In order to predict the long term evolution of reinforced concrete structures exposed to envi- ronmental conditions, the French Atomic Energy Agency (CEA) has launched a project, called CIMETAL, which aims at characterizing and predicting the effects of corrosion of…
In order to predict the long term evolution of reinforced concrete structures exposed to envi- ronmental conditions, the French Atomic Energy Agency (CEA) has launched a project, called CIMETAL, which aims at characterizing and predicting the effects of corrosion of the reinforcements induced by carbon dioxide penetration. One of the main objectives of this study is to evaluate the capability of a cracking model to predict the time required for the formation of visible cracks on a old building. For this purpose, a 50 years old water tower, classified as historical building, and showing degradations, has been selected. Various measurements have been performed on it to characterize, as much as possible, some data required for the modelling, such as the accurate position of the rebars in the structure, the nature of the iron oxides, etc. A particular cracked zone of the tower has been selected for the mechanical analysis. Bidimensionnal tran- sient analysis have been performed, in which the concrete, the reinforcements as well as the corrosion prod- ucts layers are modelled.