Title: Creep Effects in Concrete Structures: A Study About Stochastic Behavior

Author(s): Claudio Floris, Roberto Marelli, and Luigi Regondi

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 88

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 248-256

Keywords: cantilever beams; concretes; creep properties; creep tests; stochastic processes; structural analysis; structures; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/1851

Date: 5/1/1991

Abstract:
Concrete creep effects are studied from a statistical point of view. Some quantities that affect them are stochastic variables; thus, a stochastic analysis is necessary. The analysis is performed through Monte Carlo simulation. In this way the stochastic characteristic of some variables is easily taken into account. Stochastic variables are temperature and humidity of air, so monthly averages distributions are determined. In the analysis, random values for temperature and humidity are extracted every month; samples with 10,000 viscous stories are constructed and analyzed to find the probability density functions of the most important output quantities. The cases analyzed concern the redundant forces from coupling of cantilever beams, resulting in the loss of prestress in a prestressed section. The output quantities have bimodal-shaped histograms, not negligible dispersion and non-normal distributions.