Reliability of reinforced concrete structures under fatigue

This paper focuses on time-variant reliability assessment of deteriorating reinforced concrete structures under fatigue conditions. A strategy combining two time scales, namely the micro-scale of instantaneous structural dynamics (or statics) and the macro-scale of structural lifetime, is proposed. Non-linear response of reinforced concrete structures is simulated by means of the finite element method with adequate material model. A phenomenological fatigue damage model of reinforced concrete is developed and calibrated against experimental results available in the literature. Reliability estimates are obtained within the response surface method using the importance/adaptive sampling techniques and the time-integrated approach. The proposed assessment strategy is illustrated by an example of a concrete arch under fatigue loading. The obtained results show a general inapplicability of local and linear fatigue models to system level of structures.     

Experimental investigation of the fatigue strength of plain concrete under high compressive loading

Fatigue tests are conducted on plain concrete cylinders subjected to axial cyclic compression. The upper level of the cyclic stress ranges between 60% and 90% of the static compressive strength. A method based on volume strain measurements is used to predict the individual static strength of each tested sample. The results of fatigue tests are presented in a load versus cycles to failure diagram. The recorded values of the longitudinal strains are, plotted in terms of number of cycles. The test figures are discussed assuming that the failure is a result of both time and cycle dependent damage. For loading levels ranging up to 80% of the static strength, the number of cycles to failure shows hardly any variation with the effects of time. Above this level, the fatigue strength proves to be more sensitive to time dependent effects, as the level of loading increases.     

Experimental research on the behaviour of high frequency fatigue in concrete

Calculating the fatigue strength of concrete under the cyclic load of vehicles when designing bridges is an issue which is receiving more and more attention from many engineers and researchers. Based on this fact, fatigue tests of plain concrete under constant-amplitude and stepping-amplitude cyclic loads were conducted. The mechanism which damages plain concrete specimens under high frequency fatigue loads was analysed and a non-linear accumulative fatigue formula that causes the damage was proposed. A fatigue equation P–S–N that considers the failure probability p′ was given. The results of this research are a good preparation for further studies into high frequency fatigue tests of concrete cylinders reinforced with carbon fibre.     

Constitutive modeling of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete structures strengthened by fiber-reinforced plastics

A batch of constitutive models for steel reinforcing bar, prestressing tendon, concrete and fiber-reinforced plastic are proposed for the nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures, prestressed concrete structures, reinforced concrete structures strengthened by fiber-reinforced plastics and prestressed concrete structures strengthened by fiber-reinforced plastics. These material models have been tested against series of experimental data and good agreements have been obtained, which justifies the validity and the usefulness of the proposed nonlinear constitutive models.     

A probabilistic fatigue model based on the initial distribution to consider frequency effect in plain and fiber reinforced concrete

The objective of this work is twofold. First, we aim to develop a new fatigue model valid for quasi-brittle materials like concrete, which properties have considerably larger standard deviation than metals. Having this in mind, we fit the measured strength data with a three-parameter Weibull cumulative distribution function and in turn take it as the initial distribution for an asymptotic fatigue model in concrete. Second, we endeavor to take into account the observed influence of frequency and stress ratio on the fatigue life in concrete, both plain and reinforced with fibers. The developed model is validated against fatigue tests in compression on cubic specimens for different stress ratios and loading frequencies. All the parameters have found physical meaning in the extensive experimental tests performed for two plain high strength concretes and two concretes reinforced with fibers. The secondary strain rate is found to be correlational with the number of cycles to failure. Finally, a reduced test procedure is proposed for fatigue strength characterization.     

玄武岩纤维增韧混凝土冲击性能

采用三点弯曲冲击试验装置, 结合超声波测试技术, 研究了玄武岩纤维质量分数为0%～0.60%时, 玄武岩纤维增韧混凝土（Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete, BFRC）的冲击性能及其损伤演化规律, 研究了混凝土冲击破坏过程中基于超声波波速的损伤演化过程, 并应用体视显微镜观测了冲击过程中试件表面裂纹的发展, 分析了玄武岩纤维提高混凝土冲击韧性的机制。结果表明: 玄武岩纤维对混凝土的抗压强度无明显改善, 但可以显著提高混凝土的冲击韧性, 当纤维质量比为0.36%时冲击韧性提高了2.2倍。各玄武岩纤维掺量下混凝土的冲击破坏均表现出脆性特征, 但玄武岩纤维的加入有效提高了混凝土对冲击能量的吸收, 其临近破坏时损伤变量较素混凝土提高了40%～83%; 玄武岩纤维混凝土冲击破坏过程表现出多缝开裂的特征, 在最终破坏时主裂缝附近有明显的副裂缝出现。      

玄武岩纤维布增强树脂基复合材料约束高温损伤混凝土轴压力学性能

对36个玄武岩纤维布增强树脂基复合材料（BFRP）约束加固的高温损伤混凝土圆柱体和15个不同高温损伤的对比试件进行了轴压试验。试验表明,BFRP侧向约束能显著改变混凝土圆柱体的破坏形态,提高混凝土圆柱体的轴压强度和变形能力。其中二层BFRP包裹的200℃、400℃、600℃和800℃高温损伤混凝土圆柱体的轴压强度分别提高了56%、82%、234%和250%,轴向变形分别提高了328%、198%、232%和136%。采用典型的纤维增强复合材料约束常温未损伤混凝土轴压强度和变形计算模型预测纤维增强复合材料约束高温损伤混凝土轴压极限强度和极限变形时存在较大的偏差。基于本文试验数据,确定了BFRP约束高温损伤混凝土极限应力和极限应变计算模型中与温度相关的参量,建议了适用于预测纤维增强复合材料约束高温损伤混凝土的极限应力计算模型和极限应变计算模型。     

混杂纤维增强再生砖骨料混凝土增强机制与抗压性能计算方法

通过钢-聚烯烃混杂纤维增强再生砖骨料混凝土（HF/RBAC）的抗压与弹性模量试验,研究了再生砖骨料（RBA）取代率、混杂纤维掺量、纤维种类对混凝土抗压强度和弹性模量的影响。根据RBA的XRD图谱、X-CT图像、RBA火山灰活性成分与水泥水化产物反应原理及能量平衡原理,分析了HF/RBAC的破坏机制和纤维增强机制。研究表明,当RBA全取代天然骨料（NA）时,HF/RBAC立方体抗压强度、轴心抗压强度和弹性模量分别降低了36.72%、24.95%和43.53%。当钢-聚烯烃混杂纤维体积掺量为1.5%时,HF/RBAC立方体抗压强度、轴心抗压强度和弹性模量分别增加了20.51%、30.33%和35.84%。最后,提出了考虑RBA压碎指标和取代率、纤维种类和掺量等因素影响的HF/RBAC抗压强度和弹性模量的计算方法。     

Effect of mineral admixtures and steel fiber volume contents on the behavior of high performance fiber reinforced concrete

High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (HPFRC) is a structural material with advanced mechanical properties. The structural design of HPFRC members is based on the post-cracking residual strength provided by the addition into the mix of the fibers. Moreover, the addition of different types of mineral admixtures influences the overall behavior of this material. In order to optimize the performance of HPFRC in structural members, it is necessary to evaluate the mechanical properties and the post-cracking behavior in a reliable way. As a result, an experimental study on six different sets of HPFRC specimens was carried out. The main parameters that varied were the fiber volume content and the types of mineral addition. The behavior in compression, in flexural tension and the shrinkage properties were evaluated and critically analyzed in order to give a guide for structural use.The results showed that by adding high fiber volume content and the Algerian blast furnace slag into the mix, the HPFRC material obtained has a very good performance and it is suitable for use in practice.     

Failure behaviors of reinforced concrete beams subjected to high impact loading

To attain a better understanding of the failure behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams under impact load, series of high speed impact experiments were performed using an instrumented drop-weight impact machine. The test program was successful in providing a substantial volume of test data including impact loads, mid-span deflections, crack profiles and strains. These data was analyzed, focusing on the impact load characteristics and the impact behaviors of RC beams. Various characteristic values and their relationships were investigated such as the drop height, the static flexural load-carrying capacity, the input impact energy and the beam response values. Two empirical formulas were proposed to estimate the maximum and residual deflection of the beam based on the static flexural load-carrying capacity and the input impact energy. The applicability of the proposed equations was confirmed by comparison with the experimental results obtained by other researchers.     

纤维增强聚合物基复合材料加固锈蚀钢筋混凝土圆柱轴心受压性能

为了给纤维增强聚合物基复合材料（FRP）加固腐蚀环境下钢筋混凝土圆柱的设计和施工提供参考,促进FRP加固钢筋混凝土圆柱的应用,本文通过加速腐蚀得到类似实际环境中已锈损钢筋混凝土圆柱,采用碳纤维增强聚合物基复合材料（CFRP）条带和玻璃纤维增强聚合物基复合材料（GFRP）条带分别对锈蚀钢筋混凝土圆柱进行加固,最后对加固后圆柱进行轴心受压试验,重点研究钢筋锈蚀率、FRP层数和种类对钢筋混凝土圆柱受压承载力的影响;基于对FRP条带间隔约束效应、钢筋锈蚀对混凝土截面及钢筋力学性能影响的研究与分析,提出FRP条带间隔约束锈蚀钢筋混凝土圆柱轴心受压承载力计算模型。试验实测值与模型计算值之比的平均值为1.020,变异系数为0.063,二者符合较好。     

Influence of loading direction on the anisotropic fatigue properties of rolled magnesium alloy

The influence of loading direction on the fatigue behavior of rolled AZ31 alloy was investigated by conducting fully reversed stress-controlled fatigue tests along the rolling direction and normal to the rolling plane. Alternating twinning and detwinning behavior during initial cycling was found to cause asymmetric hysteresis loops, resulting in a compressive strain in the rolling direction and a tensile strain normal to the rolling plane. A transition in the dominant deformation mechanism from twinning–detwinning to slip occurs at around five cycles under both conditions due to cyclic hardening, thus making their loops symmetric. The lower twinning stress in tension along the normal direction leads to an increase in fatigue damage by plastic strain, resulting in a lower fatigue resistance than along the rolling direction.     

Fatigue life prediction of fiber reinforced concrete under flexural load

This paper presents a semi-analytical method to predict fatigue behavior in flexure of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) based on the equilibrium of force in the critical cracked section. The model relies on the cyclic bridging law, the so-called stress–crack width relationship under cyclic tensile load as the fundamental constitutive relationship in tension. The numerical results in terms of fatigue crack length and crack mouth opening displacement as a function of load cycles are obtained for given maximum and minimum flexure load levels. Good correlation between experiments and the model predictions is found. Furthermore, the minimum load effect on the fatigue life of beams under bending load, which has been studied experimentally in the past, is simulated and a mechanism-based explanation is provided in theory. This basic analysis leads to the conclusion that the fatigue performance in flexure of FRC materials is strongly influenced by the cyclic stress–crack width relationship within the fracture zone. The optimum fatigue behavior of FRC structures in bending can be achieved by optimising the bond properties of aggregate–matrix and fiber–matrix interfaces.     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete beams strengthened by fiber-reinforced plastics

Numerical analyses are performed using the ABAQUS finite element program to predict the ultimate loading capacity of rectangular reinforced concrete beams strengthened by fiber-reinforced plastics applied at the bottom or on both sides of these beams. Nonlinear material behavior, as it relates to steel reinforcing bars, plain concrete, and fiber-reinforced plastics is simulated using appropriate constitutive models. The influences of fiber orientation, beam length and reinforcement ratios on the ultimate strength of the beams are investigated. It has been shown that the use of fiber-reinforced plastics can significantly increase the stiffnesses as well as the ultimate strengths of reinforced concrete beams. In addition, with the same fiber-reinforced plastics layer numbers, the ultimate strengths of beams strengthened by fiber-reinforced plastics at the bottom of the beams are much higher than those strengthened by fiber-reinforced plastics on both sides of the beams.     

冲击载荷下玄武岩纤维增强混凝土的动态本构关系

为了研究玄武岩纤维增强混凝土的动态本构关系,利用Ф100mm分离式霍普金森压杆装置,对玄武岩纤维增强混凝土进行冲击压缩试验,得到了动态应力-应变曲线,对试验数据进行了分析,根据试验结果,通过叠加应变率强化效应和损伤软化效应,对混凝土静态Ottosen非线性弹性本构模型进行修正,建立了玄武岩纤维增强混凝土损伤型的动态本构模型,确定参数并将理论模型计算结果与试验结果进行了对比。研究表明,玄武岩纤维增强混凝土的动态性能存在明显的应变率强化效应,动态强度增长因子和峰值应变与应变率对数之间存在近似函数关系;建立模型的方法可行,理论模型计算结果与试验结果吻合较好,建立的本构模型可用来描述玄武岩纤维混凝土的动态力学行为,并能为玄武岩纤维增强混凝土的进一步研究和工程应用提供参考依据。     

The flexural fatigue performance of plain and fibrous concretes

If fatigue cracking is going to occur in concrete structures then it is more likely due to repeated flexural loadings rather than direct compression or tension. Typical examples are road and airfield pavements, bridges, offshore constructions and structures likely to experience earthquakes. Also many of these loadings have a dynamic character and a knowledge of material behaviour at rapid stressing rates as an essential preliminary requirement to understanding flexural fatigue performance. Therefore since flexural loadings are frequently encountered in practical situations then the flexural test is probably one of the most useful types to be used in the examination of both the fatigue behaviour of concrete and its ultimate strength developed at rapid loading rates. Although the designer regards concrete as an homogeneous material, it consists of two phases, the active hardened cement phase, which is the binding material to the inert phase, the aggregate. Concrete behaviour can therefore be complex and aspects interpreted at either the macroscopic, microscopic or molecular level. The composite nature of concrete may be further complicated by the introduction of steel reinforcement. Over the last few years there has been a general research interest with the incorporation of small quantities of fibres in concrete. Steel fibres of dimensions 10mm to 60mm in length, 10m to 60 m in diameter, with material properties ranging from 150 GN/m ₂ to 200 GN/m ₂ in elastic modulus and 700 N/mm₂ to 200 N/mm₂ in tensile strength may be introduced at the mixing stage in proportions between 0.5% and 3.5% of concrete volume. The consequent enhancement in flexural strength is substantial and the likelihood of a similar improvement in fatigue performance needed to be demonstrated. It has also been common practice when conducting modulus of rupture tests, to use 500mm × 100mm × 100mm specimens for mixes incorporating fibres. When casting such specimens there is a danger of fibres not being randomly orientated. Thus for this investigation, beams of 1500 times 200 times 200mm have been used. The selection of larger beams also makes instrumentation more manageable and the dimensions may be more comparable with those associated with most practical applications. Some fifty fatigue tests have been completed supported by a further five hundred strength and control tests. A complete series of strain, deflection and crack development histories have been observed. An appropriate form of S-N curve has been adapted for the examination of results. Models explaining the behaviour of both plain and fibrous concretes have been proposed and a method of flexural fatigue performance prediction has been formulated.     

Fatigue behavior of externally bonded steel fiber reinforced polymer (SFRP) for retrofit of reinforced concrete

Steel fiber reinforced polymer (SFRP) strips comprised of multiple high-strength wires have been introduced into the repertoire of the structural engineer in recent years. The deleterious effects of fatigue loading on FRP-to-concrete bond have been identified in previous studies by the author; therefore the effect of fatigue loading on the bond behavior of SFRP is investigated. Four large-scale beam specimens (4.9 m long) having externally bonded SFRP retrofits are tested. These specimens are paired with unretrofit and CFRP-retrofit companion specimens allowing a number of direct comparisons to be made. Of the SFRP specimens, one is tested in monotonic loading to failure while the remaining three are tested at various fatigue load levels ranging from service load level to an extreme load level. Service load fatigue is cycled for 2 million cycles and the specimen is then tested monotonically to failure to assess the effects of fatigue conditioning on the ultimate performance of the beam. Extreme loading is selected to result in fatigue-induced failure of the internal reinforcing steel.     

玄武岩纤维增强地质聚合物混凝土的高应变率力学行为

采用Φ100 mm分离式霍普金森压杆(SHPB)系统研究了玄武岩纤维增强地质聚合物混凝土(BFRGC)的高应变率力学行为,包括抗压强度、变形及能量吸收特性的应变率效应问题。结果表明：地质聚合物混凝土材料的高应变率力学性能呈现出显著的应变率相关性;BFRGC的强度特性相对于地质聚合物混凝土(GC)无明显改善,而变形及能量吸收能力较 GC有明显提高。     

加载频率对悬臂梁振动疲劳特性的影响

研究了加载频率对悬臂梁振动疲劳特性的影响。首先,给三组相同的悬臂梁结构分别施加三种不同频率（悬臂梁的固有频率,略大于固有频率和略小于固有频率）的正弦激励,使其具有相同的初始应力,试验测得应力随循环次数的变化规律;其次,在试验测得应力历程的基础上,计算悬臂梁的疲劳损伤量,研究在相同初始应力下不同加载频率对同一悬臂梁振动疲劳特性的影响;最后,将预估结果与试验测得的固有频率下降量作了对比。结果表明：加载频率对振动疲劳寿命有较大的影响,文中给出的预估结果与试验结果比较吻合     

炭纤维增强轻质矿粉混凝土的热电行为

炭纤维增强混凝土能用来感知温度,其因在于短炭纤维的P-型传导性引起的塞贝克(Seebeck)效应所致.通过测量添加炭纤维或矿质掺和物(飞灰、硅土粉)前后六种波特兰水泥基混凝土的热电功率,研究了炭纤维增强轻质混凝土热敏的能力及其矿质掺合物对Seebeck效应的影响.结果表明: 炭纤维增强轻质混凝土具有类似于炭纤维增强标准混凝土的Seebeck效应,只是Seebeck系数因掺合了矿粉而减低.掺有矿粉的炭纤维增强轻质混凝土可用作建筑物的热传感器.