Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Structural design standards based on the principles of structural reliability are gaining worldwide acceptance and are fast becoming the new basis of structural safety verification. The application of these principles to establish a standardised basis for structural design using partial factor limit states design procedures is done in the European Standard for the Basis of Structural Design EN 1990 from which it is adapted to the South African Basis of Design Standard for Building and Industrial Structures SANS 10160-1. The basis of design requirements stipulated in EN 1990 and SANS 10160-1 apply to all aspects of structural design: This includes reliability levels of structural performance and their differentiation and management; identification of various limit states and design situations; the specification of all the basic variables; separate treatment of actions and material-based resistance. However, application of these requirements is then primarily focused on actions whilst the provision for structural concrete is then left to the materials based design standards. This two-part thesis describes a systematic assessment of the degree to which the application of the reliability framework presented in the basis of design requirements has been achieved in the present generation of structural concrete design standards. More importantly, attempts are made to identify ways in which the process can be advanced. Special attention is drawn to issues that are specific to South African conditions and practice in structural concrete. Part One of the thesis focuses on the key elements of the reliability framework presented in EN 1990 and traces to what extent the requirements have been propelled through the design stipulations of the Eurocode Standard for Design of Concrete Structures EN 1992-1-1. The implications of the different reference level of reliability between the Eurocode default value of ß = 3.8 and that characteristic of South African practice ß = 3.0 through various issues are highlighted. The use and advantage of explicit treatment of reliability performance on reliability management related to some aspects of quality control are explored. A critical aspect is the shear prediction model providing unconservative estimates of shear resistance. Part Two of the thesis focuses on characterising the model factor of the EN 1992-1-1 shear prediction model for members requiring design shear reinforcement. This is done by a comparison to a compiled experimental database with special focus on situations with high reinforcement ratios. The significance of the modelling uncertainty in shear prediction is verified by this comparison. The use of the more conceptually rational modified compression field theory (MCFT) to improve on the quality of shear predictions is investigated and proves to yield more precise values with lower scatter hence making it a more reliable tool for predicting shear. The MCFT can then be used as reference for the reliability calibration and possible improvement for the Eurocode procedure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Strukturele ontwerpstandaarde gebaseer op die beginsels van strukturele betroubaarheid verkry wêreldwye aanvaarding en word vinnig die nuwe basis van strukturele veiligheid bevestiging. Die toepassing van hierdie beginsels om ʼn gestandaardiseerde basis vir strukturele ontwerp is bevestig deur gebruik te maak van gedeeltelike-faktorbeperkende stadiums ontwerpprosedures in die Europese Standaard vir die Basis van Strukturele Ontwerp EN 1990 waarvandaan dit herbewerk is na die Suid-Afrikaanse Basis van Ontwerp Standaarde vir Bou en Industriële Strukture SANS 10160-1. Die basis van ontwerpvereistes bepaal in EN 1990 en SANS 10160-1 is van toepassing op alle aspekte van strukturele ontverp: Dit sluit inbetroubaarheidsvlakke van struktureele prestasie en hul diversifikasie en bestuur; identifikasie van verskeie beperkende state en ontwerpsituasies; die spesifikasie van al die basiese veranderlikes; afsonderlike behandeling van aksies en materiaal-gebaseerde weerstand. Desnieteenstaande, die toepassing van hierdie voorwaardes is dan hoofsaaklik gefokus op aksies terwyl die voorsiening van strukturele beton is dan gelaat op die materiaalgebaseerde ontwerpstandaarde. Hierdie tweeledige verhandeling beskryf ʼn stelselmatige beoordeling van die graad waartoe die toepassing van die betroubaarheidsraamwerk aangebied word in die basis van ontwerpvereistes bereik in die huidige generasie van strukturele beton-ontwerp standaarde is. Meer belangrik, pogings is aangewend om die maniere hoe die proses bevorder kan word te identifiseer. Spesiale aandag word gevestig op kwessies wat spesifiek op Suid-Afrikaanse toestande en praktyke in strukturele beton toepaslik is. Deel Een van die verhandeling fokus op die sleutel-dele van die betroubaarheidsraamwerk aangebied in EN 1990 en skets die mate waartoe die vereistes aangespoor word deur die ontwerp voorskrifte van die Eurocode Standard for the Design of Concrete Structures EN 1992-1-1. Die implikasie van die verskillende verwysingsvlakke van betroubaarheid tussen die Eurocode standaardwaarde van ß = 3.8 en die eienskap van Suid-Afrikaanse praktyk ß = 3.0 deur verskillende kwessies word uitgelig. Die gebruik en voordeel van spesifieke behandeling van betroubaarheidsuitvoering op betroubaarheidsbestuur verwantskap met sekere aspekte van kwaliteit kontrole word ondersoek. ʼn Kritiese aspek is die model vir die voorspelling van skuif-weerstand wat die onkonserwatiewe beramings vir skuif-weerstand gee. Deel Twee van die verhandeling fokus op karakterisering die modelfaktor van die EN 1992- 1-1 skuif-weerstand voorspellings-model. Dit word gedoen deur ʼn vergelyking na ʼn saamgestelde eksperimentele databasis met spesifieke fokus op situasies met hoe herbevestigingsvergelykings. Die oorheersing van die modellering- onsekerheid in skuifweerstand voorspelling is bevestig deur hierdie vergelyking. Die gebruik van ʼn meer konseptuele rasionele gemodifiseerde druk-veld teorie (bekend as MCFT) om die kwaliteit van skuif voorspelling te verbeter is ondersoek en verskaf ‘n meer presiese waarde met laer verspreiding wat lei tot ʼn meer betroubaree instrument om skuif mee te voorspel. Die MCFT word dan gebruik as verwysing vir die betroubaarheid-samestelling en moontlike verbetering van die Eurocode prosedures.

La presente investigación se basa en el estudio de la influencia de microfibras sintéticas de polipropileno en las propiedades mecánicas y plásticas de losas de concreto f’c=210 kg/cm2 expuestas a altas temperaturas en el departamento de Ucayali. Para ello, se procedió a realizar mezclas de concreto con dos microfibras de polipropileno de 20 y 30 milímetros de longitud, a su vez, dichas mezclas fueron dosificadas con 600, 900 y 1200 g/m3 de concreto y evaluarlas respecto a contracción platica, resistencia a compresión y flexión residual. El primer ensayo, se realizó en base a la Norma ASTM C-1579 (Método de prueba estándar para evaluar el agrietamiento por contracción plástica del hormigón reforzado con fibra restringida), evaluando losas de concreto de 560x355x100 mm. sometidas a temperaturas mayores a 27°C y velocidades de viento de 8 km/h y compararlas entre la muestra patrón y muestras reforzadas con microfibras; obteniéndose una Relación de Reducción de Grietas (CRR) máxima de 68.50% para el concreto con fibra de 300 mm. y una dosificación de 1200 g/m3. Para el ensayo de compresión, guiado por la NTP 339.034 – ASTM-C39 (Método de ensayo normalizado para la determinación de la resistencia a la compresión del concreto, en muestras cilíndricas) se ensayaron probetas de 6x12 pulgadas para cada longitud de y dosificación de microfibra para compararlas respecto a la mezcla convencional; para el concreto con microfibra de 30 mm se obtuvo un incremento promedio de 8% para una dosificación de 1200 gr/m3 para un tiempo de curado de 28 días, por otro lado, la de 20 mm alcanzo incrementos máximos de 7% para la misma dosificación y tiempo de curado que el anterior. Para el último ensayo, se basó de la Norma ASTM C 1399 (Método de ensayo para determinar el esfuerzo residual promedio del concreto reforzado con fibra), en la cual se evaluaron muestras prismáticas de 100x100x350 mm sometiéndolas a cargas para obtener cual es la tensión residual que soportan a diferentes deformaciones para cada tipo de microfibras y dosificaciones. El concreto reforzado con microfibra sintética de 30 mm, obtuvo mayores valores de tensiones residuales (1.95 MPa para 1200 gr/m3) para todas las dosificaciones estudiadas en comparación a la de 20 mm. (1.86 MPa 1200 gr/m3). Al finalizar la experimentación, se concluyó que la microfibra sintética de polipropileno de 30 mm tuvo mejor desenvolvimiento que la de 20 mm para los 3 ensayos realizados. Además, se observó una relación directa entre el aumento de las propiedades mecánicas y plásticas con la cantidad de dosificación incorporada al concreto. / This research is based on the study of the influence of synthetic polypropylene microfibers on the mechanical and plastic properties of concrete slabs f’c = 210 kg / cm2 exposed to high temperatures in Ucayali. For this, concrete mixtures with two microfibers of 20 and 30 millimeters in length were made, in turn, dosages of 600, 900 and 1200 g / m3 of concrete were included and evaluated for plastic contraction, compressive strength and residual flexion. The first test was carried out on the basis of ASTM C-1579 (Standard test method to evaluate cracking by plastic contraction of reinforced fiber reinforced concrete), evaluating concrete slabs of 560x355x100 mm subjected to temperatures greater than 27 ° C and wind speeds of 8 km / h and compare them between standard samples and reinforced with microfibers; obtaining maximum Crack Reduction Ratio (CRR) of 68.50% for concrete with 300 mm fiber. and a dosage of 1200 g / m3. For the compression test, guided by Standard NTP 339.034 - ASTM-C39 (Standard test method for the determination of the compressive strength of concrete, in cylindrical samples) 6x12 inch specimens were tested for each microfiber and dosing to compare them with respect to the conventional mixture; for concrete with 30 mm microfiber an average increase of 8% was obtained for a dosage of 1200 gr / m3 for a curing time of 28 days, on the other hand, the 20 mm reached maximum increases of 7% for the same dosage and cure time than the previous one. For the last test, it was based on ASTM C 1399 (Test method to determine the average residual stress of fiber reinforced concrete), in which prismatic samples of 100x100x350 mm were evaluated by subjecting them to loads to obtain what the residual tension is that support different deformations for each type of microfibers and dosages. The reinforced concrete with synthetic microfiber of 30 mm, obtained higher values ​​of residual stresses (1.95 MPa for 1200 gr / m3) for all the dosages studied in comparison to that of 20 mm. (1.86 MPa 1200 gr / m3). At the end of the experimentation, it was concluded that the 30 mm polypropylene synthetic microfiber had a better performance than the 20 mm microfiber for the 3 tests performed. In addition, a direct relationship was observed between the increase in mechanical and plastic properties with the amount of dosage incorporated into the concrete. / Tesis