SWUTC Ph.D. Candidate Assistantship Project Description
Modeling and Measuring Deformation of Freezing Concrete: Towards the Identification of D-Cracking Susceptible Aggregates and Construction of all Concrete LNG Tanks
University: Texas A&M University
Principal Investigator:
Syeda Rahman
Zachry Department of Civil Engineering
Faculty Supervisor:
Dr. Zachary Grasley
Zachry Department of Civil Engineering
(979) 845-8865
Funding Source: USDOT Funds
Total Project Cost: $37,592
Project Number: 600451-00053
Date Started: 10/1/15
Estimated Completion Date: 8/31/15
Project Summary
Project Abstract:
Little work has been done to investigate the role of mechanics and constitutive properties of concrete phases in the formation and growth of damage in concrete due to freezing of aggregates. Present model needs to be modified to account for the presence of dissolved salts and its subsequent effect on the liquid saturation to accurately predict concrete deformation cooled to cryogenic temperatures.
Project Objectives:
Primary objectives of this research include:
- Derive a thermoporomechanical model.
- Incorporate the effect of dissolved salts and viscoelasticity in the deformation and the successive internal stresses in freezing concrete
- Investigate the role of constitutive properties of concrete phases in the formation of damage via computer simulations implementing the derived model
- Use the developed model to evaluate structural design of LNG tanks
- Measure deformation of concrete subjected to freeze-thaw cycles
- Quantify damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles
- Design an experimental setup
- Provide a guideline on the concrete mixture design
Task Descriptions:
Task 1 – Literature Review:
Task 2 – Modeling concrete under freezing temperatures: Theory of thermoporoelasticity
Task 3 – Improving the existing theory
Task 4 – Measure concrete deformation and quantify damage
Task 5 – Provide guidelines for engineering practice