Rational Evaluation of Shear Capacity in Aging Concrete Structures

这项国际合作旨在应用亚琛工业大学（德国）开发的基于力学的理论来评估渥太华大学（加拿大）正在研究的腐蚀钢筋混凝土（RC）结构。直到最近，由于缺乏对潜在力学的理解，钢筋混凝土结构的抗剪设计是基于经验数据的。在加拿大，除冰盐的广泛使用也导致了广泛的腐蚀引起的损害，我们40%的基础设施被归类为非常差、差或一般状况。因此，加拿大在理解和减轻腐蚀、评估其影响以及制定结构修复和加固的实际解决方案方面已成为全球领导者。另一方面，虽然腐蚀损伤大大增加了剪切行为的不确定性程度，但现有的加拿大方法缺乏解决这一重要研究挑战的基本力学基础。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，它能够预测加载各个阶段的剪切裂缝扩展，并量化每种抵抗施加剪切力的各种机制的贡献。通过此次合作，我们将把腐蚀损伤的影响纳入SCPT公式，从而显著提高加拿大乃至全球桥梁评估的准确性和安全性。通过采用合理和一致的方法来预测桥梁的能力，而不是经验主义，业主将能够实施适当的，及时的，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.