Computational Modelling Strategies for Nonlinear Response Prediction of Corroded Circular RC Bridge Piers
A numerical model is presented that enables simulation of the nonlinear flexural response of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) components. The model employs a force-based nonlinear fibre beam-column element. A new phenomenological uniaxial material model for corroded reinforcing steel is used. This model accounts for the impact of corrosion on buckling strength, postbuckling behaviour, and low-cycle fatigue degradation of vertical reinforcement under cyclic loading. The basic material model is validated through comparison of simulated and observed responses for uncorroded RC columns. The model is used to explore the impact of corrosion on the inelastic response of corroded RC columns.
Exploring the impact of chloride-induced corrosion on seismic damage limit states and residual capacity of reinforced concrete structures
Abstract A non-linear finite element (FE) framework for time-dependent capacity assessment of corroded rectangular reinforced concrete (RC) columns is developed. The proposed non-linear FE model includes the impact of corrosion on inelastic buckling and low-cycle fatigue degradation of longitudinal reinforcement. The proposed non-linear FE model is validated against a set of experimental data and then extended to evaluate the impact of corrosion on damage limit states to be used in seismic performance and evaluation of corroded structures. This is done through a parametric study on hypothetical RC columns, varied in axial force ratios, mass loss ratios, cover crack widths and confinement levels. Moreover, the application of the proposed model in seismic collapse capacity assessment of corroded structures is shown through non-linear dynamic analyses of prototype columns. Results show that, depending on the axial force ratio, corrosion changes the failure mechanism of the columns. The results of this study suggest that in seismic fragility analysis of corroded structures, the damage limit states should be considered as time-variant parameters.
Experimental study of thermal modeling for stratospheric platform airships
R&D work on the Japanese stratospheric platform airship is discussed from the viewpoint of the thermal modeling. The work includes two experiments on the thermal characteristics of the 25m-long airship and the 35m-long PV-equipped airship model. The validity of the current thermal model was confirmed by comparing the calculated results with the measured data. The other important work is the Ground-to-Stratosphere (GTS) flight test. A 47mlong airship-shaped balloon was flown to the stratosphere. The flight simulation program into which the thermal model was integrated, was developed and applied successfully to predict the ascent behavior and the flight trajectory.