| 1. |
- Eriksson, Daniel, 1987-
(författare)
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Multiphase models for freeze-thaw actions and mass transport in concrete hydraulic structures
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A crucial task for civil engineers is to make appropriate designs of new concrete structures and assessments of existing structures to ensure a long service life and sustainable use of the infrastructure. This doctoral thesis aims to increase the understanding of how advanced mathematical models can be used to describe phenomena and processes governing concrete degradation and thereby ultimately contribute to improving tools for design and assessments. The focus is on degradation processes that cause commonly observed concrete damage types in hydraulic structures exposed to cold climates and soft water. During a structure's service life, it is subjected to various deteriorating actions, but for the typical exposure conditions considered in this work, degradation due to freeze-thaw exposure and calcium leaching is of particular concern for the durability. Hence, the work related to improved modelling has been focused on phenomena related to these two degradation processes of concrete and how they may interact to produce damaging synergy effects.All developed models in this doctoral project treat concrete as a multiphase porous medium and use poromechanics to describe the coupled hygro-thermo-mechanical behaviour of the material. Moreover, since the overall aim concerns degradation in hydraulic structures, the model development has focused on obtaining formulations applicable for structural-scale simulations. The models presented in this thesis describe long-term water absorption into air-entrained concrete and the response of partially saturated air-entrained concrete exposed to freeze-thaw conditions. In the latter models, the phase changes and the freeze-thaw hysteresis are explicitly considered in the formulations. The presented simulation examples are performed using the Finite Element Method (FEM), and the capabilities of the models are verified with experimental data from the literature. Additionally, accelerated leaching experiments on air-entrained concrete are presented, where the influence of leaching on the formation and melting of ice inside the pore space due to pore structure alternations are investigated.The main research contribution of this work is the development and evaluation of advanced models applicable for structural-scale simulations that describe essential processes and phenomena related to freeze-thaw exposure of air-entrained concrete. The experimental work shows the significant influence of calcium leaching on the freeze-thaw processes, and the results can also facilitate future development of models considering some of the interactions causing damaging synergy effects. Adopting a multiphase modelling approach has been found suitable for describing the coupled processes and including interactions between different deterioration mechanisms. The theoretical models can also help gain further insights and improve the understanding of the phenomena, and thus, e.g. aid in developing more simplified models suited for daily engineering applications.
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| 2. |
- Gasch, Tobias
(författare)
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Multiphysical analysis methods to predict the ageing and durability of concrete
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- With the societal demand for sustainability and the increasing age of infrastructure, a crucial task for the civil engineering community is to improve the durability of concrete structures. This thesis aims to contribute to such development through theoretical studies using mathematical modelling and numerical simulations. During its service life, a concrete structure is subjected to many different actions, ranging from mechanical loads to chemical and physical processes. Hence, a sound modelling strategy requires multiphysics and the inclusion of coupled chemical and physical fields (e.g. temperature, moisture and cement hydration) in addition to methods that describe mechanical integrity of the material. Conditions and phenomena critical for concrete structures at hydropower facilities have been of particular interest to study.The thesis presents several mathematical models of various complexity to describe the multiphysical behaviour of concrete using a material point description. A significant focus is on models that describe the mechanical behaviour of concrete where aspects such as ageing, cracking, creep and shrinkage are investigated. For the creep behaviour, a state-of-the-art model based on the Microprestress–Solidification (MPS) theory is reviewed and further developed. The appended papers (III to IV) presents a mathematical framework for the modelling of durability aspects of concrete based on multiphase porous media theory. The governing equations are derived with the Thermodynamically Constrained Averaging Theory (TCAT) as a starting point. It is demonstrated how this framework can be applied to a broad variety of phenomena related to durability; from the casting and hardening of concrete to the long-term absorption of water into air-entrained concrete. The Finite Element Methods (FEM) is used to solve the proposed mathematical models, and their capabilities are verified using experimental data from the literature.The main research contribution is the development and evaluation of theoretical models that advance the understanding and improve knowledge of the ageing and durability of concrete and concrete structures. More precisely, it is shown how multiphysical models and the developed multiphase framework can be used to gain insights on the material behaviour of concrete at smaller scales while they are also applicable to structural-scale simulations. During all model development, the efficient solution of structural problems has been fundamental. Through case studies and several examples from the literature, it is exemplified how these models can be used to enhance the performance and thereby increase the durability of concrete structures.
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| 3. |
- Hellgren, Rikard, 1988-
(författare)
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A systems approach to ice loads on concrete dams
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dams are mainly used for the storage of water to electricity production and irrigation, or for river regulation. Continuous work to assure a high dam safety level is a prerequisite to minimize the risk for the uncontrolled release of water. An essential part of the safety evaluation of concrete dams is to understand the loads they are exposed to and the expected response of the dam. Under normal conditions, the behaviour of concrete dams is, to a great extent, governed by the ambient variation in temperature and water level. For concrete dams in cold climates, the large variation in ambient temperatures between summer and winter is particularly significant. In addition, these dams may be subjected to a pressure load from the expansion or movement of an ice sheet on the reservoir. The current guidelines for these ice loads are based on the dam's location and state that concrete dams must be designed for a line load of 50-250 kN/m. Thus, the ice load constitutes a significant part of the total load, especially for small dams. Despite its relatively significant impact, the knowledge about ice loads is insufficient, and the magnitude and return period of ice loads constitute one of the greatest uncertainties during stability evaluations of concrete dams. Furthermore, an apparent contradiction is that measurements and models indicate that ice loads are higher than the recommended values. Simultaneously, there are no reported dam failures where the ice-load has been addressed as the reason for the breach.To increase the knowledge about ice loads and the structural behaviour of concrete dams, this thesis applies an approach where the ice and the dam are parts of a structural system. The thesis contains six studies investigating the dam's, the ice's or the system's response to external loads. Studies of the dam are aimed at increasing the understanding of the normal behaviour of concrete dams. Studies of ice loads include measurements, and a major contribution from this project is the development of a 1$\times$3 m$^2$ ice load panel, the installation of the panel on a concrete dam, and subsequent measurements during six winters. In addition, a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous measurements have been performed. The studies of the different parts have been connected through two studies of the entire system. The first is a parameter study where the static interaction between ice and dam is simulated to quantify how geometric variations of the reservoir and ice affect the mechanical ice loads. The second study searches for detectable influence from the ice load in the measured behaviour of concrete dams.The results show that the structural behaviour of concrete dams under normal conditions is primarily governed by the variation in water level and temperature. For the studied dams, these effects are significantly larger than the influence from damage and degradation. Ice load measurements and simulations show that ice loads varies significantly along the dam. This variation makes it difficult to quantify the impact of external factors on the magnitude of ice loads. Despite this difficulty, three independent analyses show that ice thickness, water level change, and the dam's properties have an evident effect on the magnitude of ice loads. If current guidelines are to be updated to consider local conditions at the dam, these three parameters should be included. Ice loads of the magnitudes measured and specified in the current guidelines should have a notable impact on the behaviour of a dam during normal operation. However, such an impact has not been found in the eight dams studied within this project. This result indicates that the ice loads measured locally do not necessarily represent the global ice load that acts on the entire structure.
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| 4. |
- Hellgren, Rikard, 1988-
(författare)
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Condition assessment of concrete dams in cold climate
- 2019
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dams in many countries are approaching their expected service life. Proper assessment of the aging dams structural health increase the knowledge of the current safety, and allow for better planning of renovation and rebuilding investments. The behavior of concrete dams is, to a great extent, governed by the ambient variation in temperature and water level. In cold regions, the ice sheet formed in the reservoir may subject a pressure load on the dams. Theoretically, this load has a significant impact on the structural behavior of dams. Despite this, the maximum magnitude, as well as the seasonal variation of the ice load, constitute the most considerable uncertainty in the safety assessment of dams.This thesis presents research that examines how to model the expected behavior of dams in cold climate. The underlying problem is to predict the response of dams due to variation in the external conditions. Since the ice load is such a vital part of the external conditions in cold climate, the understanding and modeling of ice loads have been given extra attention. Models suitable to predict the long-term behavior of dams can be divided between theoretical, data-based, and hybrid. Prediction accuracy is essential to set alert thresholds, and in that regard, the data-based models are generally superior.The major contribution of this thesis is the design and installation of a prototype ice load panel with direct measurement of the ice pressure acting on a dam. The panel is attached on the upstream face of the dam and is large enough so that the whole thickness of the ice sheet is in contact with the panel. The predicted ice load from the best available model that includes loads from both thermal events and water level changes did not correspond to the measured ice loads. As there are no validated models or measurement methods for ice load on the dam, continued research is necessary, both through further measurements to increase knowledge and development of models.
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| 5. |
- Schönbeck, Pia
(författare)
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Data based configuration decisions in hospital construction projects
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The purpose of hospital buildings is to enable the diagnosis, treatment and caring of patients. Hospital configurations are therefore complex and deficient functionality at the final delivery of construction projects are a known issue. Configuration management is essential to ensure that all required functions are fulfilled. Digital building model data can provide the necessary information to support management of hospital configurations. Data based decisions are dependent on a baseline that contains all required functions. Thereafter, connections between data regarding functions, solutions and production methods should be established. This knowledge provides opportunities for automated data analyses giving real time accurate configuration information, enabling the prevention of deviations from the client’s intent and streamlining processes. The studies in this compilation thesis investigate this subject from different perspectives. Literature reviews, case studies and quantitative analyses of digital building data were the methods used. The results show that the systematic management of data and information can ensure hospital configurations that fulfil required functions at handover. These studies provide a conceptual model showing how configuration information applies to the construction project processes. The proposed detailed decision model shows how data from building models can support hospital configuration decisions in construction projects. Studies show that hospital construction projects management of configuration changes information is deficient. Manually managed logs contained insufficient information about the changes, while the building model data unused by the investigated projects was significantly more reliable. A risk analysis shows that data based configuration decisions in construction projects can prevent hospital building deficiencies, or facilitate recovery if they have already occurred. Digital technologies can improve the accuracy of configuration information, on which automated and industrial production equipment are dependent. However, construction project research seldom addresses the potential synergy and sustainability effects of different technologies. All case studies performed show that the current configuration information management in hospital projects is incomplete. Consequences found were cost increase, delays, reduced client value and corrective rework. The overall conclusion is that data based decisions can improve the control over hospital configurations, ensuring healthcare functions, construction project outcomes and sustainability. This thesis identifies a new research field by showing the potential of data based configuration decisions.
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| 6. |
- Sjölander, Andreas, 1983-
(författare)
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Analyses of shotcrete stress states due to varying lining thickness and irregular rock surfaces
- 2017
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Shotcrete is sprayed concrete applied pneumatically under high pressure and was invented in the beginning of the 1900's. This new technique decreased the construction time and since steel fibres were introduced in the shotcrete during the 1970's, shotcrete has been the primary support method for tunnels.Tunnels excavated with the drill and blast method creates a highly irregular rock surface which results in a shotcrete lining with varying thickness. The structural behaviour as well as the loads acting on the shotcrete lining depends on the interaction between the shotcrete, rock and rock bolts. There are several parameters influencing this interaction, e.g. bond strength, the stiffness of the rock and thickness of the shotcrete. All of these parameters are difficult to predict accurately which makes the structural design of the lining to a complex problem.This thesis present the first part of a research project with the long-term goal to improve the understanding of the structural behaviour of the shotcrete lining. To achieve this, numerical modelling have been used to study the build up of stresses and cracking of shotcrete when subjected to restrained loading caused by e.g. temperature differences and drying shrinkage. The response in the lining when subjected to a gravity load from a block has also been studied. The model is capable of describing the non-linear deformation behaviour of both plain and fibre reinforced shotcrete and uses presented in situ variations in thickness to more accurately account for the effects of expected variations in thickness. The thesis discuss and demonstrate the effect of important loads that acts on the shotcrete lining and how the irregular geometry of the rock surface in combination with the varying thickness of the shotcrete affect the development of stresses in the lining. It is also discussed how a full or partial bond failure affect the structural capacity of a shotcrete lining.
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| 7. |
- Abbasiverki, Roghayeh
(författare)
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Numerical modelling considerations for analysis of concrete hydraulic structures subjected to high-frequency seismic loads
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Concrete hydraulic structures are of great importance in today's society. When situated in areas with hard bedrock, these structures may become extra vulnerable to seismic excitations as these here are dominated by high-frequency vibrations which can have disastrous consequences for slender structures. The aim of this thesis was to investigate special considerations that must be made when conducting analyses of such hydraulic structures during high-frequency excitations. Underground and on the ground structures were investigated separately. Underground concrete pipelines and concrete buttress dams were selected for the study because their behaviour when exposed to seismic excitations is dominated by their stiffness. The most effective models and modelling methods for the seismic analyses of such structures were implemented and evaluated. Two-dimensional finite element (FE) models were developed for the dynamic analysis of underground concrete pipelines loaded by seismic waves propagating from bedrock through soil. The interaction between the bedrock and the surrounding soil was investigated with respect to rock geometry and soil properties. The surface of dam foundations is commonly irregular, resulting in nonuniform motions at the dam-foundation interface. The free-field modelling methods for concrete dam foundations were adapted in order to accurately describe the propagation of earthquake vibrations from the source to the ground surface. The implementation of a threedimensional FE model for concrete buttress dams was investigated. Two different methods for free-field modelling are presented, which can be implemented independently of the software used. The seismic loads are applied as effective earthquake forces at non-reflecting boundaries. In the first method, the free-field motions at the non-reflecting boundaries are determined by the so-called domain reduction method using the direct FE calculation. In the second method, the free-field motions are analytically determined based on the onedimensional wave propagation theory. The results are also compared with the massless foundation modelling approach, in which the topographical amplifications are neglected. It was demonstrated that a two-dimensional model can effectively account for pipeline behaviour. The most important aspect of the models is the ability to capture bending deformations, as segmented structures such as pipelines are vulnerable in this respect. Nonuniform bedrock reduces the safety of concrete pipeline, especially because of bending deformations in the pipe and joints. The massless method gave unreliable results for analyses of dams, especially for high-frequency excitations. The analytical method was also unreliable in estimating the non-linear behaviour of the dams. But, a new time domain deconvolution method was developed to transform the earthquake motion from the foundation surface to the corresponding input motion at depth. It wasfound that free-field modelling of foundations using the direct FE method can accurately capture the topographic amplifications of the seismic excitations. It was shown that a three-dimensional model is required for seismic evaluation of concrete buttress dams. The topographic amplification of high-frequency waves at the surface of canyons had a significant effect on the response of this type of dam.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Bryne, Lars Elof, 1969-
(författare)
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Time dependent material properties of shotcrete for hard rock tunnelling
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this thesis different mechanical properties for shotcrete (sprayed concrete) such as compression strength, bond strength, bending tensile strength, elastic modulus, free and restrained shrinkage as a function of its age was investigated. One of the main issues was to investigate the difference between ordinary cast concrete and shotcrete. Reliable material data for young and hardening shotcrete is scarce which in the past have made such comparisons difficult. Also, less accurate data representative for cast concrete has often been used in numerical modelling and design analyses. The focus of the project has particularly been on the properties bond strength and restrained shrinkage for which two new testing methods has been developed and evaluated. Microstructural studies have also been performed as a complement to the bond strength testing.The bond to rock is one of the most important properties for shotcrete used as rock reinforcement. During the very first time after spraying the physical properties and the bond to the rock depend on the set accelerator and the micro structure that is formed. The investigation of early age bond strength of shotcrete is of great importance both from a production perspective and a safety perspective. The newly developed method was tested and evaluated and proved that it can be used for bond strength testing already from a couple of hours after shotcreting. The bond, or adhesion, depends on several factors such as texture of the rock, the type of accelerator, application technique, etc. In this work the development of the microstructure in the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and strength of the bond was investigated. The results show that the bond strength is related to the hydration process, i.e. the strength gain of the shotcrete. The early development of the ITZ was here studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) making it possible to observe changes over time, before and after proper cement hydration.Restrained shrinkage cracking of shotcrete, especially in the case of shotcrete sprayed on soft drains that are parts of a tunnel lining not continuously bonded to the rock, can be detrimental for the sustainability of an infrastructure tunnel system. Maintenance and repair costs can be high over time. It is shown that the developed test method realistically captures the behaviour of shotcrete drains on hard rock in situ. The method can be used in the evaluation of different technical solutions for avoiding or minimizing shrinkage cracks in shotcreted soft drains. It can also be used to assess the performance of shotcrete fully bonded to a rock surface, with respect to the ability to prevent cracking or to distribute possible shrinkage damage into several fine cracks instead of one wide.
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| 10. |
- Enzell, Jonas
(författare)
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Toward Realistic Failure Evaluations for Concrete Buttress Dams
- 2023
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Concrete dams, complex structures supporting massive loads, have traditionally been assessed using simplified 2D analytical stability analyses based on the rigid body assumption. Previous studies have shown that 3D behavior, such as the interaction between the monoliths and the valley's geology, can greatly impact the load-bearing capacity of gravity dams but remains largely unexplored in buttress dams. Internal failure modes have also been shown to impact the load-bearing capacity and failure modes of concrete dams. The dam breach geometry and breach development time are important factors for flooding simulations used for emergency plans. There are no available methods for estimating the breach parameters for concrete dams. Instead, they are usually assumed based on simplified national recommendations, which introduces large uncertainties in the analysis. Thus, developing methods to estimate failure behavior in concrete gravity and buttress dams could significantly enhance flood simulation accuracy.This licentiate thesis aims to develop more realistic analysis methods for determining the load-bearing capacity and failure behavior of concrete buttress dams. To achieve this aim, studies using physical model tests were conducted to determine the 3D effects of the boundary conditions and the interaction between the monoliths and verify the results from finite element simulations. Numerical studies were performed to examine the failure behavior of concrete buttress dams and to determine suitable methods for such simulations. The results from the physical model tests suggest that 3D effects significantly impact the load-bearing capacity and the failure behavior of concrete buttress dams. Therefore, the entire dam should be considered in stability analyses rather than just single monoliths. The numerical studies showed that finite element models could successfully simulate dam failures, including the 3D behavior of concrete buttress dams and internal failure modes. However, there remain questions about the best methods for representing phenomena such as first-order roughness, valley shape, and fracture planes in these models.The model tests showed that while dam failures can occur abruptly with little to no initial signs of displacement, the presence of rough foundations, cohesion, and rock-strengthening measures in real-world dams suggests actual dam failures may not be as sudden. The results helped establish knowledge in the field to potentially create better alarm limits for automatic monitoring systems.
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