Autogenous shrinkage, cracks, early age, stress concentration area, finite element method
Abstract
Scientists recently focus on concrete’s hardening early age and its influence to solidity of a structure. Because of complex physical – chemical processes and developed strains, stresses appear in concrete and after they exceed tensile strength of concrete - develops cracks. In practice it is noted that a structure often cracks prior to commencement of exploitation. Therefore this article analyzes the influence of stresses caused by autogenous shrinkage over solidity of structure. The importance of stresses caused by concrete shrinkage significantly increases in places where a cross-section shifts. The stress concentration area develops at these points. One of the stress concentration areas is around the formwork’s transverse brace and stresses due to autogeneous shrinkage are solved. To define stresses, analytical and finite element methods are used. The stresses concentration area is calculated more precisely using the finite elements method, the results obtained are exhaustive and it allows to get a clearer picture of stresses.
