Abstract
Several standard fatigue testing methods are used to determine the fatigue stress-life prediction model (S-N curve) and the endurance limit of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, including the application of constant cyclic tension-tension loads at different stress or strain ranges. The standard fatigue testing methods are time-consuming and expensive to perform, as a large number of specimens is needed to obtain valid results. The purpose of this paper is to examine a fatigue stress-life predication model of RC beams that are developed with an accelerated fatigue approach. This approach is based on the hypothesis of linear accumulative damage of the Palmgren–Miner rule, whereby the applied cyclic load range is linearly increased with respect to the number of cycles until the specimen fails. A three-dimensional RC beam was modeled and validated using ANSYS software. Numerical simulations were performed for the RC beam under linearly increased cyclic loading with different initial loading conditions. A fatigue stress-life model was developed that was based on the analyzed data of three specimens. The accelerated fatigue approach has a higher rate of damage accumulations than the standard testing approach. All of the analyzed specimens failed due to an unstable cracking of concrete. The developed fatigue stress-life model fits the upper 95% prediction band of RC beams that were tested under constant amplitude cyclic loading.
Highlights
Studying the structural performance and service life of highway bridges is essential in the development of an overall efficient traffic system
In a stress-based fatigue test of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, the specimens are subjected to constant cyclic loading at different stress ranges
This paper examines the ability of the accelerated fatigue approach that was developed by Rotem [10] for providing a fatigue stress-life model of RC beams
Summary
Studying the structural performance and service life of highway bridges is essential in the development of an overall efficient traffic system. Different approaches are used to develop a fatigue stress-life predication model, including the stress-life approach, strain-life approach, and linear elastic fracture mechanics approach [3]. In a stress-based fatigue test of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, the specimens are subjected to constant cyclic loading at different stress ranges. Linear-regression analysis is performed with respect to the obtained data in order to establish the S-N curve, which characterizes the fatigue strength of the tested specimens. The applied standard methods for determining the S-N curve and endurance limit of RC beams are expensive and time-consuming [5]. They require many specimens to be tested for long periods, especially at low stress or strain ranges. The predictions of the proposed S-N curve are evaluated with respect to experimental data obtained from the literature
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