This work presents a concrete-specific analytical framework for modelling body-wave scattering by explicitly tailoring multiple-scattering theory to the microstructural characteristics of concrete. Instead of treating scattering parameters as abstract statistical quantities, the framework parameterizes the key inputs of scattering theory in terms of physically measurable concrete attributes, including coarse aggregate size, volume fraction, and the material property contrast between the matrix and the dominant scattering phase, whether coarse aggregates or the interfacial transition zone. By embedding these microstructure-informed parameters into a two-phase spatial statistical formulation, closed-form expressions for total and transport scattering cross-sections are derived and directly linked to ultrasonic diffusivity through diffuse wave theory. Experimental validation using geopolymer concrete members and published data for ordinary concrete demonstrates consistent agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements across a broad frequency range. The proposed framework therefore renders body-wave scattering in concrete quantitatively computable from material composition, providing a physically grounded basis for quantitative interpretation of diffuse wave transport, energy equilibration, and coda-wave velocity changes without reliance on ad hoc fitting parameters.

The concept of acoustoelasticity pertains to changes in elastic wave velocity within a medium when subjected to initial stresses. However, existing acoustoelastic expressions are predominantly developed for waves propagating parallel or perpendicular to the principal stress directions. This paper presents a study on the acoustoelastic effect of longitudinal waves propagating inclined to the principal stress directions in concrete. The acoustoelastic effect for such longitudinal waves can be expressed using acoustoelastic parameters derived from waves propagating parallel and perpendicular to the uniaxial principal stress direction. To validate our theoretical statement, experiments were conducted on a concrete cylinder subjected to uniaxial stress. Despite slight fluctuations in the experimental observations, the overall trend of acoustoelastic effects for inclined propagating longitudinal waves aligns with the theory. This proposed theory holds potential for monitoring changes in the magnitudes and directions of principal stresses in the plane stress state.

In the Netherlands, about 70 prestressed concrete T-beam girder bridges built between1953 and 1970 require safety assessments under current traffic loads. Initial evaluations,using traditional assessment methods and current design codes, were unable to show sufficientcapacity, while inspections indicate no signs of distress for these bridges. Thisdiscrepancy is attributed to the neglect of system behaviors like Compressive MembraneAction (CMA) and load redistribution in the assessments. Therefore, a computationallyefficient 2D staggered Non-Linear Finite Element Approach is developed to address this.By splitting the T-beam bridge deck into coupled deck and beam models, this modelingapproach avoids a computationally intensive full 3D model while still capturing somesystem effects like load redistribution.The 2D staggered Non-Linear Finite Element Approach involves a linear 2D bridge deckmodel in the horizontal plane to study the load effects and a non-linear 2D individualgirder model in the vertical plane to predict the strength capacity. To combine the 2Dbridge deck model with the 2D non-linear individual girder model, an equivalent loadingtechnique was obtained by numerically solving the shear force distribution of the criticalgirder in the 2D bridge deck model. This research follows a case study of the Vechtbridge, a prestressed T-girder concrete bridge with cast-in-between decks that was testedextensively until collapse. These experimental results were used to validate the modelsbuilt in this study. The 2D bridge deck model was validated with a 3D model of the bridge, showing a variation in strength capacity between 10% and 13%, which was sufficientfor studying the load effects. The 2D individual girder model was validated withexperimental data from a disconnected T-beam test, showing variations within 10% inpredicting the ultimate failure load. The staggered approach developed using the equivalentloading technique accurately predicted the ultimate failure load of the connectedT-beams (system behavior) within 5% of experimental values, despite neglecting the effectof end crossbeams. This was achieved with a run time of approximately 18 to 21 minutes.Overall, the staggered 2D Non-Linear Finite Element Approach developed in this studyshows promise for bridge safety assessments, offering a balance between computationalefficiency and accurate prediction of strength capacity.

Tunnel fires are relatively rare, but the consequences of damage can be large. This paper addresses the influence of tunnel fires on the ensuing damage to the concrete lining. To address this question, the existing literature is reviewed. This review focuses on different methodologies to get a well-rounded insight into the problem: relevant aspects of tunnel fire dynamics, theoretical considerations on the relation between the fire source and the resulting damage to the concrete, experimental evidences from testing concrete elements subjected to fire as well as data from tunnel fires that have taken place in the past, and insights from numerical analysis. The result is a comprehensive overview of what is currently known about the relation between a tunnel fire and the ensuing damage in the concrete, as well as guidance for the assessment of concrete tunnel linings under fire hazard and recommendations for future research to address the remaining open questions on this topic. To conclude, this paper gives a valuable overview based on different methodologies from the literature to give researchers, engineers, and asset owners a better insight in how fires can affect the concrete tunnel structure.

The condition assessment of alkali-silica reaction (ASR)-damaged concrete structures necessitates accurate reproduction of ASR expansion progression and its induced load effects across time and spatial dimensions. To address this challenge, a time-dependent free ASR expansion model was developed based on experimental measurements. A user subroutine incorporating stress-dependent behavior for restrained ASR expansion evolution was implemented on the ABAQUS platform and validated through simulation of ASR expansion in specimens under external loading and internal reinforcement restraint. Finite element analyses of the reinforced concrete specimens revealed distinct variations in ASR expansion between the surface and interior zones of concrete members. The assumption that surface ASR expansion strain equals steel rebar strain leads to significant overestimation of actual rebar stress and strain conditions. Additionally, based on the validated finite element model, the influence of elastic modulus, creep, stress-dependent function, steel plate thickness, and reinforcement ratio on the ASR expansion was investigated. For the reinforced concrete specimens, the stress variation over the cross-section is considerably reduced when creep is considered, while the concrete strain at the surface is only slightly influenced by creep.

This paper investigates the influence of elastic deformation on the velocity of body waves in compressible isotropic materials making use of the framework of acoustoelasticity. Specifically, it examines body waves propagating at an angle to the principal deformation axes, where both shear and normal deformations are present in the coordinate system defined by the wave propagation direction. While numerous efforts have addressed this topic, the theoretical derivations have not yet to provide definitive conclusions about the response of wave velocity to applied shear stresses and strains. To derive more specific conclusions for body waves in concrete, we analyzed three examples using concrete as the medium. The key findings are that, in case of concrete materials when body waves propagate on the shear deformation plane, variations in longitudinal wave velocity are predominantly attributed to changes in normal strains, whereas transverse wave velocity is significantly influenced by both normal and shear strains. This finding can enhance the use of acoustoelasticity for detecting the magnitudes and directions of principal stresses in plane stress state applications.

The next generation of acoustic emission (AE) applications in concrete structural health monitoring (SHM) relies upon a reliable and quantitative relationship between AE measurements and corresponding AE sources. To achieve this, it is a prerequisite to accurately model the whole AE process that is a multiscale coupling process between local material fracturing and induced elastic wave propagation at structural level. Such a complex process, however, cannot be well addressed in currently available modelling methods. To fill this research gap, this study proposes a lattice modelling approach that achieves for the first time the explicit simulation of complete waveforms of transient AE signals induced by concrete fracture. The proposed approach incorporates an explicit time integration technique with a novel proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm for reducing spurious oscillations and a Rayleigh damping-based calculation and calibration method for the attenuation of AE waves. In this paper, the proposed lattice modelling approach is implemented to simulate the concrete Mode-I fracturing process in a three-point bending test. Besides the mechanical behaviors and AE hit number, a comparison was conducted between numerically and experimentally obtained AE waveforms. The AE waveforms and their attenuation characteristics simulated by the proposed lattice modelling method turn out to be comparable to experimental results. The proposed approach is of significance for a deep understanding of AE-related fracture mechanisms and a more reliable application of AE technique.

Despite the low probability of occurrence, fire events area major hazard for structures, which can severe socio-economic impact. Although reinforced concrete (RC) tunnels are an important component transportation infrastructure, their structural behaviour under high temperatures is not yet fully understood. This study investigates the thermo-mechanical response of tunnels subjected to fire using nonlinear element analysis (NLFEA). For this purpose, recent experimental tests of large-scale reinforced concrete with and without fire protection are simulated. Different modelling strategies are discussed, and a description of the constitutive model employed is presented. Then, model-to-model and model-to-experiment comparisons are conducted to identify the advantages and limitations of each approach. The demonstrate the relevance of proper spalling modelling on the tunnel's temperature distribution. The also show a good agreement with the experimentally observed damage patterns. Finally, recommendations regarding modelling choices and further research topics are discussed.

Many existing concrete structures require effective assessment of the bearing capacity. A critical failure mode is shear, especially for concrete structures without or with limited shear reinforcement. The shear failure is brittle and often leads to loss of property and lives. Therefore the shear failure should be indicated before it occurs. A potential solution is to use acoustic emission (AE) monitoring, which is sensitive to minor changes in concrete, even micro-cracking, both on the surface and inside the structure. By combining the knowledge of shear failure processes and AE techniques, this paper presents an AE-based shear failure indication system. The system automatically identifies three levels of structural damage levels up to shear failure, which are categorized from minor to severe levels as green-light, yellow-light, and red-light criteria. The 'traffic light system' is validated using six shear tests on full-scale reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement. The robustness of the system is also validated across these tests.

As infrastructure continues to age and traffic levels intensify, there is a growing need for efficient methods to verify the reliability of many existing structures. Field testing offers the possibility to assess the current condition of a structure. Specifically, in a proof load test, substantial loads are applied to evaluate the structure's resistance to future loads that could compromise structural safety. However, to prevent excessive test loads and their potential damage, it is desirable to assess structural reliability by monitoring the response under more moderate loads. This study merges laboratory and in-situ testing results through a Bayesian update of the structural reliability after each successful load application. Two case studies are presented where laboratory testing on structurally similar elements and analytical modelling provide ample evidence to justify test load reductions of 20 % and 25 %. The proposed method offers a systematic framework to link the structure's response during testing to structural reliability and address the uncertainties in resistance, loads and measurements. Nonetheless, the representativeness of the data in terms of structural similarity and uncertainties related to measurements continue to be significant factors. Despite these challenges, incorporating monitoring data during proof load testing is expected to reduce target loads in most cases.

Curved concrete crownwalls are commonly installed on vertical breakwaters in deep water to mitigate wave overtopping. This study compares the hydraulic and structural performance of fully curved and recurved crownwalls under impulsive wave loads induced by non-breaking waves, known as Confined-Crest Impact. Using one-way coupled numerical simulations in OpenFOAM and structural analyses in DIANA FEA, we assess the pressure fields and structural responses of the two geometries. Results reveal that while the fully curved crownwall significantly reduces overtopping, it experiences wave forces up to 2.5 times greater than the recurved crownwall, along with longer pressure impulse durations, leading to amplified tensile stresses and higher risk of cracking. In contrast, the recurved crownwall, despite localized peak pressures, benefits from a broader cross-section and linear stress distribution, resulting in better structural performance. These findings underscore the importance of integrating dynamic structural analysis in crownwall design to balance hydraulic efficiency with structural resilience.

Aggregate interlock is considered one of the most important shear transfer mechanisms in concrete members. In the well-established Two-Phase model proposed by Walraven in the 1980s, the shear stress transferred by aggregate interlock is estimated by calculating the projected contact areas of two crack surfaces. As one of the main assumptions in the model, the crack surface is idealized by a plain surface crossing randomly distributed, idealized spherical aggregates. This was a necessary simplification of an actual crack surface in the 1980s because of the lack of measurement equipment as well as computational capacity. With the development of high-accuracy 3D scanning techniques, new possibilities for modelling aggregate interlock have become available. This paper proposes a generalised method to determine the aggregate interlock stresses using the crack surface directly from 3D scanning. The proposed method is cross-verified with the Two-Phase model using the same simplified crack surface. A case study using the scanned crack surfaces of concrete cubes is conducted to investigate the influence of surface roughness. The proposed method provides a new possibility for conducting a refined investigation of the aggregate interlock for new concrete types, especially under the scope of the next-generation Eurocode shear provision.

This paper presents a new method for determining the diffusive properties of diffuse body waves, specifically diffusivity and dissipation, in concrete with multiple planar boundaries. Instead of relying on the analytical solution to the diffusion equation, which accounts for all possible reflections and has a significantly complex form, we propose a simpler method that considers the reflected energy originating from a limited number of image sources, making it easier to perform curve fitting and obtain diffusive properties. Our experimental findings highlight that distant image sources have a negligible effect on the acquired diffusive properties, suggesting that the number of image sources considered should be determined based on their maximum contribution to the main energy. Additionally, failing to account for the reflected energy during the fitting process results in an underestimation of both the diffusivity and dissipation. The obtained diffusive properties can be used to evaluate damage in concrete.

The cracking of the pre-/post-casting UHPC joint in the steel-UHPC composite bridge deck system can lead to continuous tensile damage in the UHPC layer, reducing its ability to stiffen the steel deck. This study aims to clarify the cracking mechanism of the segmented-casting UHPC joint, and to provide design recommendations for cracking control. Axial tension tests on full-scale composite deck specimens were conducted, in which the influence of with and without joint, and varying reinforcement ratios on cracking response were identified. Moreover, the nonlinear numerical model for the composite deck, where the UHPC-UHPC interface was simulated in three methods, i.e. unbonded case, cohesive zone model (CZM), and perfectly bonded case, was developed and validated to simulate the crack initiation and propagation of the UHPC layer. Based on the validated numerical model incorporating CZM, improving the bond strength of CZM is more effective in controlling crack opening at the interface than increasing the failure displacement. Finally, optimized reinforcement arrangement and joint shape recommendations were provided to enhance construction convenience, minimize stress concentration, and limit crack opening.