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Computers and Concrete Volume 15, Number 4, April 2015 , pages 485-501 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/cac.2015.15.4.485 |
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A meso-scale approach to modeling thermal cracking of concrete induced by water-cooling pipes |
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Chao Zhang, Wei Zhou, Gang Ma, Chao Hu and Shaolin Li
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| Abstract | ||
| Cooling by the flow of water through an embedded cooling pipe has become a common and effective artificial thermal control measure for massive concrete structures. However, an extreme thermal gradient induces significant thermal stress, resulting in thermal cracking. Using a mesoscopic finite-element (FE) mesh, three-phase composites of concrete namely aggregate, mortar matrix and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) are modeled. An equivalent probabilistic model is presented for failure study of concrete by assuming that the material properties conform to the Weibull distribution law. Meanwhile, the correlation coefficient introduced by the statistical method is incorporated into the Weibull distribution formula. Subsequently, a series of numerical analyses are used for investigating the influence of the correlation coefficient on tensile strength and the failure process of concrete based on the equivalent probabilistic model. Finally, as an engineering application, damage and failure behavior of concrete cracks induced by a water-cooling pipe are analyzed in-depth by the presented model. Results show that the random distribution of concrete mechanical parameters and the temperature gradient near water-cooling pipe have a significant influence on the pattern and failure progress of temperature-induced micro-cracking in concrete. | ||
| Key Words | ||
| concrete; mesoscopic simulation; equivalent probabilistic model; thermal cracking; micro-cracking | ||
| Address | ||
| Chao Zhang, Wei Zhou, Gang Ma, Chao Hu and Shaolin Li: State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People | ||