Mechanical Properties of Reinforced Concrete Members at Cryogenic Temperatures
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 38, Issue 3
Abstract
This study analyzed the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete flexural and axial-tension members at low temperatures ranging from 273.15 to 108.15 K based on experimental and theoretical analyses. Special test chambers were used to separately apply mechanical forces and low temperatures to the test members. The steel strain caused by the mechanical and thermal restraint forces was obtained using the self-compensation test method. The effects of low temperatures on the tensile and flexural stiffness behaviors of reinforced concrete beams, as well as the internal forces generated because of the different linear expansion coefficients of concrete and steel at low temperatures, were analyzed. Analytical models were developed to predict the restraint stress corresponding to different temperatures. The accuracy of the analytical models was verified using the test results. The results show that the deformation stiffness of both flexural and axial-tension members increases linearly with decreasing temperature. The difference between the thermal deformation of concrete and steel bars becomes more considerable as the temperature decreases, resulting in nonnegligible restraint stress in the steel bars. The study can provide a basis for the design of structures in service at low and ultralow temperatures, such as liquefied natural gas storage tank structures.
Practical Applications
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is primarily composed of methane. After extraction from gas fields, it goes through a purification process; thereafter, it is subjected to a series of ultralow-temperature liquefaction steps and transported through specialized LNG carriers. LNG has extensive applications in various aspects of daily life, including energy supply, transportation, industrial use, and power generation. Compared with traditional fuels, LNG offers higher efficiency and environmental benefits. Nonetheless, optimizing the design of LNG storage facilities presents several technical challenges. Presently, reinforced concrete is the predominant material used in the construction of LNG storage facilities. To fully exploit the advantages of concrete structures in ultralow-temperature environments and reduce construction costs, comprehensive studies on the performance of concrete under such extreme conditions are crucial. This study is of immense scientific value and offers promising prospects for practical applications.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was financially supported by the Innovation Demonstration Base of Ecological Environment Geotechnical and Ecological Restoration of Rivers and Lakes (No. 412 2020EJB004), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51508171), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2020CFB860). The authors would like to express gratitude for their support.
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- Ac
- cross-sectional area of concrete (mm2);
- As
- cross-sectional area of the longitudinal steel bars of the member (mm2);
- BM
- bending stiffness of the flexural member (N · mm2);
- BN
- tensile stiffness of the axial-tension member (N);
- EcTi
- elastic modulus of concrete at temperature Ti (N · mm2);
- EsTi
- elastic modulus of the steel bars at temperature Ti (N · mm2);
- ETc
- elastic modulus of concrete at temperature (N · mm2);
- G
- hanging steel weight;
- I
- inertia moment of the beam section to the neutral axis (mm4);
- M
- moment value of the midspan section (N · mm);
- N
- tensile force of the axial-tension member (N);
- P
- concentrate load;
- Pcr
- total cracking load;
- Ti
- specified temperature;
- y
- distance between the measuring point and the neutral axis of the beam (mm);
- α0Ti
- linear expansion coefficient of the steel bar at temperature Ti;
- αcTi
- linear expansion coefficient of concrete when the temperature drops from normal temperature to temperature Ti;
- αG
- temperature expansion coefficient of the quartz standard sheet;
- ΔTi
- temperature difference from normal temperature to the specified temperature Ti;
- ΔɛTi
- obtained by subtracting the strain output of the free steel bar without encased concrete from that of the quartz standard sheet;
- ɛcTi
- temperature-induced strain of concrete when the temperature is lowered from normal temperature to Ti;
- ɛM
- average value of the microstrain of the flexural member at the position y from the neutral axis;
- ɛMαTi
- restraint strain of the steel bar when the temperature is lowered from normal temperature to Ti temperature;
- ɛN
- average value of the microstrain at the midspan measuring point of the axial tension;
- ɛsTi
- temperature-induced strain of the steel bars in the test member when the temperature is lowered from room temperature to Ti temperature;
- ρ
- curvature of the neutral layer (1/mm); and
- σMαTi
- restraint stress in the steel bar when the temperature is lowered from normal temperature to Ti temperature (N · mm2).
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Published In
Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 38 • Issue 3 • September 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 18, 2023
Accepted: Nov 16, 2023
Published online: Apr 16, 2024
Published in print: Sep 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Sep 16, 2024
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