Rational Evaluation of Shear Capacity in Aging Concrete Structures

这项国际合作旨在将亚琛工业大学（德国）开发的基于力学的理论应用于正在uOttawa（加拿大）研究的受腐蚀钢筋混凝土（RC）结构的评估。直到最近，由于缺乏对基础力学的理解，RC结构的抗剪设计是基于经验数据的。除冰盐在加拿大的广泛使用也导致了广泛的腐蚀性损害，我们40%的基础设施被归类为非常差，差或公平的条件，因此，加拿大已成为了解和减轻腐蚀，评估其影响，并为结构修复和加强开发实用解决方案的全球领导者。另一方面，虽然腐蚀破坏大大增加了剪切行为的不确定性程度，现有的加拿大方法缺乏基本的机械基础，以解决这一重要的研究挑战。亚琛工业大学结构混凝土研究所最近开发的SCPT是独一无二的，它能够预测剪切裂纹在所有加载阶段的扩展，并量化每个抵抗所施加剪切力的各种机制的贡献。通过此次合作，我们将在SCPT公式中纳入腐蚀损伤的影响，以显著提高加拿大和全球桥梁评估的准确性和安全性。通过应用合理和一致的方法来预测桥梁的承载能力，而不是盲目性，业主将能够实施适当，及时和具有成本效益的维护和修复措施。

This international collaboration aims to apply mechanics-based theories developed at RWTH Aachen University (Germany) to evaluated corroded reinforced concrete (RC) structures being studied at uOttawa (Canada). Until recently, shear design of RC structures was based on empirical data due to lack of understanding of the underlying mechanics. Extensive use of deicing salts in Canada has also resulted in widespread corrosion-induced damage, with 40% of our infrastructure classified as being in very poor, poor, or fair condition Consequently, Canada has become a global leader in understanding and mitigating corrosion, evaluating its implications, and developing practical solutions for structural rehabilitation and strengthening. On the other hand, while corrosion damage greatly increases the degree of uncertainty in shear behaviour, existing Canadian methods lack the fundamental mechanical basis to address this important research challenge. The SCPT recently developed at the Institute of Structural Concrete at RWTH Aachen University is unique in its ability to predict shear crack propagation at all stages of loading and quantify the contribution of each of the various mechanisms resisting the applied shear force. Through this collaboration, we will incorporate the effects of corrosion damage within the SCPT formulation to significantly improve the accuracy and safety of bridge evaluations in Canada and globally. By applying a rational and consistent method to predict the capacity of bridges instead of empiricism, owners will be able to implement appropriate, timely, and cost-effective maintenance and rehabilitation measures.