A design procedure based on a simplified FE model for underground tunnels subjected to internal explosion and possibly preceded by fire accidents is proposed in this article. The procedure can provide a valuable tool for designers who have to check the structural safety of a tunnel for the case of an internal blast event. The tunnel geometry considered is the same adopted for the metro line in Brescia, Italy. It has an internal diameter of about 8.15 m, is about 13.7 km long and is located about 23.1 m below the surface. Six segments and a smaller key segment (6+1) make up the tunnel. The ring has an average width of about 1.5 m. The FE model is first tested under static serviceability loads. Dynamic analyses are carried out in order to reproduce the blast scenario. The aim of this work is to generate pressure-impulse (p-i) diagrams for underground tunnels for the case of internal explosion and pre-explosion fire actions. An ultimate limit state criterion based on the eccentric ultimate flexural capacity and capable of including fire-blast interaction is introduced. An innovative layered precast tunnel segment solution made of different fibre-reinforced cementitious composites is compared with a traditional solution with the lining section made of reinforced concrete. The potential applications of this new solution are also discussed in the paper.

The introduction of new vertical steel bolts is an easy, practical and common solution for retrofitting and strengthening slabs for punching. Although a common option where punching strengthening is concerned, few studies exist regarding how the bolt's anchorage dimensions and its embedment in the concrete slab affect the strengthening efficiency. This work presents an analytical approach that is able to predict the punching capacity of slabs strengthened with post-installed vertical steel bolts, taking into account the anchorage dimensions and positioning plus the material properties. This approach results from the combination of two physical models: one provided in the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 regarding the punching capacity estimation, and another that allows the deformation (crushing) of the concrete beneath the head of the anchorage to be taken into account. The predicted values are compared with experimental results, showing that the analytical approach is able to simulate correctly the anchorage behaviour and its influence regarding a slab's loadbearing capacity. A parametrical analysis is carried out in order to study the importance of different factors such as concrete compressive strength, longitudinal reinforcement ratio and steel bolt length, always accompanied by the effect of anchorage head size and embedment.

A reliability-based investigation into the ductility measures for reinforced concrete (RC) beams designed according to the current fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 is presented in this paper. Based on the ductility ratio (= ratio of strain in tensile rebar to yield stress of steel), a limit state to ensure adequate ductility in RC beams is proposed. Results show that the ductility ratio generally follows a right-skewed distribution, and due to variability in the material properties and model error, there is high variability in the strain ductility. This high variability in the ductility ratio leads to a high probability of non-ductile behaviour for RC beam designs based on the code. This is more pronounced for normal-strength concrete and grade S500 steel. Based on a target probability taken from the literature, a modification to the allowable neutral axis depth advised by the code is proposed. The results presented in this paper indicate that more reliability-based studies of the safety factors provided by fib Model Code 2010 are needed in order to ensure adequate ductility in RC beams.

The analysis of the mechanical behaviour of a reinforced concrete tie subjected to a monotonic loading in the stabilized cracking stage is performed here by way of a theoretical general model that considers the effect of the so-called Goto cracks (secondary cracks). It is shown, in particular, that the average bond stress along the transmission length depends not only on the concrete strength as assumed by the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010, but also on reinforcement ratio and bar diameter. In this regard, tabulated theoretical values of the average bond stress are proposed as a function of the aforementioned parameters. Moreover, the secondary cracks reduce the effect of tension stiffening on the relative mean strain. On the basis of the main results obtained with the general model, some improvements are suggested for the calculation methods proposed by fib Model Code 2010 and Eurocode 2 concerning the average value of the bond stress and taking into account the influence of the secondary cracks on the mean deformation. An improved calculation method is therefore performed. Finally, the theoretical results of crack spacing and crack width obtained with the general and improved methods are compared with experimental data obtained from extensive research on RC ties.

The aim of this research is to compare the predictions of the design load-carrying capacity of slabs obtained with simplified analytical and numerical procedures which can be readily used by analysts in the current design process. The research fits into a research programme initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment for the re-examination of the load-carrying capacity of existing bridges and viaducts, and the beams and slabs they include, through the use of non-linear finite-element analyses. The behaviour of reinforced concrete slabs subjected to concentrated loads close to their supports is investigated in this contribution. Three tests from a series of 18 slabs with a total of 108 tests, tested at Delft University of Technology, were selected as case studies and analysed with non-linear finite-element analyses and analytical models either proposed by design codes or available in the literature. The research agrees well with the philosophy of the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010, which offers different analytical and numerical calculation methods for evaluating the design shear resistance of reinforced concrete members according to different levels of approximation. For the three slabs investigated in this study, it indeed pays to use higher levels of approximation. The highest level (level IV) based on non-linear finite element analysis gives the highest design load resistance, but still well below the resistance obtained experimentally.

This paper outlines the theoretical background to the punching shear provisions implemented in the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 and presents a practical example of their application. The aim is to explain the mechanical model that forms the basis for the punching design equations, to justify the relevance of the provisions and to show their suitability for the design and assessment of structures.

This paper examines the evidence for the one-way shear model developed for the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 and provides examples of its application. For the design and analysis for shear, for members with and without shear reinforcement, the fib Model Code 2010 procedures have been developed from physical-mechanical models that are based on observed behaviour at the meso-scale level; they represent a significant advance over previous standardized empirical methods. In addition, an approach referred to as “level of approximation” (LoA) is incorporated where advanced models are simplified in a consistent and conservative way such that the designer can select the effort needed to justify their design. To illustrate the practical use of the models and the LoA approach, two examples are presented. The first is a deck slab of a cut-and-cover tunnel where design and possible refinements are discussed for a given configuration. The second is a prestressed concrete bridge girder, which is considered for the cases of design and for the analysis of an existing structure.

Sowohl die zentrische Matrixzugfestigkeit als auch die zentrischen Nachrisszugfestigkeiten von faserbewehrten Betonen werden in der Regel indirekt über Biegezugversuche ermittelt. Dazu muss eine in Versuchen ermittelte Kraft-Verformungs-Kurve in eine Zugspannungs-Dehnungs-Beziehung überführt werden. Für ultrahochfesten Faserbeton (UHPFRC) gibt es in Deutschland zurzeit mangels gültiger Normen und Richtlinien kein geregeltes derartiges Umrechnungsverfahren. Zur Untersuchung des Zugspannungs-Dehnungs-Verhaltens von UHPFRC wurden am iBMB, Fachgebiet Massivbau der TU Braunschweig gekerbte 3-Punkt-Biegezugversuche nach DIN EN 14651 durchgeführt. Unter Berücksichtigung der Versuchsergebnisse und in Anlehnung an den Model Code 2010, der normal- und hochfesten Faserbeton regelt, wurde ein Umrechnungsverfahren für UHPFRC entwickelt. Zur Validierung des Verfahrens wurde die Finite-Elemente-Methode (FEM) hinzugezogen.

Tensile Stress-Strain Relationship for UHPFRC based on notched 3-point-bending tests
Both the tensile strength and the residual tensile strengths of fibre reinforced concrete are generally determined indirectly by flexural tests. For this purpose, a force-deformation curve has to be converted into a tensile stress-strain curve. For ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) there is currently no regulated conversion procedure due to the lack of valid standards and guidelines in Germany. To analyse the tensile stress-strain behaviour of UHPFRC, notched 3-point-bending tests according DIN EN 14651 were carried out at iBMB, Division of Concrete Construction of the TU Braunschweig. A conversion procedure for UHPFRC based on the Model Code 2010, which regulates normal- and high-strength fibre reinforced concrete, was developed taking into account the test results. The finite element method (FEM) was applied for validation.

Das tatsächliche Sicherheitsniveau bei der Ermüdungsbemessung von druckschwellbeanspruchtem Beton ist derzeit unbekannt. Für die Ermüdungsnachweise werden Sicherheitsbeiwerte verwendet, die aus der statischen Bemessung übernommen wurden, und weitere, teilweise nicht wissenschaftlich begründete Sicherheitselemente implementiert. In diesem Beitrag werden Sicherheiten in aktuellen Nachweiskonzepten nach DIN EN 1992-1-1(/NA), DIN EN 1992-2(/NA) und fib Model Code 2010 diskutiert und Entwicklungspotenziale aufgezeigt. Außerdem werden Ergebnisse bestehender Ermüdungsuntersuchungen stochastisch ausgewertet und mit Wöhlerlinien nach fib Model Code 2010 verglichen. Die vergleichenden Untersuchungen deuten auf ein höheres Sicherheitsniveau des Ermüdungswiderstands im Vergleich zur statischen Bemessung hin.

Concrete fatigue - safety and development potential of current design concepts
The safety level for the fatigue design of concrete under compression is currently unknown. This is the result of safety factors taken from the static design and other safety elements, which are in some cases not scientifically justified. In this paper, the safety aspects of current fatigue design concepts according to DIN EN 1992-1-1(/NA), DIN EN 1992-2(/NA) and fib Model Code 2010 are discussed and potentials for further developments are shown. In addition, results of existing fatigue tests are evaluated stochastically and compared with S-N curves according to fib Model Code 2010. The comparative investigations indicate a higher safety level of the fatigue resistance compared to the static design.

This paper describes the changes to design provisions for embedded steel reinforcement in the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010. The changes introduce new coefficients for steel grade and clear spacing between bars, and extend the range of concrete strengths covered. The way in which the contribution of hooks or anchorages is calculated has been revised and the contribution of end bearing to laps and anchorages of compression bars is recognized. The revised rules represent a move away from a distinction between laps and anchorages per se towards a distinction based on the presence or absence of transverse pressure perpendicular to the bar axis within the bond length. The benefits of staggering laps with only a proportion of bars lapped at a section are also reviewed. Finally, the potential impact of lap and anchorage performance on structural robustness is discussed, and it is concluded that this can only be achieved if bar yield precedes splitting mode bond failures.

The effect of concrete grade on the bond between 12 mm diameter deformed steel bars and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) has been investigated with the help of 45 pullout tests with concentric rebar placement for coarse recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) replacement levels of 25, 50, 75 and 100%. For all the three concrete grades, the measured bond-slip relationships indicate similar mechanisms of bond resistance in the RAC and the natural aggregate (NA) concrete. The most accurate and least conservative predictions of the measured bond strengths were obtained from the local bond-slip model in the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010. Bond strength normalized to fc(3/4) resulted in an improved match with test data and increased with an increase in the RCA replacement levels and decreased with an increase in compressive strength. An attempt to explain this behaviour has been sought in terms of brittleness index, an analogous parameter from rock mechanics. An empirical bond stress versus slip relationship has been proposed for the 12 mm diameter bar and it is conservatively suggested that similar anchorage lengths for this bar in all three concrete grades can be adopted for the RAC and the NA concretes.

This paper presents a critical comparison of the existing code provisions for the shear strength of concrete beams. The comparison is based on the computerized filtering-out of the inevitable statistical bias from the available multivariate database on shear strength, on an examination of the predicted size effects on shear strength and their underlying hypotheses and on the results of recent high-fidelity numerical simulations of shear failure. In addition to examining the existing models, the present comparison also provides several key considerations for testing the scientific soundness of any model of shear failure in concrete beams, which is necessary for future revisions to the design code provisions.

No short description available.

Section 5.1 “Concrete” of the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 contains basic definitions and well-established constitutive relations for structural concrete. However, it also presents various new approaches and updated models compared with the earlier CEB-FIP Model Code 1990. This is particularly true for the strength, stress and strain characteristics of structural concrete, for creep and shrinkage and for sophisticated durability-related processes. The validity of the models has been extended to several types of concrete such as high strength concrete, self-compacting concrete and lightweight aggregate concrete. The durability-related models are either suitable for facilitating a full probabilistic service life design or for applying simpler code-type approaches.
This article provides a concise and selective overview of some of those models. Background information is summarized and there is a focus on improvements achieved by the updated models. In addition, some simple design aids are given to allow pre-design, for example

Conservation of concrete structures forms an essential part of the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 (fib Model Code 2010). In particular, Chapter 9 of fib Model Code 2010 addresses issues concerning conservation strategies and tactics, conservation management, condition surveys, condition assessment, condition evaluation and decision-making, making interventions and the recording of information for through-life management.
Chapter 9 incorporates the overall philosophy adopted in the development of fib Model Code 2010, which introduces a new integrated life cycle perspective into the design of concrete structures. Accordingly, Chapter 9 provides a response to concepts introduced earlier within fib Model Code 2010 relating to the service life design process, which requires the structure and its component parts to be allocated to a condition control category at the time of design. Different condition control categories are defined depending on factors such as the importance of the structure, its function, design service life, impact on third parties, environmental conditions, ease of maintenance and cost. The condition control levels and inspection regimes are defined in conjunction with these requirements. A through-life management process, outlined in Chapter 9, provides feedback for service life design and allows the associated theoretical model employed to be updated, in turn facilitating the assessment of compliance with the original design objectives.
An example of concrete structure conservation according to the fib Model Code 2010 concept is also presented.

The correlations among selected parameters of concrete were investigated for concrete mixes of the strength classes C20/25, C25/30, C30/37, C40/50 and C50/60. The focus was laid on correlations between basic mechanical parameters such as compressive strength, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity as well as parameters related to concrete fracture, represented here by specific fracture energy. Laboratory tests examining the fracture behaviour and mechanical properties were carried out in order to determine the fundamental concrete parameters. In particular, standard compression tests on test cubes and three-point bending tests on beams with central edge notch were performed. Additional material parameters were identified using the inverse analysis technique. Finally, correlation factors between different parameters of concrete were identified using the rank-order correlation method.

This article describes an experimental programme aimed at studying the effect of cover, ratio between diameter and effective reinforcement ratio (&phgr;/&rgr;s, ef) and the influence of stirrup spacing on the cracking behaviour of reinforced concrete elements. The experimental programme was conceived in order to contribute to the debate - fuelled by the publication in recent years of Eurocode 2 EN1992-1-1 and the revision of the Model Code under way when the tests were carried out (and now published as a finalized document) - regarding the influence of these parameters on cracking. Important theoretical aspects are discussed, including where the crack width is estimated by current code formulations and what relevance this may have on the correlation between crack opening and durability of RC structures, especially with regard to structures with large covers. The effect of stirrup spacing, a variable absent from current codes, is also discussed.

This paper presents an experimental campaign aiming to assess the cracking behaviour of flexural members made with self-compacting concrete (SCC) and reinforced with both rebars and steel fibres recycled from end-of-life tyres (ELT). The characteristics, constructability and performance of this new type of fibre are first discussed. The results of the tests carried out are then presented and discussed. The parameters that have been investigated are: &phgr;/&rgr;s,ef, concrete cover and fibre content. The results obtained show improvement in cracking behaviour, especially for low reinforcement ratios and large covers. Results are compared with the predictions of the recently published fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010. The main objective of this investigation is to evaluate the efficiency of a new type of fibre technology for crack width control of RC elements, with advantages in sustainability from the point of view of recycling and durability.

This paper presents a new theory for the shear capacity of reinforced concrete members without shear reinforcement. While recognizing that there are multiple failure mechanisms, the theory attributes the opening of a critical flexural shear crack as the lower bound of the shear capacity. It proposes that the shear displacement of an existing flexural crack can be used as the criterion for the unstable opening of the critical flexural shear crack. Based on the theory, the paper presents a simplified shear evaluation model. Compared with the current shear provisions in the design codes, the model is characterized by good accuracy and a solid physical background. It demonstrates a great flexibility for dealing with complex design conditions. As an example, the paper discusses the possibility of extending the theory to the shear resistance of higher-strength concrete. The suggested method provides a more logical and fluent transition from normal- to high-strength concrete and shows good agreement with experimental observations.

Der Einsatz von Makrofasern aus Stahl gewinnt seit der bauaufsichtlichen Einführung der Richtlinie “Stahlfaserbeton” des Deutschen Ausschusses für Stahlbeton (DAfStb) auch in tragenden Betonkonstruktionen zunehmend an Bedeutung. Insbesondere beim Nachweis ausreichender Querkrafttragfähigkeit erweist sich die Fasertragwirkung als günstig, da eine Querkraftbewehrung auch bei Balken rechnerisch vollständig durch Fasern gebildet sein kann - Bügel also entfallen. Haupteinflussparameter ist die Nachrisszugfestigkeit, die aufgrund vielfältiger interagierender Einflussparameter hohen Streuungen unterliegt und nach Ansätzen der DAfStb-Richtlinie bzw. den Modellen des Model Codes 2010 deutlich unterschiedlich einfließt. Der Beitrag vergleicht die Prognosegenauigkeiten rechnerischer Querkrafttragfähigkeiten, indem rechnerische Bruchlasten experimentellen Daten von Schubversuchen aus der Literatur gegenübergestellt werden. Die aufgebaute Schubdatenbank umfasst dabei über 250 Versuche mit praxistypischen Konfigurationen, d. h., dass Querschnittsgeometrie, Längs- und Bügelbewehrungsgehalt, Nachrisszugfestigkeit des Stahlfaserbetons sowie Betondruckfestigkeit variable Parameter sind.

Database with shear tests on steel fibre reinforced concrete girders
The application of macro fibres made of steel is recently growing in concrete engineering since valid standards like the DAfStb-Guideline “Steel fibre reinforced concrete” of the German Committee for Structural Concrete (DAfStb) are available. In particular, it is meaningful to take into account fibre's effect in shear design to considerably reduce the amounts of stirrups. The most significant parameter is the steel fibre's post-cracking tensile strength that exhibits pronounced scattering due to several interacting parameters. It is differently considered in the design approaches of DAfStb-Guideline and fib Model Code 2010, respectively. The paper investigates accuracies of predicted shear resistances by comparing calculative and experimental ultimate loadings. For this purpose, a shear database is build up comprising more than 250 test results from the literature that differ in cross-section's geometry, ratios of longitudinal rebars and stirrups, fibre amounts and concrete compressive classes, respectively.

The material characterization of steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC), which is required for its implementation in design codes, should be based on nominal properties that describe its post-cracking strength in tension. In the case of brittle and quasi-brittle materials, such as concrete, the tensile parameters are often derived indirectly. However, for materials with more ductility, such as SFRC, there is conjecture as to whether or not an indirect measure may be used to establish the stress versus crack opening displacement relationship, such as the use of a three- or four-point prism test combined with an inverse analysis. In this paper a simple and efficient inverse analysis technique is developed and shown to compare well with data obtained from direct tension tests. Furthermore, the methodology proposed by the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 has been investigated and recommendations made to improve its accuracy.

This paper discusses the possibility of using precast tunnel segments in fibre-reinforced concrete without traditional reinforcement. The case study of a hydraulic tunnel in Monte Lirio, Panama, excavated with a tunnel boring machine (TBM) by SELI S.p.A., has been analysed.
The segments were designed according to the draft of Model Code 2010. In order to achieve the required performance and to optimize the structural behaviour, three different types of steel fibre were considered in the research.
The design was backed up by full-scale tests on precast segments. In particular, 18 full-scale tests were performed, including point load tests simulating the thrust of the TBM and bending tests. The results show the good behaviour of the elements and indicate the fibre-reinforced concrete suitable for the precast elements.

Prestressing in flat slabs helps to control deformations and cracking under service loads and allows the required slab thickness to be reduced, thus leading to more slender structures and an economic solution for long spans. However, as a consequence of the limited thickness of these members, punching typically governs at the ultimate limit state. Studies of the punching shear strength have shown that the presence of prestressing in flat slabs has a number of potential beneficial effects, namely the vertical component (force) carried by inclined tendons, the in-plane compression stresses and the bending moments developed near the supported region. However, the approach provided by codes of practice for punching design in the presence of prestressing may differ significantly. Some codes neglect the influence of the bending moments introduced as a result of prestressing and the sections at which the deviation forces of the tendons are considered may be located at different distances from the edge of the supported region. The influence of prestressing on the punching shear strength of members without shear reinforcement is investigated in this paper by using the fundamentals of the critical shear crack theory. Using that as a basis, and also taking into account 65 tests available in the scientific literature, the suitability and accuracy of a number of design codes, e.g. Model Code 2010, Eurocode 2 and ACI 318-11, are investigated and compared.

CEB/FIP Model Code 1990 (MC-1990) did represent the technology and focus some 20 years ago. However, it soon became evident that the document had some notable lacunas. In 1995 the general assemblies of the two organizations endorsed CEB/FIP bulletin No. 228, extensions to MC 1990 for high-strength concrete, and in 2000 a similar extension to MC 1990 for lightweight aggregate concrete as bulletin No. 4.
The fib approved bulletin No. 34 Model Code for Service Life Design (MC SLD) in 2006. All these three additions have since matured and are now incorporated in the new fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 (MC-2010).
The main purpose of an fib Model Code is to act as a model for operational standards. The obvious counterpart for a body such as fib operating worldwide is ISO. The initiative taken by MC SLD has therefore further matured in ISO TC-71/SC-3/WG-4 and it was accepted as ISO 16204 “Durability - Service Life Design of Concrete Structures” during the summer of 2012.
According to the obligations given in the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, it is hoped that these principles will be further implemented in national and regional standards.
This article describes the need for a transparent methodology when dealing with service life design, and the process - originating from a group of enthusiasts one decade ago - through fib and finally reaching international consensus in ISO.

This paper provides an overview of serviceability specifications given by the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 (fib MC2010 [1]). First, the reasons behind crack control and deflection control are discussed, then specific design rules are provided. Simple rules as well as detailed models are also presented. Numerical examples are provided in order to assist in the application of the design recommendations for crack control and deflection control (reinforced and prestressed concrete elements).
Simple rules mean indirect control of cracking or deflections without calculations. Indirect crack control may include limitation of stresses and selection of maximum bar diameter or maximum bar spacing. Indirect deflection control normally means limiting the span-to-depth ratio.
Detailed models are based on physical and mathematical approaches to cracking and deflections. The design crack width is expressed as the maximum bond transfer length multiplied by the mean strain between cracks. Deflection analysis can be provided by integrating curvatures or by using a simplified or refined method. Vibrations and numerical modelling of cracking are also briefly discussed.