ABSTRACT
This contribution presents an assessment strategy for time-variant degradation effects of reinforced concrete structures. Both the stress-history-induced structural damage evolution and the deterioration development independent on stresses are simulated. Combining nonlinear finite element simulations of concrete structures and damage models with probabilistic reliability analysis, this concept is one preliminary step to future design procedures of structural concrete.
For the calculation of load-induced damage accumulation, the reinforced concrete material is modelled using approved simulation methods for constitutive concrete, steel and bond behaviour including a phenomenological fatigue model. For load-independent deterioration processes, such as corrosion of reinforcement, simple procedures are proposed and models from literature are considered. The results of the deterministic structural analysis are then processed probabilistically in order to consider the scattering character of resistance and action parameters. These probabilistic simulations are performed for different lifetime periods. Consequently, the estimation of the time-variant failure probability, i.e. the failure rate, is made possible. The application of this concept will be demonstrated by means of a numerical example from bridge engineering.
