Abstract
In this paper, the novel gradient concrete is innovatively applied to the bridge towers of Chizhou Yangtze River Bridge to solve the cracking and insufficient durability problems of concrete towers. Fiber-reinforced concrete is used in the outer functional area of the bridge tower, to significantly improve its crack resistance during construction and service. Moreover, the integrated design of anti-cracking and mechanical properties of tower materials is achieved. To study the performance of the novel functional gradient concrete (FGC) tower, the mechanical properties of the FGC tower material are tested, and the overall finite element stress is analyzed. Based on the material properties, the mechanical behavior of the cable-stayed bridge tower is studied. The temperature and stress of the FGC tower during the generation of the hydration heat are compared with that of the ordinary concrete tower. The crack resistance of the FGC tower is analyzed by the finite element method. The results show that the FGC tower has good mechanical properties and durability for the cable-stayed bridge towers.
Highlights
As a critical component of cable-stayed bridges, towers need to improve their mechanical properties to resist cracks during construction and service life
The functionally gradient concrete is innovatively introduced into the towers of the Chizhou Yangtze River Bridge
It achieves the integrated design of mechanical properties and durability of the tower, and expands the application of functional gradient concrete (FGC) in engineering
Summary
As a critical component of cable-stayed bridges, towers need to improve their mechanical properties to resist cracks during construction and service life. The effects of functionally gradient concrete layers on the mechanical properties and hydration heat effects of the tower are studied systematically. The structural layer is vertically designed with the fiber-reinforced concrete section and the ordinary high-strength concrete section from top to bottom, as shown in Supplementary Figure S1. According to the GB/T50081-2002, the strength, elastic modulus, and splitting tensile strength of the functional, transition, and structural layers were tested after 28 days. The functional layer concrete with higher mechanical properties may improve the crack resistance of the concrete tower. The force transfer between the structural and functional layers is optimized through the bonding and friction of steel bars It can coordinate the deformation and reduce the stress concentration at the interface.
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