Multiscale modelling of reinforced concrete structures
Research Project, 2015 – 2018

The aim of this project is to develop a validated multiscale framework, capable of modelling crack growth in detail in large scale reinforced concrete structures like e.g. bridges. Modelling will be done on three scales: 1) reinforced concrete in mesoscale: a reinforcement bar with surrounding concrete consisting of aggregates, cement paste and weak interfacial transition zones; to be homogenized to a solid element capable of describing cracking of concrete, slip between reinforcement and concrete and wedging action thereof. 2) Macroscale: Reinforced slabs and shear walls; to be homogenized to effective shell elements capable of describing crack width and growth in detail. 3) Structural scale: applying the developed modelling methods to a bridge that will be tested (in another project) for combined bending and shear failure. The suggested project is of ground-breaking nature, being transdisciplinary across borders between Structural Engineering and Computational Mechanics. It has potential to create substantial break-through in numerical modelling of large reinforced concrete structures; enabling to study e.g. crack width growth in detail.

Participants

Karin Lundgren (contact)

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Fredrik Larsson

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Material and Computational Mechanics

Filip Nilenius

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Kenneth Runesson

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Material and Computational Mechanics

Adam Sciegaj

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Funding

Swedish Research Council (VR)

Project ID: 2014-5168
Funding Chalmers participation during 2015–2018

Related Areas of Advance and Infrastructure

Building Futures (2010-2018)

Areas of Advance

C3SE (Chalmers Centre for Computational Science and Engineering)

Infrastructure

Materials Science

Areas of Advance

Publications

More information

Latest update

3/16/2017