Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Oceânica, Escola de Engenharia, 2009. / Submitted by Lilian M. Silva (lilianmadeirasilva@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-22T00:49:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Medição do grau de saturação e a difusão de íons cloreto em concretos executados com cimento de alta resistência inicial.pdf: 4033122 bytes, checksum: 9ffd326bd0acdc2d8ee24a07d511ba0e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Bruna Vieira(bruninha_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2013-06-03T19:08:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Medição do grau de saturação e a difusão de íons cloreto em concretos executados com cimento de alta resistência inicial.pdf: 4033122 bytes, checksum: 9ffd326bd0acdc2d8ee24a07d511ba0e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-06-03T19:08:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Medição do grau de saturação e a difusão de íons cloreto em concretos executados com cimento de alta resistência inicial.pdf: 4033122 bytes, checksum: 9ffd326bd0acdc2d8ee24a07d511ba0e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / A durabilidade do concreto armado é objeto de estudo e preocupação de pesquisadores e engenheiros de diversos países. Objetivando a maior precisão na previsão de vida útil das estruturas de concreto armado, alguns pesquisadores desenvolveram métodos de ensaio, buscando a influência do grau de saturação (GS) na difusão de íons cloreto, comprovando que o valor do GS está ligado diretamente à penetração de cloretos no interior de estruturas próximas à atmosfera marinha. Neste trabalho, foi verificada a variação do grau de saturação para concretos executados com cimento de alta resistência inicial e resistente a sulfato e a influência desta variação na difusão dos íons cloreto, sendo criado, assim, um modelo. Para estabelecer o mencionado modelo, foram moldados corpos de prova com diferentes traços de concreto, contaminados com cloretos, expostos a diferentes graus de saturação e analisados quanto ao teor de cloretos em cada camada de cada corpo de prova. Analisando-se estes perfis, obteve-se o coeficiente de difusão para os graus de saturação de cada traço. Com a moldagem de outros corpos de prova de traços semelhantes aos executados anteriormente e exposição a diferentes orientações solares, foi possível a comparação do grau de saturação com estação do ano, posicionamento geográfico e posição da superfície exposta em relação à superfície de concretagem. De posse dos dados obtidos a partir desses objetivos parciais, foi atingido o objetivo principal, obtendo-se um modelo, ou nomograma, capaz de possibilitar a obtenção do coeficiente de redução do coeficiente de difusão do concreto em função do grau de saturação a partir da resistência estimada do concreto executado com cimento ARI-RS. / The reinforced concrete’s durability is highly studied and also an important concern of researches and engineers from many countries. It’s already proved that the index value is directly bound to chloride’s penetration in the interior of structures near by marine’s atmosphere. Aiming a higher accuracy in forecast of armed concrete’s structures service life, test’s methods were developed by some researchers, with the purpose of seek for the influence of saturation degree on the diffusion of chloride’s ions, proving that the saturation’s degree’s value is directly linked with the chlorides penetration inside structures near the marine atmosphere. On this research, the variation of the saturation degree with the concrete made with high-early strength cement and it’s influence on the diffusion of chloride’s ions were verified, being created then, a model. In order to establish the mentioned model,test specimens were molded with different mixes of concrete which were contaminated with chlorides and also exposed to different saturation degrees and analyzed according to the chlorides content in each layer of each test specimen. By analyzing these profiles, was obtained the diffusion coefficient. By molding other test specimens with similar mixes to the previously made ones and exposing them to different solar orientations, it was able to compare saturation degree, seasons of the year, geographic position and exposed surface position according to the concrete casting surface. Having the data obtained from these partial points, the main point was reached, obtained a model or nomogram capable to give the obtaining of reduction coefficient of diffusion coefficient according to the saturation degree from the estimated strength of concrete made with high-early strength sulfate-resistant cement.

The global importance of and need for sustainable development demand an informed decision-making process from the built environment to ensure optimum service life, which depends on the ability to quantify changes in condition of building materials over time. The objective of this thesis is to develop a model, which translates expert knowledge and reasoning into probability values through the application of Fuzzy Logic Artificial Intelligence to supplement limited historical performance data on degradation of building materials for the development of Markov Chain transitional probability matrices to predict service life, condition changes over time, and consequences of maintenance levels on service life of buildings. The Markov Chain methodology, a stochastic approach used for simulating the transition from one condition to another over time, has been identified as the preferred method for service life prediction by a number of studies. Limited availability of historic performance data on degradation and durability of building materials, required to populate the Markovian transition probability matrices, however restricts the application of the Markov Chain methodology. The durability and degradation factors, defined as design and maintenance levels, material and workmanship quality, external and internal climate, and operational environment, similar to the factors identified in the state-of-the–art ‘Factor Method’ for service life prediction, and current condition are rated on a uniform colour-coded five-point rating system and used to develop “IF-THEN” rules based on expert knowledge and reasoning. Fuzzy logic artificial intelligence is then used to translate these rules into crisp probability values to populate the Markovian transitional probability matrices. Historic performance data from previous condition assessments of six academic hospitals are used to calibrate and test the model. There is good correlation between the transitional probability matrices developed for the proposed model and other Markov applications in concrete bridge deck deterioration and roof maintenance models, based on historic performance data collected over extended periods, which makes the correlation more significant. Proof is presented that the Markov Chain can be used to calculate the estimated service life of a building or component, quantify changes in condition over time and determine the effect of maintenance levels on service life. It is also illustrated that the limited availability of historic performance data on degradation of building materials can be supplemented with expert knowledge, translated into probability values through the application of Fuzzy Logic Artificial Intelligence, to develop transition probability matrices for the Markov Chain. The proposed model can also be used to determine the estimated loss of or gain in service life of a building or component for various levels of maintenance. / Thesis (PhD(Civil Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Civil Engineering / unrestricted

<p>NR 20140805</p>

The built environment usually constitutes a very importantpart of the real capital of a nation and the constructionsector represents more than 10% of the yearly Gross NationalProduct of the industrialised world. The importance of goodplanning of all construction, where the service life of thework is considered, is of great interest and an importantaspect in sustainability considerations. The need for increasedknowledge about degradation of materials, for structuredmethodology, and for working tools for those involved in theplanning process, has resulted in an extensive effort inpre-normative research and standardisation regarding thisfield. This thesis presents a discussion on service life planningand the role of the Factor Method in such a work, andespecially, discussion of modification and development of themethodology. In the design process, the need to evaluate theservice life of products is great, and this is a formidableproblem to solve, as the results will depend on both materialproperties and the environment in which the material is placedor used. A practical solution has to be based on a goodknowledge in the field, but also on a sound working strategy,to ensure that different design scenarios can be compared in astandardised or structured way. The Factor Method is apromising working tool for such an evaluation and comparison,but is as such, still more of a methodology, than a method.Examples of the use of the methodology are still very limitedand the method as such, is much discussed by researchers.However, its future will depend on how practical it will be toapply in use. The method is useful to estimate the service lifeof products, based on a known reference service life and anumber of modifying factors that will depend on the conditiondifferences between the specific project and the referencein-use conditions. The required precision of such a methodologyis discussed, especially in the light of inherent distributionin material properties and the fact that often the consequencesof failure are very limited. In such cases, the standardisedFactor Method is considered to be of great use and should giveparties involved a good means for working in a structured andsystematic way. / NR 20140805

Lifetime Engineering (or Life Cycle Engineering) is a technical approach for meeting the current objective of sustainable development. The approach is aimed to turn today’s reactive and short-term design, management and maintenance planning towards an optimised and long-term technical approach. The life cycle based management and maintenance planning approach includes condition assessment, predictive modelling of performance changes, maintenance, repair and refurbishment planning and decisions. The Life Cycle Management System (LMS) is a predictive and generic life cycle based management system aimed to support all types of decision making and planning of optimal maintenance, repair and refurbishment activities of any constructed works. The system takes into account a number of aspects in sustainable and conscious development such as human requirements, life cycle economy, life cycle ecology and cultural requirements. The LMS is a system by which the complete system or parts thereof, works in co-operation or as a complement to existing business support systems. The system is module based where each module represents a subprocess within the maintenance management process. The scope of this thesis is focused on development and adaptation of the predictive characteristic of LMS towards a presumptive user. The objective is to develop and adapt a Service Life Performance Analysis module applicable for condition based Facility Management System in general and for condition based Bridge Management System in particular. Emphasis is placed on development and adaptation of a conditional probability based Service Life Performance Analysis model in which degradation models and Markov chains play a decisive role. The thesis deals also with development and adaptation of environmental exposure data recording and processing, with special emphasis on quantitative environmental classification in order to provide a simplified method of Service Life Performance Analysis. / QC 20101130

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Pavements in Canada that are built on top of frost susceptible soil experience loss of support in early spring as the frozen structure begins thawing. To minimize pavement damage, low- volume roads rely on Spring Load Restrictions (SLR), since building these roads to withstand spring thaw is usually not feasible. However, implementing SLR increases operational costs to commercial transporters and impacts local economies. The Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) is routinely faced with requests from the truck industry to lift restrictions on certain roads, and questioning from municipalities that seek understanding on the needs for SLR in their roads. To help answer these questions, a comprehensive study was performed at 15 Seasonal Load Adjustment (SLA) stations across Ontario. The data collected included Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing, borehole investigation, climatic data, traffic volumes, and pavement rehabilitation data. A backcalculation using the FWD data estimated pavement structural capacity and remaining service life for each SLA for different dates throughout spring, followed by a life cycle analysis using the rehabilitation data. The SLAs were divided in three groups of similar pavement support conditions based on the service life analysis results. Results indicate that none of Group 1 SLAs need load restrictions, with the calculated remaining service life being greater than 25 years for all test dates. Within Group 2, pavement recovery throughout spring suggests that SLR could extend service life, although generally not necessary for the intended life cycle. Results indicate most SLAs in Group 2 achieving a full life cycle from the last rehabilitation activities for estimates based on early spring parameters, suggesting that these roads were likely designed with spring conditions accounted for. For Group 3, the lack of structural support and low service life values indicate the need for strict load restrictions to avoid excessive damage and maintain serviceability. Pavements with high-quality subgrades, granular structures and non-frost susceptible materials, thick asphalt layers and major rehabilitation activities were found to generally perform well for spring conditions. However, with several site-specific conditions, an overall recommendation for implementation of SLR cannot be generalized based on the pavement structure and subgrade soil type alone. The structural condition and thawing behaviour of individual sites must be thoroughly understood before a decision is made, as investigation might indicate that some roads can withstand full traffic year-round and would not need SLR, while others might need more rigorous restrictions. In addition to the service life analysis, approximately 600 lane km of deflection data was collected using a Multi-Speed Deflectometer in Southern Ontario. Recommendations were made for potential applications of the equipment as a network screening device, able to identify weak road sections in a time and cost-effective manner prior to a detailed investigation using FWD; and for regular monitoring of road conditions at a network level, including the monitoring of seasonal variations. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Modeling of chloride-induced deterioration of bridge decks by using Fick's Second Law of diffusion was performed. The objective of this study is to select suitable input parameters for the model to estimate the service life of bridge decks. Five bridge decks, one in each of the following states, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Minnesota were evaluated. Data collection process involved visual inspections, damage surveys, corrosion testing including continuity, one-point resistivity, four-point resistivity, half-cell potentials, and three-electrode linear polarization, reinforcement cover depths, chloride samples. The Virginia bridge deck was built with epoxy-coated reinforcement as top reinforcement mat and black bar as the bottom mat. The Florida bridge is a segmental prestressed box girder structure built with black bar. The New Jersey bridge deck was overlaid with latex modified concrete. The New York bridge deck, which was built in 1990, is six inch concrete topping over prestressed adjacent box beams structure with epoxy-coated bar in the negative moment area. The Minnesota bridge was rebuilt in 1984. The deck was rebuilt with epoxy coated reinforcing steel in the top and bottom mats. The probabilistic Fickian model requires reinforcement cover depths, surface chloride concentration, chloride initiation concentration, and diffusion coefficients as input parameters. The chloride initiation concentration was input via parametric bootstrapping, while the other parameters were input as simple bootstrapping. Chloride initiation concentration was determined from the chloride concentration at the reinforcement bar depths. The modeling results showed that the deterioration of the Virginia bridge deck was corrosion controlled and the bridge will undergo increasingly severe damage in the future. Florida bridge deck is not undergoing corrosion and will not experience corrosion damage within 100 years. New Jersey bridge deck's service life has been most likely extended by the overlay. Deterioration of the New York bridge was not corrosion controlled, but was related to longitudinal cracking of the topping at match lines of adjacent box beams. Minnesota bridge deck is delaminated and contained a large number of cracks that should be included in service life modeling; otherwise the service life estimate is underestimated. In addition to service life corrosion performance modeling, analyses were conducted on the relationships and interrelations of resistivity, corrosion potential, corrosion current and chloride at the reinforcing bar depth. / Ph. D.