Rational Evaluation of Shear Capacity in Aging Concrete Structures

这一国际合作旨在将德国亚琛大学(RWTH)发展的基于力学的理论应用于评估加拿大渥太华大学正在研究的锈蚀钢筋混凝土(RC)结构。直到最近，由于缺乏对基本力学的理解，钢筋混凝土结构的抗剪设计仍然基于经验数据。加拿大大量使用除冰盐也导致了广泛的腐蚀引起的破坏，我们40%的基础设施被归类为非常差、差或一般状况。因此，加拿大在了解和减轻腐蚀、评估其影响以及开发结构修复和加固的实用解决方案方面已成为全球领先者。另一方面，虽然腐蚀损伤大大增加了剪切行为的不确定性，但加拿大现有的方法缺乏基本的力学基础来解决这一重要的研究挑战。RWTH亚琛大学结构混凝土研究所最近开发的SCPT的独特之处在于，它能够预测加载所有阶段的剪切裂缝扩展，并量化各种抵抗所施加剪切力的机制的贡献。通过这次合作，我们将把腐蚀损害的影响纳入SCPT公式中，以显著提高加拿大和全球桥梁评估的准确性和安全性。通过采用合理和一致的方法来预测桥梁的承载能力，而不是经验主义，业主将能够实施适当的、及时的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.