Effect of the casting defects on the ageing of the natural draught cooling

towers
M. MOKDAD, A. COURTOIS, J.F. GEORGIN, I. PETRE-LAZAR, D. DAUFFER
Electricité De France, Research & Development Division, Les Renardières site, Moret-sur-loing, France
National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon, France

ABSTRACT: Natural draught cooling towers often develop cracks as a consequence of the ageing of con-
crete. In situ observation indicates that the degradation rate depends on the quality of the tower construction.
The towers presenting segregation or zones with increased porosity are damaging faster. Aware of this phe-
nomenon, EDF is involved in several research projects, in order to assess the damage processes and to pro-
pose new concepts for the extension of the service life. This contribution studies the effect induced by a cast-
ing defect on the long time behaviour of the structure. This defect is represented by a locally reduced value of
the Young modulus and by a greater permeability of the concrete.
The mechanical behaviour of a cooling tower was studied under the service load induced by temperature and
moisture cycles. The concrete is represented as a non-saturated porous media according to thermo-hydro-
mechanical theory of Coussy [4]. Moisture migration is described by non-linear diffusion equations, and liq-
uid and gaseous transport mechanisms are taken into account. The mechanical state of the concrete is evalu-
ated in the frame of the poroelasticity theory. The modelling is achieved using Code_Aster®, which is a free
FE code developed by EDF (www.code-aster.org). The results consist of in time evolutions of moisture gradi-
ent, strain and stress across the tower section.
The simulation confirms that cracking occurs in the thicker parts of the tower as observed on real structures.
The presence of a casting defect leads to increase deformation and damage in the surrounding zones, as a re-
sult of the reduced rigidity. The increase of the permeability of the defect seems to have no effect with respect
to cracking but hydraulic equilibrium is reached faster. Further research is needed on this subject in order to
improve the modelling of the concrete behaviour under cyclic loading (wind loading, moisture variations), the
effective damage of concrete induced by transport phenomena and to take into account the real initial state of
the building.
1 INTRODUCTION leading to cracking. But this approach cannot ex-
plain the ageing patterns observed on site (geometri-
The natural draught cooling towers are excep- cal deformations and cracking increasing in time
tional structures by their dimension, their geometry situated preferentially near casting defects). A sec-
and their particular function in nuclear installations. ond drawback of this modelling si the fact that some
These structures are exposed to various solicitations of the input parameters are not accessible by stan-
from chemical, physical and mechanical origins. The dard laboratory methods.
condition of the natural draught cooling towers is
more or less degraded (geometrical defects, cracks).
The measurements on site confirm that in some 2 OBJECTIVE OF THIS CONTRIBUTION
cases the defects are increasing in time. In order to
maintain the serviceability of these towers and to op- The aim of this contribution is to study the effect
timize their service life, EDF is carrying on a re- of an initial casting defect of the tower structure on
search program consisting of experimental investiga- its global ageing when the structure is subjected to
tions and numerical modelling. The objective is to thermal and hydrous loadings representing environ-
identify the main causes of the permanent deforma- mental and services conditions. This analysis is
tions and degradations observed on these structures. made using a more complete model in which the
The cause of this ageing is still unknown. In fact, transfer of humidity is well described and the pa-
none of the considered load combinations (self rameters can be identified by experiments. The
weight, wind, creep, and differential settlements) modelling is based on the mechanics of the porous
have provided a complete explanation of the dis- media (theory of poroelasticity developed by O.
placements observed on reel structures. The work Coussy [4]). The porous media consists of several
carried out by R. Witasse [11] proposed a new age- phases, each one being considered as a continuous
ing mechanism induced by thermal and moisture medium. The mechanical behaviour of the concrete
loads. The results showed that the desiccation is supposed isotropic and linear elastic. Numerical
shrinkage of the concrete generates tensile stresses calculus is carried out with Code_Aster® finite ele-
ments program which EDF R&D develops. The de-
fect will be defined as an arbitrary zone of reduced
rigidity and a more significant permeability. The
place of the defect inside the structure is also an ar-
bitrary choice.
The principal constitutive equations of the ap-
plied model are reminded in chapter 3.
Chapter 4 presents the application of this theory
to the natural draught cooling tower. The geometry
is considered in a simplified manner in order to re-
duce the computer time. The main results are the
rate of transfer of moisture within the concrete and
the stresses generated by moisture loads.
3 THERMO-HYDRO-MECHANICAL THEORY
each fluid phase is indicted by i ∈ {l, g, v} for liquid
water, gas air or vapour water phases, respectively.
3.1.1 Mass conservation
Since the porous material is considered as open
system, motion of fluids can occur. An elementary
volume dΩ of the material may have not the same
fluid mass content after the deformation than it had
initially. Let mi the fluid mass content of phase i in
dΩ at time t, and wi the corresponding flow vector of
fluid mass. Then equation of mass conservation of
fluids reads to:
 ∂ma
 ∂t = −div w a

 ∂mv °

APPLIED TO CONCRETE  = −div w v + m→ v (1)

 ∂t
 ∂ml °
The modelling used in this work is based on the
 = − div w − m →v
 ∂t
l
theory of the porous media elaborated by O. Coussy
and detailed in [4]. The mathematical relations °

which manage the homogenised medium are based Where m → v represents liquid mass changing into
on thermodynamic considerations. At the macro- vapour in the elementary volume dΩ during the time
scopic level, the porous media can be viewed as the dt.
superposition of (n+1) continuous mediums, cine-
matically independent but with nevertheless me- 3.1.2 Mechanical equilibrium
chanical interactions; n of them represent the fluid When the porous structure is submitted to various
phase, while the last one corresponds to the skeleton external actions, porous media are subjected to a
(see figure 1). In the case of the concrete, the n flu- stress field σ . The quasi-static momentum balance
ids are the liquid water, the dry air and the water va- reads to:
pour. We present here the main lines of this model, div σ + r F = 0 (2)
for more details, the reader will have to look the ref-
erences [3] and [4]. Where r is the mass density and F is the force per
mass unit.
We can note that σ represents the total stress
tensor supported by the porous media and not only
by the skeleton. This stresses field is composed of
the effective stress plus the pressure supported by
Figure 1: porous media viewed as superposition of two con- fluid phase.
tinuous media.
3.1.3 Diffusion laws
3.1 Constitutive equations Heat diffusion
3.1.3.1
The model is based on the hypothesis of coupling For the heat conduction we introduce Fourier’s
between the different evolutions: thermals, hydrous, law:
mechanical and physico-chemical. It is based pri- q = −λT grad T (3)
marily on the thermodynamic principles and the
equations of conservation both in term of mass and Where λT is the heat conductivity factor.
energy. The transfer of the various fluids is well de-
scribed by the diffusion laws (Fourier, Darcy and 3.1.3.2Fluid diffusion
Fick). The balance of water takes into account the For the conduction of liquid water and the gas
change of phase liquid/gas for the water. This ap- mixture (dry air and water vapour) we adopt Darcy’s
proach has a physical meaning, because the gas law:
pressure is not constant and leads to two modes of
 w
  = − Ki .(grad Pi )
gas transport (Darcy and Fick). The unknown vari-
(4)
ables are the displacements, the total pressure of gas,  ρ i
the capillary pressure (given by: Pc = Pg – Pl which is
linked to the concrete degree of saturation) and the K is the conductivity of the fluid i ∈ {l, g} given
temperature. In the following pages, the quantities of by expression:
 kri ( S l ) int height. The structure is considered fixed on the bot-
Ki = K (5)
µi (T ) tom, free on the top. The dimensions are given in ta-
ble (1) and the geometry is presented in figure (2). A
Where Kri is the relative permeability to the fluid defect of 1 m height and 25 cm thick is modelled in
i function of the saturation Sl, µi is the dynamic vis- the core of the structure. The mesh of this structure
cosity of the fluid i function of the temperature, and is made of quadrilateral elements with 8 nodes. It
Kint the intrinsic permeability of the concrete. should be noted that the mesh must be refined on the
For the water vapour diffusion into the dry air the boundaries for describing well the phenomenon of
Fick’s law applies: hydrous transfer (20 elements in the thickness). On
the height of the structure the mesh will have a vari-
wv wa P
− = − F grad ( v ) (6) able density; it is finer close to the defect. This is
ρv ρa Pg necessary because of the discontinuity created by the
introduction of the defect. We note that this type of
The parameter F introduced in equation (6) is the modelling requires significant CPU time. The simu-
Fick’s coefficient. lation of 10 years of exploitation required about 20
hours.
3.1.4 Effective stresses Principle Table 1: dimensions of the parabolic structure
The effective stress σ' is the stress that generates Global height 21 m
the volume strain of the skeleton. Under its differen- Top 8m
tial form, partition of stresses total stress σ is read- Interior radius Middle 7m
Bottom 8m
ing as:
Top 80 cm
d σ = dσ '+dσ p .1 (7) Thickness Middle 25 cm
Bottom 100 cm
The stress supported by the fluid phase σ p can be
generalised for partially saturated porous media
from the Bishop expression:
dσ p = −b (dPg − S l dPc ) (8)
Where b is called the Biot coefficient.

4 APPLICATION TO COOLING TOWERS

MODELLING

A natural draught cooling tower has a complex

geometry. In order to reduce the time of calculation
we will reduce the 3D problem to two 2D configura-
tions:
• A parabolic structure in axi-symmetry and
• A ring in plane deformations.
The analysis of the results will thus be made with
a relative point of view, and the information on the
total behaviour will then be deduced from the behav-
iours of these two modelling configurations.
The material defect will be represented by a re- Figure 2: geometry of the parabolic structure.
duced Young modulus (E/3), and a higher intrinsic
permeability (Kint.100).
The structure will be subjected to the self weight 4.2 Geometry of the ring structure
and to thermal and hydrous loadings similar to those We consider also an infinitely thick ring (plane
existing on the cooling towers in service conditions. deformations), subjected to heat and moisture gradi-
The reinforcement was not modelled at this stage of ents between the interior and exterior. The ring is 50
modelling. cm of thick and internal radius of 5 m. This choice
is, completely, arbitrary; the selected thickness
4.1 Geometry of the parabolic structure represents an average thickness on the height of the
reel tower. The interior radius is relatively small in
The parabolic structure is a structure in axi- order to have a mesh requiring a small number of
symmetry presenting a variation of thickness on the degrees of freedom. The ring will be fixed in an ex-
ternal point (point E), in order to prevent any
movement of rigid body. For reasons of stability, the
point H will be supported in direction of the X axis
(see figure 3). The defect will be introduced in a po-
sition diametrically opposed to the fixed point. The
“defect” is the part of the ring subjected to the most
significant deformation. A relatively refined mesh
will be applied; the elements are always quadrilater-
als with 8 nodes. In this case, 10 hours of CPU time
are required for the simulation of 10 years of service
life.
Figure 3: geometry of the ring structure.
4.3 Identification of material properties
This part is devoted to the choice of the material
parameters for modelling. The essential parameters
that we introduce are: the capillary curve, the con-
crete relative permeability to water and gas, the ni -
trinsic permeability and the Fick coefficient. The
scientific documentation provides these data for or-
dinary concrete [1], [2].
The capillary curve or the curve of adsorption and
desorption, characterizes the hydrous states of bal-
ance of the material. Its knowledge is essential for
the modelling of the transfer of moisture because it
allows the identification of the relation of state be-
tween the capillary pressure and liquid water satura-
tion. In the case of the concrete, it can be in indi-
rectly carried out through isothermal sorption
experiments. Several models are proposed in the lit-
erature for concrete. In this work, we choose the
Mualem’s model which corresponds to ordinary
concrete determined in experiments by Baroghel-
Bouny:
1− 1
Pc ( Sl ) = a( Sl − b − 1) b
(9)
a= 18.6237 (MPa),
b= 2.2748 (reference [2], table 5).
The relative permeabilities to water and gas are
supposed to be dependent on the liquid saturation
only. They are approached using Mualem’s model
with b=1/m, which are given in equation (10) and
(11).
2
  1
 
m
K lq ( Sl ) = Sl 1 −  1 − Sl  
rel m
(10)
   

2m
 1

rel
 m 
K gaz ( Sl ) = (1 − Sl ) 1 − Sl  (11)
 
The intrinsic permeability of the concrete is one
of the parameters for which no reliable estimate is
available. In the literature, we find several experi-
mental works, which were carried out to identify the
intrinsic permeability of the concrete [1], [8]. In the
range of values found in the literature, and for an or-
dinary concrete, we choose a value of 10-20 m2 .
The isotropic coefficient of Fick (F) can be iden-
tified by experiments measuring the coefficient of
total diffusion (D) in an isothermal experiment of
drying. It depends on the liquid saturation degree of
the material, and therefore on the relative humidity.
For an ordinary concrete, the Fick’s coefficient, as
already defined in the equation (6) can be estimated
to 10-7 m2 s-1 . This value corresponds to an average
experimental value over the range of relative humid-
ity 50%-100% and to a diffusity of 10-12 m2 s-1 [1].
4.4 Initial and boundary conditions
In this type of thermo – hydro modelling, the de-
termination of the initial state in each point of the
structure is a difficult task. Taking into account the
history of construction works, and the variation of
the thickness of concrete, the temperature and the
relative humidity are not homogeneous on the whole
structure. Moreover, internal stresses resulting from
the differential shrinkage between each phase of
concreting can also exist. With an aim of simplifica-
tion, and as a first try, we consider homogeneous ini-
tial values of relative humidity and temperature on
all the structure. We consider an initial average uni-
form relative humidity of 70% and an initial tem-
perature of 20°. The initial mechanical state is sup-
posed to be neutral. Initial porosity is supposed
equal to 15%.
The boundary conditions roughly approximate the
exploitation conditions of the cooling towers:
• Humid and hot in the interior (Hr = 99% and T
= 40°).
• Ambient values for relative humidity and tem-
perature in the exterior (Hr = 60% and T = 20°).
4.5 Principal results
The analysis of the numerical results is focussed
on the mechanical behaviour of the structure under
environmental conditions and the heat diffusion and
moisture transfer into the concrete.
 The obtained values of temperature indicate the
12,5
rate of the heat diffusion process. Under a tempera-
12
ture gradient of 20° between the interior and the ex-
terior, the stationary regime is established, in the 11,5

thickest part of the parabolic structure in about two 11

weeks. This parameter remains an essential parame- 10,5

ter for the modelling of a cooling tower. It will be 10

also important to take it in consideration for the 9,5

study of the effect of the temperature cycles (winter 0,0 0,2 0,3 0,5 0,6 0,8

– summer, day – night).
In the case of moisture transfer, the results show
that the phenomenon is very slow since the concrete
is a weekly permeable material. The time needed to
attain the stationary state over the thickness of the
structure is important (more than 10 years for a
thickness of about 1.2 m). In fact, the model de-
scribes in a rigorous way the state of saturation into
material. This model presents, indeed, a great sensi-
tivity to the identification of the parameters of mate-
rial. We present in figure 4 the profile of the capil-
lary pressure obtained for the ring structure. Note
that the saturation can be easily calculated by apply-
ing the capillary curve (equation 9). It can be also
clearly seen the nonlinearity of the obtained profile
into the concrete and the gradients created by the
applied conditions.
80
initial state
Thickness (cm)
Figure 5: orthoradial stress in the top of the parabolic structure,
at permanent state.
Influence of the initial defect
The introduction of the defect into the parabolic
structure modifies the local displacements around
the defect where we see a clear deformation at the
middle of the structure (see figure 7). But the global
behaviour of the structure is slightly modified and
the displacements in top of the structure are slightly
greater. For the stresses, we find almost the same
values in top of the structure and they are slightly
decreased in the defect.
In the case of the ring, we can clearly notice the
effect of the defect on the behaviour of the structure.
Indeed, radial displacement, after 10 years of exploi-

1 month
tation, at the point H (near the defect) is increased
70 6 months
about 50%. For the other parts of the ring, the ampli-
1 year
60
10 years fication of displacements is much more modest,
50
about 10%. The figure 6 shows the shape of the de-
40
formation of the ring structure affected by the defect,
30

20
at permanent state. We can clearly see the important
10
deformation due to the defect.
0

0 10 20 30 40 50

Thickness (cm)

Figure 4: capillary pressure into the ring structure, function of

the time.
With regard to the mechanical feature, the results
obtained on the parabolic structure show a global
behaviour similar to the observations on real towers:
the structure is subjected to a swelling and a move-
ment at the head of the structure towards outside.
Moreover, the loadings applied generate the tensile
stresses increase in particular in the thickest parts in
bottom and near the top of the structure. For exam-
ple, the values of orthoradial tensile stresses found
on the top of the structure are about 11 Mpa (see
figure 5). These values exceed considerably the re- Figure 6: deformation of the ring structure affected by the de-
sistance of the concrete to traction and can produce fect, after 10 years.
vertical cracks on the surface of the concrete. The
same behaviour is relatively observable in the case
of the ring structure.

Figure 7: initial state (image at left) and final state for the para-
bolic structure with defect (image at right).
5 CONCLUSION - PERSPECTIVES
The results of modelling confirm that the trans-
port of moisture within the concrete is well de-
scribed. Besides, the parameters to be introduced can
be identified by experiments. In this sense this
model appears more adapted than the models used in
the past and which are based on empirical formulas
(Witasse, [11]). On the other hand, when it is ap-
plied at the structure scale, this model seems inade-
quate because of the CPU time demand. A deepen-
ing of knowledge on this model must be carried out,
as well as a study of sensitivity of the various phe-
nomena brought into play. The aim is to obtain a
more simplified model which, in same time, is reli-
able in term of description of transport phenomena
and their interactions with mechanics.
The calculations carried out in this work consti-
tute a first approach of the analysis of the thermo-
hydro-mechanics behaviour of a cooling tower. It
should be noted that this work was carried out
through a duration that does not exceed 5 months.
However we can obtain some elements of the behav-
iour of the real structure. Results explain how the
environmental loadings are aggressive parameters
which can influence the durability of these struc-
tures. Indeed, the values of obtained traction stresses
are clearly beyond the ultimate resistance of the con-
crete. This can explain the state of damage and
cracking currently observed on parts of the cooling
towers. The introduction of an initial defect acceler-
ates significantly the transport of moisture in the
concrete, thus generating a state of deformations and
stresses more advanced, mainly around the defect.
One of the drawbacks of this contribution is that
the boundary conditions, in temperature and relative
humidity, introduced into the calculations are sup-
posed to be constant. With this type of loadings we
cannot explain the evolution of damage currently
observed on some cooling towers. The real loadings
vary regularly in time. The cyclic loadings (win-
ter/summer, day/night, and work/stop) are repeated
throughout the life of the cooling towers and cause a
delay in the establishment of the steady state, and
possibly the fatigue of the material. To go further in
the analysis of the cooling tower, it will be necessary
to carry out a modelling which takes into account
these cyclic loadings. The first step is to determine
the particular period of the most critical cycles with
respect to the degradation of the concrete. Moreover,
the linear poroelasticity applied in this modelling
does not predict cracking and damage behaviour.
We need a model for the concrete that can take into
account the irreversible deformations (plasticity),
and the damage. A research task taking all these
phenomena into account, as well as the other possi-
ble ones like creep, will have to be undertaken to ac-
quire a more realistic modelling of the behaviour of
a cooling tower. This modelling will support an in-
dustrial approach in the study of the durability of
cooling towers under the effect of the climatic con-
ditions and other significant loadings like wind.
6 AKNOWLEDGEMENT
Pr. I. Shahrour (Polytech’Lille), Pr. J.M. Rey-
nouard (INSA Lyon) and Dr. T. Lassabatere (EDF
R&D) are thanked for their remarks that have im-
proved the theoretical aspects of this work. The au-
thors would like to acknowledge the contribution of
Dr. G. Heinfling and Dr. J.P. Touret (EDF SEPTEN)
for stating the scientific problem on the base of ex-
ploitation data.
REFERENCES
[1]: Baroghel-Bouny V. “Caractérisation micro-structurale et
hydrique des pâtes de ciment et des bétons ordinaires et à
très hautes performances”, Doctoral thesis, ENPC, 1994.
[2]: Baroghel-Bouny V., Mainguy M., Lassabatère T., Coussy
O. “Characterization and identification of equilibrium and
transfer moisture properties for ordinary and high -
performance cementitious materials”, Cement and Concrete
Research 29 (1999) 1225-1238.
[3]: Chavant C. ‘‘Modèle de comportement THHM’’ Manuel
of the Code_Aster®, Document R7.01.11.
[4]: Coussy O. “Porous continua”, Wiley Ldt Editors-1995.
[5]: Coussy O., Eymard R., Lassabatère T. “Constitutive mo d-
elling of unsaturated drying deformable materials”,
J.Eng.Mech.124 (6), 658-667, (1998).
[6]: Dangla P. “Introduction à la mécanique des milieux po-
reux”, course notes – ENPC 2001/2002.
[7]: Lassabatère T. “Couplage hydro-mécanique en milieux po-
reux non saturé avec changement de phase: application au
retrait de dessiccation” Doctoral thesis, ENPC, 1994.
[8]: Mainguy M. “Modèles de diffusion non-linéaires en mi-
lieux poreux : Application à la dissolution et au séchage des
matériaux cimentaires ” Doctoral thesis, ENPC, 1999.
[9]: Mokdad M. “Etude de l’effet d’un défaut de construction
sur le comportement thermo -hydro-mécanique d’une struc-
ture en béton: application aux tours d’aéroréfrigérants”,
DEA thesis, Polytech’Lille, 2003.
[10]: Thouvenin G. “Modélisations couplées thermo -hydro-
mécaniques en milieux poreux partiellement saturés: solu-
tions linéaires et non linéaires”, Doctoral thesis, INPL,
1999.
[11]: Witasse R. “Contribution à la compréhension du compor-
tement d’une coque d’aéroréfrigérant vieilli: définition d’un
état initial, influence des effets différés sous sollicitations
hydro-mécaniques” Doctoral thesis, INSA-Lyon, 2000.
Effect of casting defects on the ageing Ageing rate
of natural draught cooling towers
• In order to estimate the ageing rate, the
ageing mechanism should be studied
M. Mokdad, – Rebar corrosion
A. Courtois, Studied elsewhere [Ulm et
– Creep & shrinkage coll., 1995], [Witasse, 2000],
J.F. Georgin,
– Fatigue [Petre- Lazar, 2000]
I. Petre-Lazar
D. Dauffer – Evolution of existent defects
Geometry defects [Defauxet coll., 2001]

EDF R&D Concrete defects Is this a long term problem ?

EDF SEPTEN
INSA Lyon
Projet DURO_GC Projet DURO_GC
2002-2005 2002-2005

Introduction – Why study ageing ? Objective of this presentation

Mechanical
• Some cooling capacity • Question : May an initial casting defect lead gradually
towers shells are to cracking under service conditions?
ageing safe
• Pathologies :
deformations, • Study the impact of an initial casting defect on
spalling, cracking the deformations of the structure
unsafe
Defect = local heterogeneity of the stiffeness and
• Mechanical
of the permeability of the concrete
capacity is
Service loading = thermal & moisture gradients
diminishing Construction Time
Deconstruction
(40 – 60 years…)
Projet DURO_GC Projet DURO_GC
2002-2005 2002-2005

1
 Poromechanics applied to concrete Material data
[Coussy, 95]
Parameter Sane Defect
concrete
Elasticity modulus 39.5 GPa 13 Gpa
Poisson’s coefficient 0.245 idem
Density 2380 Kg/m3 idem
Water ( liquid & vapour) + air Concrete Biot’s coefficient 0,2 idem
Equations : Intrinsic permeability 5.10-21 m2 5.10-19 m²
Initial porosity 12 % 20 %
• Mass conservation (air, water) Fick’s coefficient for vapour 10-07 m2s -1 idem
• Mechanical equilibrium div σ + r F = 0 diffusion
Liquid and gas [Baroghel- idem
• Effective stress principle d σ = dσ '+ dσ p .1 permeability Bouny et al.,
Sorption isoterme Pc(Sl) 1999]
skeleton fluid
Projet DURO_GC Projet DURO_GC
2002-2005 2002-2005

Poromechanics applied to concrete (2) Initial and boundary conditions

Stress supported / induced by the fluid : • Initial conditions (in the concrete)
dσ p = −b( dPg − Sl dPc ) The flow induces stress – T=20 °C, RH = 70 %
Biot’s
coefficient
gas liquid • Boundary conditions
Transport equations – Interior T=40 °C, RH=99 %
q = −λT grad T – Exterior T=20 °C, RH=60 %
• Heat conduction
• No cyclic conditions (for the moment …)
  = −K i. (grad Pi )
w
• Liquid water (Darcy’s law )
 ρ i
• Vapour diffusion wv
−
wa
= −F grad (
Pv
)
ρv ρa Pg

Projet DURO_GC Projet DURO_GC

2002-2005 2002-2005

2
 Geometry Principal results
How to represent a 3D structure in a 2D computation ? • In time evolution of the temperature and water content profiles
in the shell

Temperature Capillary pressure

1 week

1 week – 10 years
1 year

1 day
10 years

Moisture is evolving even after 10 years : long term phenomenum

Projet DURO_GC Projet DURO_GC
2002-2005 2002-2005

Calculus Principal results – horizontal section

The effect of the defect on the
• Code_Aster finite element code deformations of the horizontal section • The section is
– www. code-aster .org deforming
– 50 % of deformation
• CPU time -30% increase in the defect
zone (with respect to the
– 20 hours for a 10 years simulation case without a defect)
+50% – - 30 % of deformation
decrease around the
porous zones

• cracking expected
around the defect
– (9 MPa tensile stress
indicated by an elastic
computation)
Projet DURO_GC Projet DURO_GC
2002-2005 2002-2005

3
 Principal results – vertical section Further research
Displacements chart
• The top of the tower is moving • More complex model on simple geometries
outwards – Behaviour under cyclic loading conditions
• + 20 % displacement increase • Simplified models on complex geometries
in the defect (with respect to – 3D computations based on the deformed
the sane concrete situation) geometry (monitoring data) including pathologies
(corrosion, cracking, porous zones)
• cracking probable around the
cast defect
– 10 – 15 MPa traction stress indicated by an
elastic analysis

Projet DURO_GC Projet DURO_GC

2002-2005 2002-2005

Conclusion
• Porous zones of concrete may lead to
deformations and cracking under service loading
due to increased moisture transfer

• The increase in long term deformation produced

by porous zones may be quantified
– in this case 20 – 50 % after 10 years

• These phenomena are strongly depending on the

transport properties of the concrete

Projet DURO_GC
2002-2005