Concrete bridges in Texas have developed large cracks in bent caps and pretensioned trapezoidal bridge girders. The bridges show premature concrete deterioration due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and delayed ettringite formation (DEF). There is concern that deterioration due to ASR/DEF may lead to a loss of structural capacity. However, there are no quantitative guidelines to relate the level of concrete deterioration due to ASR/DEF to structural performance. Using such guidelines, the need for rehabilitation of beams with ASR/DEF cracking can be assessed. The goal of this research was to determine the shear capacity of pretensioned trapezoidal box girder specimens exhibiting varying degrees of ASR and/or DEF cracking and to use the shear testing results to evaluate the severity of the problem that may exist in Texas bridge structures. To achieve this goal, beams that were severely deteriorated due to ASR/DEF over a period of more than ten years were transported to the University of Texas for testing to failure. Both severely deteriorated and uncracked beams were tested in shear. The test results were used to evaluate the shear performance of trapezoidal box beams affected by ASR/DEF. In addition, three different types of forensic analyses were conducted on the beams to understand the nature of the ASR/DEF cracks and severity of the deterioration. After testing, it is found that the shear capacity of the test specimens was not significantly reduced even with heavy ASR/DEF cracking. Assessment using current US design provisions for bridges or buildings (ACI 318-08 and AASHTO LRFD 2008) and the proposed provision from an earlier project (TxDOT Project 5253) yielded conservative estimates of strength. Results from forensic analyses provided a qualitative indication of ASR/DEF damage but did not correlate with the observed levels of ASR/DEF deterioration. / text

Across the State of Texas and many other areas of the world, relatively young concrete structures have developed signs of premature concrete deterioration. Large cracks form on the surface of the concrete due to expansive forces from alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and delayed-ettringite formation (DEF). The goal of this project is to assess the effect of ASR/DEF on the trapezoidal box beam bridges in the US 59 corridor and Katy Central Business District (CBD) HOV lanes in Houston, TX. Five dapped-end beams were rejected during the casting process and have been in storage at a local precast yard for nearly fifteen years. These beams have been subject to accelerated deterioration and represent the potential severity of the ongoing ASR/DEF distress within the dapped end regions of the in-service trapezoidal box beams. The results from five load tests, corresponding strut-and-tie models, and forensic investigation are used to provide insights into the relationship between the severity of the deterioration and the capacity margin. / text

No description available.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the shear behaviour of large deep beams subjected to uniform load. Six tests were performed on specimens with identical cross sections and reinforcing, but under different loading configurations. Variables included: span, degree of cracking prior to loading, proximity to a disturbed region near a reaction, and type of flexural stress on the loaded face. The findings indicate a specific set of variables resulting in unconservative predictions made using a strut-and-tie model for simply-supported beams subjected to uniform load, confirming and validating recent results by other researchers. A fanning strut model is proposed and is shown to provide more conservative results. The emerging trend of high capacity in continuous uniformly-loaded specimens is supported by the experimental results, as is the high capacity of specimens uniformly-loaded on their flexural tension face. Further, the high strength of specimens with suboptimal crack orientations supports recent experimental work.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the punching shear behaviour of thick slabs with identical spans and depths, subjected to monotonic point load conditions. Variables included: reinforcement ratio, column size, and reinforcement size. Analytical studies conducted as part of this thesis indicate that the current CSA A23.3 and the ACI 318 can be unconservative for thick slabs with low reinforcement ratios. The new fib Model Code provisions for punching offer an effective method for determining the full load-rotation behaviour of a slab up to failure, including accurate failure predictions. A summary of the background of current design procedures and standards will be presented, and a comparison between the different design equations and theories will be given. Based on the findings of this project, it is proposed that the provisions accepted by the fib Model Code should be considered for implementation in the CSA and ACI standards.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the shear behaviour of large deep beams subjected to uniform load. Six tests were performed on specimens with identical cross sections and reinforcing, but under different loading configurations. Variables included: span, degree of cracking prior to loading, proximity to a disturbed region near a reaction, and type of flexural stress on the loaded face. The findings indicate a specific set of variables resulting in unconservative predictions made using a strut-and-tie model for simply-supported beams subjected to uniform load, confirming and validating recent results by other researchers. A fanning strut model is proposed and is shown to provide more conservative results. The emerging trend of high capacity in continuous uniformly-loaded specimens is supported by the experimental results, as is the high capacity of specimens uniformly-loaded on their flexural tension face. Further, the high strength of specimens with suboptimal crack orientations supports recent experimental work.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the punching shear behaviour of thick slabs with identical spans and depths, subjected to monotonic point load conditions. Variables included: reinforcement ratio, column size, and reinforcement size. Analytical studies conducted as part of this thesis indicate that the current CSA A23.3 and the ACI 318 can be unconservative for thick slabs with low reinforcement ratios. The new fib Model Code provisions for punching offer an effective method for determining the full load-rotation behaviour of a slab up to failure, including accurate failure predictions. A summary of the background of current design procedures and standards will be presented, and a comparison between the different design equations and theories will be given. Based on the findings of this project, it is proposed that the provisions accepted by the fib Model Code should be considered for implementation in the CSA and ACI standards.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In this paper, a study on masonry infilled reinforced concrete (RC) frames subjected to service limit state horizontal loads is presented, considering the masonry panel contribution in the stiffness of the structure. The analysis of infilled frames is performed in two ways: using the equivalent diagonal strut concept, called here as macromodelling and the finite element method (FEM) for the micromodelling. Due to simplicity, equivalent strut models are really attractive for the inclusion of masonry panels in structural models of buildings frames. However, formulations available in the literature provide substantially distinct values for determining the axial rigidity of the equivalent strut, and disregarding some important parameters of the structural behavior of the infilled frame. In the FEM analysis, numerical simulations of infilled RC frames are done, with and without openings, with different spans, stiffness of the columns and masonry properties, using finite elements type shell in the modeling, in addition to the consideration of the contact frame-masonry. The simulations results allow the assessment of the limitations of the existing formulations for determining the width of the diagonal strut. In infilled frames with openings of doors and windows, is evaluated how the size and position of the aperture affects the stiffness of the structure. Finally, the maximum stresses (tensile, compression and shear) of all models are evaluated and compared with their respective resistant stresses in order to determine the possibility of cracking of the masonry panels of frames subjected to service limit state actions. / Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo sobre pórticos de concreto armado preenchidos com alvenaria submetidos a ações horizontais de Estado Limite de Serviço (ELS), considerando a contribuição do painel de preenchimento na rigidez da estrutura. A análise dos pórticos preenchidos é realizada de duas maneiras: empregando-se o conceito da diagonal equivalente, na denominada macromodelagem e o método dos elementos finitos (MEF) para a micromodelagem simplificada. Em razão da simplicidade, os modelos com barras diagonais equivalentes são bastante atrativos para a inclusão de painéis de alvenaria nos modelos estruturais de pórticos de edifícios. Entretanto, as formulações disponíveis na bibliografia especializada fornecem valores sensivelmente distintos para a determinação da rigidez axial da barra equivalente, além de desconsiderarem alguns parâmetros importantes do comportamento estrutural do conjunto pórtico-alvenaria. Na análise através do MEF são realizadas simulações numéricas de pórticos de concreto preenchidos com alvenaria, com e sem aberturas, com diferentes vãos, rigidez de pilares e propriedades da alvenaria, empregando-se elementos bidimensionais na modelagem, além da consideração do contato pórtico-parede. Os resultados dessas simulações permitem a avaliação das limitações das formulações existentes para a determinação da largura da barra equivalente. No caso de pórticos preenchidos com aberturas, é avaliado de que forma o tamanho e a posição da abertura afeta a rigidez da estrutura. Por fim, as máximas tensões solicitantes (tração, compressão e cisalhamento) de todos os modelos são avaliadas, e comparadas com as respectivas tensões resistentes, a fim de determinar a possibilidade de fissuração dos painéis de preenchimento de pórticos submetidos a ações de ELS.

[pt] Modelos de bielas e tirantes são, em última análise, representações discretas dos campos de tensão nos elementos estruturais de concreto armado próximos da ruptura e visam possibilitar um projeto consistente de todos os elementos estruturais. Este trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver um programa de otimização topológica que gere e permita a visualização de um modelo de bielas e tirantes para elementos estruturais de concreto armado. O modelo gerado auxilia o engenheiro de projetos na compreensão dos caminhos de forças. Inicialmente o usuário deve ter como dado de entrada uma malha refinada em elementos finitos. A partir daí o programa calcula as tensões através da análise elástica por elementos finitos. As técnicas de otimização topológica usadas neste trabalho foram a do método da flexibilização súbita ( hard- kill method ) e a do método da remoção. No primeiro processo, os elementos com tensões baixas, que estão sendo usados ineficientemente têm seus módulos de elasticidade bruscamente reduzidos, enquanto que no método da remoção, estes elementos são retirados da malha. Tanto para modificar o módulo de elasticidade do elemento, quanto para retirar o elemento da malha, as tensões principais nos elementos são comparadas com uma tensão de referência definida como uma fração da maior tensão principal na malha. Caso essa tensão principal no elemento seja menor que a referida tensão de referência o elemento tem seu módulo de elasticidade modificado ou é eliminado conforme o método. A distribuição de tensão nos elementos é acompanhada pelo usuário através do módulo de visualização do programa e o processo de otimização topológica é repetido até que o critério de convergência imposto seja alcançado. / [en] Strut and tie models are ultimately discrete representations of the stress fields in the structural elements of reinforced concrete close to failure and they are meant to help the engineer to design a consistent project of all structural elements. This work aims to develop a program of topological optimisation that generates and allows the visualisation of a strut and tie model for structural elements of reinforced concrete. The generated model helps the project engineer to understand the load paths inside the element. Initially the user should have as data a refined finite element mesh. Starting from this point the program calculates the stress fields through a linear elastic finite element analysis. The techniques used for topological optimisation in this work are namely the hard-kill method and the method of removal. In the first process, the elements with low stress levels, that are not being used efficiently, have their elasticity modules abruptly reduced, while in the method of removal, these elements are removed from the mesh. Either to modify the elasticity module of the element or to remove the element from the mesh the principal stresses in each element are compared with a reference stress defined as a fraction of the largest principal stress in the mesh. If the principal stress in the element is smaller than this above mentioned reference stress the element has its elasticity module modified or is removed, depending on the method. The distribution of stresses in the elements can be followed by the user through the module of visualisation of the program and the process of topological optimisation is repeated until the specified convergence criterion is reached. / [es] Modelos de bielas y tirantes son, en último análisis, representaciones discretas de los campos de tensión de los elementos extructurales de concreto armado próximos a la ruptura. Su objetivo principal es ejecutar un proyecto que incluya todos los elementos extructurales. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo desarrollar un programa de optimización topológica que genere y permita la visualización de un modelo de bielas y tirantes para elementos extructurales de concreto armado. El modelo generado auxilia al ingeniero de proyectos en la comprensión de los caminos de fuerzas. Inicialmente el usuario debe tener como dato de entrada una malla refinada de elementos finitos. Así, el programa calcula las tensiones a través del análisis elástica por elementos finitos. Las técnicas de optimización topológica usadas en este trabajo fueron el método de la flexibilización súbita ( hard- kill method ) y el método de la remoción. En el primer proceso, los elementos con tensiones bajas, que están siendo utilizados ineficientemente tienen sus módulos de elasticidad bruscamente reducidos, mientras que en el método de la remoción, estos elementos son retirados de la malla. Tanto para modificar el módulo de elasticidad, cuanto para retirar el elemento de la malla, las tensiones principales en los elementos se comparan con una tensión de referencia definida como una fracción de la mayor tensión principal en la malla. En el caso en que esa tensión principal en el elemento sea menor que la tensión de referencia, el elemento tiene su módulo de elasticidad modificado o es eliminado conforme el método. El usuario acompaña la distribuición de tensión en los elementos a través del módulo de visualización del programa y el proceso de optimización topológica se repite hasta alcanzar el criterio de convergencia impuesto.

For architectural reasons, in some structural building systems, the need to change the direction of columns from one floor to another arises. One of the adopted solutions in the transition zone is to use a block of reinforced concrete to assist the transfer of loads between the columns. This solution is proposed by analogy to the blocks used in the transition from the superstructure to the infrastructure of a building, commonly called the pile caps. In this context, this work aims to study a three-dimensional strut-and-tie model applied to the design of reinforced concrete blocks used in the transition between rotated columns, from the results of elastic analysis of stresses and numerically evaluate the failure modes, last resistance and service conditions of the designed block, considering the physical non-linearity of the materials with a model of plasticity. The three-dimensional model was proposed linking plane models defined previously in studies of the author. It was found that the difference of the stresses between the proposed model and the plane model are not significant, confirming thereby the use of the plane model. From the nonlinear analysis, it was found that the load capacity of the investigated element is significantly greater than the applied load, by influence of the tensile strength of the concrete. This means that as the tensile strength of the concrete in the strut and tie model is not considered, is neglected much of the load capacity of the element. Furthermore, it was observed that the configuration of ruin occurred by yielding of steel in the armor called "main". With the results of the study, it was sought to contribute to propose a better solution for the transition region between rotated columns. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Por motivos arquitetônicos, em alguns dos sistemas estruturais de edifícios surge a necessidade de modificar a direção de pilares de um pavimento para o outro. Uma das soluções adotadas na zona de transição de direção é a utilização de um bloco de concreto armado para auxiliar a transferência das cargas entre os pilares. Esta solução é proposta por analogia aos blocos utilizados na transição da superestrutura à infraestrutura de uma edificação, comumente chamado de blocos de fundação. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo estudar um modelo de bielas e tirantes tridimensional para o dimensionamento de blocos de concreto armado para transição entre pilares rotacionados, a partir dos resultados de análises elásticas de tensões, e avaliar numericamente os modos de falha, resistências últimas e condições de serviços do bloco dimensionado, considerando a não linearidade física dos materiais com um modelo de plasticidade. O modelo tridimensional proposto interliga modelos planos anteriormente definidos em estudos do autor. Verifica-se que a diferença entre os esforços do modelo proposto e o do modelo plano não são significativas, ratificando, com isso, a utilização do modelo plano. A partir das análises não lineares, verifica-se que a capacidade resistente do elemento estudado é significativamente maior que a solicitação aplicada, por influência da resistência à tração do concreto, ou seja, a não consideração da resistência à tração do concreto no modelo de bielas e tirantes despreza grande parte da capacidade resistente do elemento. Além disso, observa-se que a configuração de ruína ocorre pelo escoamento do aço na armadura chamada de "principal". Com os resultados do trabalho, busca-se contribuir com a proposição de uma solução mais adequada para a região de transição entre pilares rotacionados.