Explicit modeling of fire induced spalling of concrete : a thermo-hydro-mechanical approach with evolving boundary conditions
In the recent years, there were major tunnels fires which caused fatalities and severe traffic restrictions. In such extreme conditions (temperatures exceeding 1200 °C for considerable time spans), pore pressure build-up, restrained thermal dilatation, cement paste to aggregate incompatibility, dehydration... are some main degradation mechanisms of concrete that may cause its thermal spalling. Progressive concrete spalling occurring during a fire presents as the breakdown of surface layers which flake into small pebble-like pieces. Then, the resistant section of the structure reduces which may lead to its premature failure.In this thesis, a THM finite element model is enriched with a detachment-buckling type criterion for progressive spalling. The thermo-hygral part of the THM model is based on the three fluid approach for partially saturated porous media. The mechanical part is derived within the framework of thermo-poro-mechanics coupled to damage and softening plasticity.The adopted modeling of spalling leads to a problem with evolving boundary and boundary conditions. A suitable numerical solution strategy without remeshing is then developed in order to transfer properly the THM boundary conditions simultaneously with spalling occurrence.The efficiency of the model THM-Spalling is illustrated by some numerical examples and by parametric studies. These studies identify the influence, on spalling, of size variation of spalling flakes, the average spalling velocity and uncertainties on different material parameters. Confrontation with experimental tests shows satisfactory capacity of the THM-Spalling model in reproducing qualitatively the occurrence of spalling