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Probabilistic damage modeling and service-life prediction of concrete under freeze–thaw action

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Abstract

The long-term performance of concrete subjected to freezing and thawing damage is experimentally studied. The ASTM procedures for rapid freezing and thawing are followed to condition all the test samples. Dynamic modulus of elasticity and fracture energy for different numbers of freeze/thaw (F/T) cycles are measured through nondestructive modal and cohesive fracture tests, respectively. Nonlinear regression analysis is adopted to analyze the test data, and the relationship between the relative dynamic modulus and the number of F/T cycles is established. Based on the three-parameter Weibull distribution model, the probabilistic damage analysis is performed, from which the relationships between the number of F/T cycles and damage parameter for different probabilities of reliability are established. Based on the correlations between the available field environment and the indoor laboratory experiment, the field service-life of the considered structural concrete is predicted and validated with the fracture energy test data.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Alaska University Transportation Center (AUTC), State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, and US Department of Transportation (Proposal Number: 410029; Contract/Grant No.: DTRT06-G-0011) and Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) (Contract No.: 13A-3815-5188).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Sloan Hall 117, Pullman, WA, 99164-2910, USA

    Fangliang Chen & Pizhong Qiao

  2. State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering and School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China

    Pizhong Qiao

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  1. Fangliang Chen
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  2. Pizhong Qiao
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Correspondence to Pizhong Qiao.

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Chen, F., Qiao, P. Probabilistic damage modeling and service-life prediction of concrete under freeze–thaw action. Mater Struct 48, 2697–2711 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0347-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0347-y

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