-structure interaction(SSI)and granular material-structure interaction(GSI)on the nonlinear response and seismic capacity of flat-bottomed storage silos is conducted.A series of incremental dynamic analyses(IDA)are performed on a case of large reinforced concrete silo using 10 seismic recordings.The IDA results are given by two average IDA capacity curves,which are represented,as well as the seismic capacity of the studied structure,with and without a consideration of the SSI while accounting for the effect of GSI.These curves are used to quantify and evaluate the damage of the studied silo by utilizing two damage indices,one based on dissipated energy and the other on displacement and dissipated energy.The cumulative energy dissipation curves obtained by the average IDA capacity curves with and without SSI are presented as a function of the base shear,and these curves allow one to obtain the two critical points and the different limit states of the structure.It is observed that the SSI and GSI significantly influence the seismic response and capacity of the studied structure,particularly at higher levels of PGA.Moreover,the effect of the SSI reduces the damage index of the studied structure by 4%.

Electrochemical Study of the Corrosion Inhibitory Capacity of Calcined Attapulgite in Reinforced Concrete Medium

The durability of reinforced concrete structures is greatly influenced by the corrosion of the reinforcement. In addition to air pollution related to the repair of corroded structures, chloride ions are the main factors of corrosion of reinforced concrete structures. This study aims to valorize a clay inhibitor against reinforcement corrosion in reinforced concrete. This clay (Attapulgite) was incorporated into reinforced concretes at different percentages of substitution of calcined attapulgite (0%, 5% and 10%) to cement in the formulation. The corrosion inhibitory power of attapulgite is evaluated in reinforced concretes subjected to the action of chloride ions at different intervals in the NaCl solution (1 day, 21 days and 45 days) by electrochemical methods (zero current chronopotentiometry, polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). This study showed that in the presence of chloride ions, the composition based on 10% attapulgite has an appreciable inhibitory effect with an average inhibitory efficiency of 82%.

Experimental Study of the Anti-Corrosion Performance of Montmorillonite K-10 on Rebar in HCl Environment: Application in Mortar for the Rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete Degraded by Corrosion

This work first investigates the corrosion-inhibiting behavior of montmorillonite K-10 on reinforcing steel. The corrosion-inhibiting power of the clay (Montmorillonite) is determined in a medium HCl (C = 1N) using free corrosion potential monitoring, Tafel potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results of this study showed a satisfactory corrosion-inhibiting efficiency of around 72.665% for the optimum content of 1%. This is due to the presence of a stable oxide layer that protects the metal against corrosion. To validate the concept of montmorillonite as a corrosion inhibitor in repair mortar, we now turn to the influence of montmorillonite on the mechanical properties of mortars in the hardened state. In this part, montmorillonite K-10 is added to the mortar by partial substitution of the cement by 5% and 10% of the cement mass. The aim of this study is to ensure that the addition of this clay to the mortar composition will not have a negative effect on its compressive and flexural strengths. The results of the compression and flexural tests showed that the presence of montmorillonite in the mortar improved flexural and compressive strengths for the different compositions studied.

Strategies for Teaching the Reinforced Concrete Structures Course in Engineering Majors

The cultivation of engineering capabilities aims to equip engineering professionals with high-level expertise to meet the demands of society and industry development,thereby enhancing their competitiveness and career potential.This article focuses on engineering capability development,exploring teaching strategies for the Reinforced Concrete Structure course.It aims to provide insights for educators in engineering programs at universities and vocational colleges in China.By doing so,teaching plans that meet the needs of engineering capability development,laying a solid educational foundation for the healthy growth of engineering professionals in the new era,and enhancing their application of knowledge and skills can be developed.

A numerical case study on the long-term seismic assessment of reinforced concrete tunnels in corrosive environments

The paper investigates the long-term seismic behaviour of an underground reinforced concrete(RC)metro tunnel in Santiago,Chile,considering the combined effects of chloride-induced corrosion and cumulative,low-amplitude seismic shaking on the structure’s performance.The soil-tunnel response is evaluated with the aid of transient,nonlinear finite element analysis using a two-dimensional(2D)plane strain numerical model that adopts advanced nonlinear models for the simulation of soil and concrete plasticity and the dynamic stiffness behaviour.The effects of corrosion deterioration are demonstrated in terms of time-dependent loss of rebar area and cover concrete stiffness and strength.The study illustrates the influence of ageing and repeated seismic shaking on lining deformation,crack development,and the modal characteristics of the intact and degrading systems.The results indicate that multiple lowamplitude events drive the non-degrading RC tunnel beyond its elastic regime without significant structural response consequences.A noticeable impact of corrosion deterioration on the structure’s seismic performance is revealed,increasing with the number and intensity of earthquake events.Two different tunnel embedment depths are comparatively assessed.The analyses demonstrate larger coseismic section convergence in the case of the deeper tunnel,yet a less pronounced effect of ageing and successive seismic loading compared to the shallow section,which is evident in the RC lining cracks at the end of shaking.

Damage response of conventionally reinforced two-way spanning concrete slab under eccentric impacting drop weight loading

Reinforced concrete(RC)structures are generally designed to carry quasi-static gravity loads through almost indispensable components namely slab,however,it may be subjected to high intense loads induced from the impact of projectiles generated by the tornado,falling construction equipment,and also from accidental explosions during their construction and service lifespan.Impacts due to rock/boulder falls do occur on the structures located especially in hilly areas.Such loadings are not predictable but may cause severe damage to the slab/structure.It stimulates structural engineers and researchers to investigate and understand the dynamic response of RC structures under such impulsive loading.This research work first investigates the performance of 1000×1000×75 mm^(3)conventionally reinforced two-way spanning normal strength concrete slab with only tension reinforcement(0.88%)under the concentric impact load(1035 N)using the finite element method based computer code,ABAQUS/Explicit-v.6.15.The impact load is delivered to the centroid of the slab using a solid-steel cylindroconical impactor(drop weight)with a flat nose of diameter 40 mm,having a total mass of 105 kg released from a fixed height of 2500 mm.Two popular concrete constitutive models in ABAQUS namely;Holmquist-Johnson-Cook(HJC)and Concrete Damage Plasticity(CDP),with strain rate effects as per fib MODEL CODE 2010,are used to model the concrete material behavior to impact loading and to simulate the damage to the slab.The slab response using these two models is analyzed and compared with the impact test results.The strain rate effect on the reinforcing steel bars has been incorporated in the analysis using the Malvar and Crawford(1998)approach.A classical elastoplastic kinematic idealization is considered to model the steel impactor and support system.Results reveal that the HJC model gives a little overestimation of peak displacement,maximum acceleration,and damage of the slab while the predictions given by the CDP model are in reasonable agreement with the experimental test results/observations available in the open literature.Following the validation of the numerical model,analyses have been extended to further investigate the damage response of the slab under eccentric impact loadings.In addition to the concentric location(P1)of the impacting device,five locations on a quarter of the slab i.e.,two along the diagonal(P2&P3),the other two along the mid-span(P4&P5),and the last one(P6)between P3 and P5,covering the entire slab,are considered.Computational results have been discussed and compared,and the evaluation of the most damaging location(s)of the impact is investigated.It has been found that the most critical location of the impact is not the centroid of the slab but the eccentric one with the eccentricity of 1/6th of the span from the centroid along the mid-span section.

The Effects of Degradation Phenomena of the Steel-Concrete Interface in Reinforced Concrete Structures

Reinforced concrete (RC) constructions are the innovation of sustainable constructions replacing masonry constructions. Despite this, the use of concrete and steel to improve the performance of structural members in service is a recurring problem due to the immediate or overtime appearance of cracks. The objective of this work was therefore to assess the damage phenomena of the steel-concrete interface in order to assess the performance of an RC structure. Samples of approximately 30 cm of reinforcement attacked by rust were taken from broken reinforced concrete columns and beams in order to determine the impact of corrosion on high adhesion steel (HA) and therefore on its ability to resist. The experimental results have shown that the corrosion degradation rates of reinforcing bars of different diameters increase as the diameter of the reinforcing bars decreases: 5% for HA12;23.75% for HA8 and 50% for HA6. Using the approach proposed by Mangat and Elgalf on the bearing capacity as a function of the progress of the corrosion phenomenon, these rates made it possible to assess the new fracture limits of corroded HA steels. For HA6 respectively HA8 and HA12, their initial limit resistances will decrease by 4/4, 3/4 and 1/4. Based on the results of this study and in order to guarantee their durability, an RC structure can be dimensioned by taking into account the effects of reinforcement corrosion.

Compressive Performance of Fiber Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete by Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Polyvinyl Chloride Composite Jackets

The development of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)provides a new approach to limiting the waste of natural resources.In the present study,the mechanical properties and deformability of RACs were improved by adding basalt fibers(BFs)and using external restraints,such as a fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)jacket or a PVC pipe.Samples were tested under axial compression.The results showed that RAC(50%replacement of aggregate)containing 0.2%BFs had the best mechanical properties.Using either BFs or PVC reinforcement had a slight effect on the loadbearing capacity and mode of failure.With different levels of BFs,the compressive strengths of the specimens reinforced with 1-layer and 3-layer basalt fiber reinforced polymer(BFRP)increased by 6.7%–10.5%and 16.5%–23.7%,respectively,and the ultimate strains increased by 48.5%–80.7%and 97.1%–141.1%,respectively.The peak stress of the 3-layer BFRP-PVC increased by 42.2%,and the ultimate strain improved by 131.3%,relative to the control.This reinforcement combined the high tensile strength of BFRP,which improved the post-peak behavior,and PVC,which enhanced the structural durability.In addition,to investigate the influence of the various constraints on compressive behavior,the stress-strain response was analyzed.Based on the analysis of experimental results,a peak stress-strain model and an amended ultimate stress-strain model were proposed.The models were verified as well;the result showed that the predictions from calculations are generally consistent with the experimental data(error within 10%).The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and reference for future applications of fiber-reinforced recycled concrete.

Evaluation of the Inhibitory Gel Aloe vera against Corrosion of Reinforcement Concrete in NaCl Medium

Most reinforced concrete structures in seaside locations suffer from corrosion damage to the reinforcement, limiting their durability and necessitating costly repairs. To improve their performance and durability, we have investigated in this paper Aloe vera extracts as a green corrosion inhibitor for reinforcing steel in NaCl environments. Using electrochemical methods (zero-intensity chronopotentiometry, Tafel lines and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), this experimental work investigated the effect of these Aloe vera (AV) extracts on corrosion inhibition of concrete reinforcing bar (HA, diameter 12mm) immersed in a 0.5M NaCl solution. The results show that Aloe vera extracts have an average corrosion-inhibiting efficacy of around 86% at an optimum concentration of 20%.

Exploring the Synergy: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Steel and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Reinforced Slab Incorporating Alccofine and M-Sand

Introduction: This study investigates the Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Steel and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Reinforced Slab Incorporating Alccofine and M-sand. Objective: Specific objectives include evaluating the mechanical properties and structural behaviour of steel and GFRP-reinforced one-way slabs and comparing experimental and theoretical predictions. Methods: Four different mix proportions were arrived at, comprising both conventional concrete and Alccofine-based concrete. In each formulation, a combination of normal river sand and M-sand was utilized. Results: Concrete with Alccofine exhibits superior mechanical properties, while M-sand incorporation minimally affects strength but reduces reliance on natural sand. GFRP-reinforced slabs display distinct brittle behaviour with significant deflections post-cracking, contrasting steel-reinforced slabs’ gradual, ductile failure. Discrepancies between experimental data and design recommendations underscore the need for guideline refinement. Conclusion: Alccofine and M-sand enhance concrete properties, but reinforcement type significantly influences slab behaviour. GFRP-reinforced slabs, though exhibiting lower values than steel, offer advantages in harsh environments, warranting further optimization.

Analysis of Bonding Properties of Corroded Reinforcement Concrete

In order to investigate the degradation of bonding properties between corroded steel bars and concrete,this study employs the half-beam method to conduct bond-slip tests between corroded steel bars and concrete after impressed-current accelerated corrosion of the steel bars in concrete.The effects of steel corrosion rate,steel bar diameter,steel bar strength grade,and concrete strength grade on the bonding properties between concrete and corroded steel bars were analyzed.The influence of different corrosion rates on specimens’bonding strength and bond-slip curves was determined,and a constitutive relationship for bond-slip between corroded steel bars and concrete was proposed.The results indicate that the ultimate bonding strength of corroded reinforced concrete specimens decreases with increasing corrosion rate.Additionally,an increase in corrosive crack width leads to a linear decrease in bonding strength.Evaluating the decline in adhesive properties through rust expansion crack width in engineering applications is feasible.Furthermore,a bond-slip constitutive relationship between corroded steel bars and concrete was established using relative bond stress and relative slip values,which aligned well with the experimental findings.

Analysis and Prediction Model Reinforced UHPC Shrinkage Property

This paper explores the shrinkage of reinforced UHPC under high-temperature steam curing and natural curing conditions.The results are compared with the existing shrinkage prediction models.The results show that the maximum shrinkage strain of reinforced UHPC after steam curing is 164μεand gradually becomes zero.As for natural curing,the maximum shrinkage strain is 173μεand the value stabilizes on the 10th day after pouring.This indicated that steam curing can significantly reduce shrinkage time.Compared with the plain UHPC tested in the previous literature,the structural reinforcement can significantly inhibit the UHPC shrinkage and greatly reduce the risk of cracking due to shrinkage.By comparing the results in this paper with the existing models for predicting the shrinkage strain development,it is found that the formula recommended in the French UHPC structural and technical specification is suitable for the shrinkage curve in the present paper.

Damage of a large-scale reinforced concrete wall caused by an explosively formed projectile(EFP)

To quickly break through a reinforced concrete wall and meet the damage range requirements of rescuers entering the building,the combined damage characteristics of the reinforced concrete wall caused by EFP penetration and explosion shock wave were studied.Based on LS-DYNA finite element software and RHT model with modified parameters,a 3D large-scale numerical model was established for simulation analysis,and the rationality of the material model parameters and numerical simulation algorithm were verified.On this basis,the combined damage effect of EFP penetration and explosion shock wave on reinforced concrete wall was studied,the effect of steel bars on the penetration of EFP was highlighted,and the effect of impact positions on the damage of the reinforced concrete wall was also examined.The results reveal that the designed shaped charge can form a crater with a large diameter and high depth on the reinforced concrete wall.The average crater diameter is greater than 67 cm(5.58 times of charge diameter),and crater depth is greater than 22 cm(1.83 times of charge diameter).The failure of the reinforced concrete wall is mainly caused by EFP penetration.When only EFP penetration is considered,the average diameter and depth of the crater are 54.0 cm(4.50 times of charge diameter)and 23.7 cm(1.98 times of charge diameter),respectively.The effect of explosion shock wave on crater depth is not significant,resulting in a slight increase in crater depth.The average crater depth is 24.5 cm(2.04 times of charge diameter)when the explosion shock wave is considered.The effect of explosion shock wave on the crater diameter is obvious,which can aggravate the damage range of the crater,and the effect gradually decreases with the increase of standoff distance.Compared with the results for a plain concrete wall,the crater diameter and crater depth of the reinforced concrete wall are reduced by 5.94%and 9.96%,respectively.Compared to the case in which the steel bar is not hit,when the EFP hit one steel bar and the intersection of two steel bars,the crater diameter decreases by 1.36%and 5.45%respectively,the crater depth decreases by 4.92%and 14.02%respectively.The EFP will be split by steel bar during the penetration process,resulting in an irregular trajectory.

Mechanical Characterization of Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC) Fiber Reinforced Concrete

This work presents the development and mechanical characterization of a concrete reinforced with plant fiber extracted from Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC), a plant found in the regions of Center and South Cameroon. A comparative study between ordinary concrete and concrete reinforced with RC fiber at different percentages (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) was carried out. The mechanical characterization of the material consisted in studying the flexural, compressive and splitting tensile strength by using cylindrical specimens of dimensions 160 × 320 in accordance with standards EN 12390-3 and EN 12390-6. The study of the mechanical properties was completed by the three-point bending test using prismatic test specimens of dimension 40 × 40 × 160 made according to the EN 196 standard. It emerges from this work that the addition of RC fiber improves the mechanical properties of concrete up to 0.2% with a peak at 0.1% of fiber corresponding to respective increases of 9%, 16% and 6% of the values of mechanical resistance to compression, flexion and tension after 28 days. From 0.3% of fiber, the values of the mechanical characteristics of the composite drop to values lower than those of ordinary concrete. The density reduction rate at 28 days is about 10% compared to the mass of ordinary concrete. These results allow us to conclude that the RC fiber could be valorized for the production of lightweight concrete.

Experimental Study and Failure Criterion Analysis of Rubber Fibre Reinforced Concrete under Biaxial Compression-Compression

In order to examine the biaxial compression-compression properties of rubber fibre reinforced concrete(RFRC),an experimental study on RFRC under different lateral compressive stresses was carried out by considering different rubber replacement rates and polypropylene fibre contents.The failure modes and mechanical property parameters of different RFRC working conditions were obtained from the experiment to explore the effects of rubber replacement rate and polypropylene fibre content on the biaxial compression-compression properties of RFRC.The following conclusions were drawn.Under the influence of lateral compressive stress,the biaxial compression-compression failure mode gradually developed from a columnar pattern to a flaky pattern,suggesting that the incorporation of rubber and polypropylene fibres into the concrete resulted in a significant change in the development of cracks.For different rubber replacement rates and polypropylene fibre contents,the vertical compressive stress exhibited the same developing trend under the influence of lateral compressive stress.Specifically,the lateral compressive stress imposed the minimum effect on the vertical compressive stress when the rubber replacement rate and polypropylene fibre content were 20%and 0.4%,respectively,and imposed the maximum effect when the rubber replacement rate and polypropylene fibre content were 20%and 0%,respectively.With the increase of rubber replacement rate,the vertical peak stress was significantly reduced,which implies that an appropriate amount of polypropylene fibres can increase the vertical peak stress to a certain extent.Then,the biaxial compression-compression mechanism of RFRC was analysed from the microscopic level by using scanning electron microscope(SEM).Meanwhile,based on Kupfer’s biaxial compression-compression failure criterion and the octahedral stress space,a biaxial compression-compression failure criterion for RFRC was proposed,which was proven to have good applicability.The research results of this study provide important theoretical basis for the engineering application and development of RFRC.

Determination of Reflected Temperature in Active Thermography Measurements for Corrosion Quantification of Reinforced Concrete Elements

This paper sums up the determining analysis of the measuring location of Treflusing a thermocouple during the thermography tests.Laboratory temperature distribution testing methods,analysis of value and location of Treflmeasurement are explained in this paper.The heat source is two halogen lamps of 500 watts eachfitted at a distance of 30–50 cm.Noises appearing during testing of thermography are corrected with measured T_(refl) value.The results of thermogram correction of corroded concrete surfaces using T_(refl) values are displayed in this paper too.The concrete surface temperature results of quantitative image processing method are compared to the experimental test results.The results showed good accuracy,which was seen from most errors<3%and the maximum error is<5%.The end of paper,explained of application Treflvalue to the corroded reinforced concrete thermogram.

Mechanical Characterization of Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC) Fiber Reinforced Concrete

This work presents the development and mechanical characterization of a concrete reinforced with plant fiber extracted from Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC), a plant found in the regions of Center and South Cameroon. A comparative study between ordinary concrete and concrete reinforced with RC fiber at different percentages (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) was carried out. The mechanical characterization of the material consisted in studying the flexural, compressive and splitting tensile strength by using cylindrical specimens of dimensions 160 × 320 in accordance with standards EN 12390-3 and EN 12390-6. The study of the mechanical properties was completed by the three-point bending test using prismatic test specimens of dimension 40 × 40 × 160 made according to the EN 196 standard. It emerges from this work that the addition of RC fiber improves the mechanical properties of concrete up to 0.2% with a peak at 0.1% of fiber corresponding to respective increases of 9%, 16% and 6% of the values of mechanical resistance to compression, flexion and tension after 28 days. From 0.3% of fiber, the values of the mechanical characteristics of the composite drop to values lower than those of ordinary concrete. The density reduction rate at 28 days is about 10% compared to the mass of ordinary concrete. These results allow us to conclude that the RC fiber could be valorized for the production of lightweight concrete.

Research on Technical Solutions to Renovate the Reinforced Concrete Constructions in Vietnam

During the use of constructions, they will be degraded. Due to the negative impact on structures such as increase in vertical load, horizontal windy load needs to evaluate the current state of the constructions before renovating, especially the current state of the main structural system whether necessary to carry out repair and reinforcement or not. In addition, the inspection of the current status constructions before renovating is also the legal basis for the granting of construction permits to renovate and repair degraded works. Reinforced concrete buildings in the coastal areas in Vietnam, in particular, are working in the marine environment leading to damage the reinforced concrete construction. It should be significantly noted. Although there have been legal documents related to the inspection of constructions issued in Vietnam, the detailed contents and procedures of institution for each type of construction have not been mentioned yet. Therefore, the topic research paper of “research on technical solutions to renovate constructions with reinforced concrete structures in Vietnam” is to improve the quality and efficiency of construction. This investigation in Vietnam is very essential. This study uses the method of surveying the current state of the construction works in use, using the experimental sampling method to analyze and evaluate the damage of the work, then propose typical solutions to repair construction. The purpose of this study is to provide a process to check the damage of the works, and to propose solutions to repair them. This work is very important and has practical significance, helping managers to maintain works better.

Comparative Evaluation of the Chemical Composition and Physical Properties of Reinforced Concrete Steel Bars Used in Construction in Senegal

This article presents, the study of a comparative evaluation of the chemical composition and physical properties, linear mass deviations, of four (04) types of steel used in the construction sector in Senegal. Type 1 (E1), Type 2 (E2) and Type 3 (E3) steels are produced by locally established companies and Type 4 (E4) witness bars are imported from the France. The chemical analyses of the different types of steel were carried out by combustion, infrared (IR) detection for carbon and sulfur, by reducing fusion for nitrogen and by optical emission spectrometer (SEO) for the rest of the elements. The composition was determined on bars with a diameter of 10 mm. Linear mass deviations were evaluated for steels with a diameter of 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm. The results of the chemical analyses showed that the limit value for the percentage of carbon was exceeded by 29.16% for the steel, type 3. For the other types (1, 2 and 4), the limit values set out in the French standard NF EN 10,080 are not exceeded. As regards the relative differences in mass, the results showed that for steels of local manufacture, all the samples of bars with diameters 10 and 12 mm and 33% of steels with diameters 8 mm do not comply with the standard. The results also indicate that the chemical composition and relative linear mass deviations of the steels, type 4 comply with the standard. Thus, locally manufactured steels are not always suitable for use in reinforced concrete constructions.