In very large buildings with connected walls, such as large Nuclear Power Plants, concrete shrinkage strains have to be considered because of elements differential strains, as required in the new European construction code (EC 2).. The common engineering method consists in considering shrinkage as an equivalent thermal strain, which is in fact computed as internal forces. In EPR, for Flamanville 3 conditions, this method could lead to unusual in the lower part of the buildings, resulting in very high reinforcement ratio hard to set in place, so EDF with its partners have proposed a new methodology based on crack width assessment. At first, we compute the shrinkage differential strains, “εs”, depending on moisture conditions and elements thickness. Then we fix a reinforcement section as a calculation hypothesis in order to estimate the distance “Ss” between cracks, which is independent from the loads. Consequently, we can assume that a certain crack width value “Ws” is consumed by the shrinkage itself, with Ws = εs Ss Rax (Rax restriction factor). So the available crack width for the other loads is the remaining crack width.. From cracking theory and according to EC2; we can deduce steel stress σd. So the structure design (reinforcement mainly) can be undertaken with this allowable limit value σd., in the load combinations where shrinkage as to be considered. This new methodology is more realistic than the equivalent thermal load based method, so safety requirements are satisfied by focusing on crack width assessment: this is a performance approach. It has allowed EDF to size a reinforcement ratio, which is compatible with concrete technical rules, especially in the areas near the raft. Of course this method remains in accordance with durability hypotheses and other requirements connected to nuclear specificities.
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17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
July 12–16, 2009
Brussels, Belgium
Conference Sponsors:
- Nuclear Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4353-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Concrete Shrinkage Taken Into Account as Crack Width Assessment Available to Purchase
Etienne Gallitre,
Etienne Gallitre
EDF, Villeurbanne, France
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Pierre Alain Naze,
Pierre Alain Naze
EDF, Montrouge, France
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Pierre Labbe
Pierre Labbe
EDF, Saint-Denis, France
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Etienne Gallitre
EDF, Villeurbanne, France
Pierre Alain Naze
EDF, Montrouge, France
Pierre Labbe
EDF, Saint-Denis, France
Paper No:
ICONE17-75476, pp. 919-922; 4 pages
Published Online:
February 25, 2010
Citation
Gallitre, E, Naze, PA, & Labbe, P. "Concrete Shrinkage Taken Into Account as Crack Width Assessment." Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering. Volume 3: Thermal Hydraulics; Current Advanced Reactors: Plant Design, Construction, Workforce and Public Acceptance. Brussels, Belgium. July 12–16, 2009. pp. 919-922. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE17-75476
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