Thermo-hygro-mechanical modelling of concrete structures in service life: a multi-scale approach in the IntegraCrete project

The need to consider thermal and hygral phenomena to better understand the actual mechanical behaviour (stresses, deformations and cracking) of reinforced concrete structures has been well acknowledged in the literature. Indeed, thermal and humidity/shrinkage gradients cause self-balanced stresses that need to be considered for an adequate description of the crack formation and opening process, when actual applied loads are combined with them during service life of concrete structures. This paper intends to provide a wide perspective of the aims of the recently started Portuguese research project IntegraCrete - “A comprehensive multi-physics and multi-scale approach to the combined effects of applied loads and thermal/shrinkage deformations in reinforced concrete structures”, as well as information about current developments. Additionally, this paper aims to describe its connection with previous research conducted by the research team, concerning multi-physical simulation of concrete structures at the macroscopic scale. Specific reference is made to the multi-physics simulation framework, its validation and application to a real-scale example of a structure in real service conditions.This work was financially supported by: Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007457 (CONSTRUCT - Institute of R&D in Structures and Construction) and by project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007633 (ISISE), funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI), and by national funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. FCT and FEDER (COMPETE2020) are also acknowledged for the funding of the research project IntegraCrete PTDC/ECM-EST/1056/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016841).The financial support of COST Action TU1404 through its several networking instruments is also gratefully acknowledged.