Modelling the Strength and Fracture Parameters of Dam Gallery Concrete Considering Ambient Temperature and Humidity

• Published in: Buildings (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 168
• Main Authors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Li, Qingbin, Liu, Zhihong, Zheng, Jiangnan, Wei, Kai, Tan, Yaosheng, Yang, Ning, Liu, Chunfeng, Lu, Yongjiu, Hu, Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Age; Ambient temperature; Cement; Concrete; cracking risk; Curing; dam; Environmental conditions; fracture parameters; Fracture testing; gallery concrete; High temperature; Humidity; maturity model; Mechanical properties; Parameters; Risk analysis; strength; Stress distribution; Tensile strength; China
• ISSN: 2075-5309; 2075-5309
• DOI: 10.3390/buildings12020168

Due to the complex structure and stress distribution of dam galleries, cracks often appear during the construction, operation and maintenance periods of dams. This paper proposes a method to determine the real strength and fracture parameters of gallery concrete, considering environmental temperature and humidity. The strength and fracture tests were carried out for gallery concrete at various ages and under different curing temperature and humidity conditions. The influence of curing conditions on the mechanical properties of gallery concrete was quantitatively analyzed. The prediction equations of the strength and fracture parameters of gallery concrete under arbitrary temperature and humidity were established. Based on the measured temperature and humidity data, the real mechanical parameters of gallery concrete were predicted. The research results show that the influence of environmental conditions on mechanical parameters cannot be neglected, as this can result in a strength reduction of up to 33.81%. The proposed equations can be used to predict the mechanical parameters of gallery concrete, subject to real environmental conditions, which can help to correct a maximum deviation of 54.62% on parameters calculated using actual ages. The proposed method can provide a scientific basis for the cracking risk analysis and safety assessment of the gallery structure under actual conditions.