Computational linear elastic fracture mechanics can be used relatively large concrete structures as a quantitative guide in: • forensic engineering: the use as a primary diagnostic tool determining the cause of cracking; • repair of cracked structure: the use in…
Computational linear elastic fracture mechanics can be used relatively large concrete structures as a quantitative guide in: • forensic engineering: the use as a primary diagnostic tool determining the cause of cracking; • repair of cracked structure: the use in the design of cost-effective and safe repair procedures. Two examples are given of the latter use. In the first, linear elastic computational fracture mechanics is used to decrease the probability of crack growth caused by pressure injection of grout into a crack in a doubly curved arch dam. In the second, it is used to design a post- tensioned retrofit of a bridge plinth to decrease stress intensity on existing or possible future cracks. 1721 1 Computational fracture mechanics (CFrM) can be applied to concrete structures as a tool for: • forensic engineering: use as a pnmary diagnostic tool in determining the cause of cracking. • repair of cracked structure: use in the design of repair procedures for cracked structures. Much of the work in the application of fracture mechanics to large concrete structures falls into the first category and was inspired by the landmark work of Cloug65 on finite element analysis, without fracture mechanics, of cracking in a concrete gravity dam. Examples include investigations into the cause of cracking the Fontana gravity [Chapp81, Ingra90], the Kolnbrein doubly curved arch [Linsb89], and the Schoharie Creek Bridge [Swens91]. The focus of present paper, however, is on the second category. Because we will investigate repair of relatively large structures, we will use linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) to design schemes to: • decrease the level of stress intensity on existing cracks; • arrest stable crack growth; ~ decrease the probability of crack growth caused by repair procedures.