International Concrete Abstracts Portal

This paper describes the enhancements made to the FHWA’s HIPERPAV software program for simulating early-age concrete pavement behavior. It gives a brief background describing the software, discusses the modeling improvements that have been made, and suggests future work for additional improvements. An enhanced moisture transport model has been developed and incorporated into the HIPERPAV software, and results show that the moisture distribution and associated stress/strength developments are significantly affected by the model parameters, environmental, and construction conditions. New inputs were included in the software to define the experimentally determined hydration curve parameters to improve predictions of degree of hydration and portland cement concrete (PCC) temperature development. A batch mode was added for analysis of multiple strategies at once, and a comparison module was created that allow users to compare simulation results from multiple strategies and run sensitivity analysis for multiple variables.

The long-term durability of concrete is related to its ability to impede or reduce fluid transport. The long-term durability performance of concrete pavement can be dramatically influenced by the ingress of water or other fluids at saw-cut joints. Research is needed to better understand the role of complex geometries, like saw-cuts, on fluid transport. This paper uses x-ray attenuation to study the unsaturated fluid transport in systems containing a saw-cut (notch). The rate of water transport is greater in the direction perpendicular (i.e., horizontal) to the wall of the saw-cut when compared to the penetration below the tip of the saw-cut. This can be explained by the geometry of the source. To study the influence of fluid properties on transport, two fluids were tested with dramatically different viscosities and surface tensions. The results indicate that for the solution with higher viscosity and lower surface tension the absorption rate is reduced significantly. A finite element based code (Hydrus) is used to simulate the unsaturated flow based on solution of Richard’s equation. Results of simulations show good agreement with experimental results and confirm the effects of the geometry of the saw-cut on fluid transport.

Early-age cracking can reduce the service life of reinforced concrete structures by providing a path for the ingress of moisture. This cracking is caused by a complex interaction among concrete material properties, construction methods, and the environment, especially during the early age curing period.  In order to prevent early age cracking, the concrete mixture and construction methods must be complementary and chosen with care. Early age concrete simulations can be used to minimize the risk of cracking by optimizing the materials and construction techniques for the local environmental conditions. These simulations are rarely performed however, because of the great expense and time needed to quantify the early age concrete mechanical properties (modulus, tensile strength, creep, coefficient of thermal expansion, etc.). Recent breakthroughs in material science and concrete technology have enabled the development of needed early-age concrete material property models.   An early age temperature development and thermal stress simulation tool named ConcreteWorks was recently completed that allows engineers and contractors to quickly optimize concrete construction with reduced laboratory testing. ConcreteWorks includes several material behavior models that were developed to eliminate the need for expensive, specialized testing. This paper presents the development of ConcreteWorks, along with examples of its application on recently completed construction projects. These case studies illustrate how materials science modeling techniques can be simplified for the end user needs.

The alkali aggregate reaction (AAR) is affecting numerous civil engineering structures and is responsible for unrecoverable expansion and cracking which can affect their functional capacity. In order to control the safety level and the maintenance cost of its hydraulic dams, Electricité de France (EDF) has to get a better understanding and a better prediction of the expansion phenomena. In this context, EDF is developing a numerical modelling based on the finite element method in order to assess the mechanical behavior of degraded structures. Obtaining a good prediction of expansive phenomena requires the identification and realistic modelling of the underlying physical, chemical and mechanical phenomena. The model takes into account the mechanical damage, the creep of concrete and the stress induced by the formation of AAR gel. Coupling between the different phenomena (creep, AAR and anisotropic damage) are taken into account through a rheological modelling. First , experimental results obtained on concrete cylinders and beams affected by AAR are simulated to verify whether the model can describe the behavior of degraded structures.

Stresses develop in portland cement concrete pavement at early ages when volume changes associated with hydration reactions, moisture loss, and temperature variations are restrained. Saw-cuts are placed in concrete pavements to provide a weakened plane that enables cracks to form as intended, thereby relieving developed residual stresses. Although the idea of creating a weakened plane by saw-cutting is relatively straight forward, practically determining the timing and depth of saw-cut can be complicated in field construction. This study uses a finite element model (FEMMASSE) to evaluate influence of saw-cut timing on cracking behavior of concrete pavements. The model considers the influence of ambient temperature, cooling effect of wind, and time of casting. It is shown that the saw-cutting time window was reduced as ambient temperature was increased. Higher wind speeds influence the saw-cutting time window to a lesser degree at high ambient temperatures than they do at lower ambient temperatures. It was also shown that the time of casting influences the saw-cutting time window and it needs to be considered in estimating the saw-cutting time window especially at high ambient temperatures.