NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF CONCRETE CRACKING IN SHELL STRUCTURES DUE TO RESTRAINING STRESSES IN EARLY AGE CONCRETE

摘要

Restraining stresses resulting from concrete hydration in thin reinforced concrete shells have a major influence on the required minimum reinforcement. Reinforcement design of these structures for the limitation of concrete cracks follows generally simplified rules and assumptions. This often results in an uneconomical amount of reinforcement. This paper presents results of recent research in the analysis of concrete cracking due to restraining stresses in natural draught cooling tower shells, which occur during the hydration process. Based on linear and nonlinear numerical simulations a realistic and economically reasonable approach for minimum reinforcement requirements in these structures is derived.