The Thermal Response of Concrete Frame Buildings in Arabic Area Considering Time-Dependent Properties of Concrete

Abstract

The Arabic area is known for its significant changes in climate temperatures within different seasons. Riyadh, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al-Khaimah, Kuwait, and Baghdad are subjected to the maximum variance in daily temperatures and presents the mean values of daily temperatures considering the data collected by the Hong Kong observatory in China for the last 30 years. The maximum mean value of daily temperature, which is 44.6 ℃ in Kuwait, and the minimum mean value of the daily temperature in Baghdad is 3.8 ℃. The maximum difference values of daily temperatures are observed in the Arabic Gulf area countries, such as Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Riyadh. Hence, these values will be considered in this analysis. This study results fit the thermal requirements of Arabic area and regions with similar temperature variation, accounting for various design aspects considering both methodologies of time-dependent properties of concrete as per CEB FIP 90 code and non-time dependent properties as per ACI 224.3R. For those targets a finite element method is utilized by generating 272 single- storey concrete ETABS models. The models are categorized according to column support conditions and development of concrete properties over time. The study findings are utilized to develop a clear understanding of mentioned variable's effects at thermal deformations and column reactions to aid structural engineers in the thermal design of super-long buildings with similar conditions of this study within time. The thermal displacement grows in proportion to the height of the column and the length of the slab. The findings of the analysis also show that employing thick slabs slightly decreases thermal displacements for models with hinged column supports and a 6 m column height. The thermal reactions increase in proportion to the length of the slab and the fixity conditions. Meanwhile, these reactions are inversely proportional to the height of the column. The ratios of time-dependent deformation and reaction to those of non-time-dependent properties are within the range [159%-163%] and [168%-171%] respectively. Ignoring this difference imposes defects, additional cracks, and damages at the structures and related serviceability conditions for 70 years period.