Layered model of aging concrete. General concept and one-dimensional applications

A novel approach to modeling concrete behavior at the stage of its maturing is presented in this paper. This approach assumes that at any point in the structure, concrete is composed of a set of layers that are activated in time layer by layer, based on amount of released heat that is produced during process of the concrete's maturing. This allows one to assume that each newly created layer has nominal stiffness moduli and tensile/compressive strengths. Hence introduction of explicit stiffness moduli and tensile/compressive strength dependencies on time, or equivalent time state parameter, is not needed. Analysis of plain concrete (PC) and reinforced concrete (RC) structures, especially massive ones, subjected to any kind of straining in their early stage of existence, mostly due to external loads but especially by thermal loading and shrinkage, is the goal of the approach. In this article a simple elasto-plastic softening model with creep is used for each layer and a general layered model behavior is illustrated on one-dimensional (1D) examples.