Abstract
The alkali-silica reaction (ASR) significantly compromises the structural integrity of reinforced concrete members, underscoring the need for reliable computational models to assess ASR-affected infrastructure, especially in regions like Japan, where this issue is prevalent. Prestressed concrete (PC) girders develop anisotropic cracking under ASR-induced expansion, resulting in direction-dependent mechanical properties that can influence their global structural performance. In this study, the flexural behaviour of ASR-deteriorated PC girders with varying prestress and expansion levels is investigated numerically using the COM3 computational framework, which integrates constitutive laws for ASR-damaged concrete. The model’s ability to capture anisotropic mechanical behaviour is first evaluated by simulating compression loading on selected elements extracted in different orientations, representing the behaviour of core samples taken from actual girders. The flexural response of PC girders is then simulated and analysed incorporating insights from the core sample simulations, the results of which are consistent with experimental data. However, a discrepancy in initial stiffness is observed in the zero-prestress PC girder in which ASR-induced pore pressure causes axial expansion rather than compressive strain, leading to reduced stiffness through the recontact mechanism. These findings support a proposed hypothesis: ASR generates two distinct crack types: microcracks (small, gel-filled cracks with stiffness comparable to intact concrete) and macrocracks (mainly causes reduction in mechanical properties of concrete). Excluding microcrack strain from the constitutive models yields close alignment with the experimental results.
Keywords
alkali-silica reaction, numerical analysis, prestressed concrete girder, anisotropic cracking.
DOI
10.5703/1288284318148
Recommended Citation
Elmasry, Abdallah Mohamed; Ji, Xi; Joo, Hyo Eun; and Takahashi, Yuya, "Numerical Study on the Flexural Behaviour of ASR-Affected Prestressed Concrete Girders Considering Crack Morphology" (2025). International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures. 4.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/icdcs/2025/cms/4
Numerical Study on the Flexural Behaviour of ASR-Affected Prestressed Concrete Girders Considering Crack Morphology
The alkali-silica reaction (ASR) significantly compromises the structural integrity of reinforced concrete members, underscoring the need for reliable computational models to assess ASR-affected infrastructure, especially in regions like Japan, where this issue is prevalent. Prestressed concrete (PC) girders develop anisotropic cracking under ASR-induced expansion, resulting in direction-dependent mechanical properties that can influence their global structural performance. In this study, the flexural behaviour of ASR-deteriorated PC girders with varying prestress and expansion levels is investigated numerically using the COM3 computational framework, which integrates constitutive laws for ASR-damaged concrete. The model’s ability to capture anisotropic mechanical behaviour is first evaluated by simulating compression loading on selected elements extracted in different orientations, representing the behaviour of core samples taken from actual girders. The flexural response of PC girders is then simulated and analysed incorporating insights from the core sample simulations, the results of which are consistent with experimental data. However, a discrepancy in initial stiffness is observed in the zero-prestress PC girder in which ASR-induced pore pressure causes axial expansion rather than compressive strain, leading to reduced stiffness through the recontact mechanism. These findings support a proposed hypothesis: ASR generates two distinct crack types: microcracks (small, gel-filled cracks with stiffness comparable to intact concrete) and macrocracks (mainly causes reduction in mechanical properties of concrete). Excluding microcrack strain from the constitutive models yields close alignment with the experimental results.
