VeRCoRs is a research program organized around tests performed on a mock-up of a reactor containment building at scale 1/3rd. A lot of measurements are collected since pouring of concrete and predictive calculations were made in the framework of an…
VeRCoRs is a research program organized around tests performed on a mock-up of a reactor containment building at scale 1/3rd. A lot of measurements are collected since pouring of concrete and predictive calculations were made in the framework of an international benchmark. The aim of this work is to propose a simplified but efficient modelling approach for simulating the behavior of the gusset of the mock-up and particularly for predicting the cracking at early age. Simplification is based on an approach where the calculation imposes diffuse damage. The dialogue between the situation of diffuse damage and that of localized cracking, established on the basis of limit analysis concepts, allows providing convincing results on cracking indicators.