Full text
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| Author(s): |
Gilberto Nery de Araújo Neto
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP/BC) |
| Defense date: | 2011-11-30 |
| Examining board members: |
Paulo Roberto do Lago Helene;
Juliana Ferreira Fernandes;
Enio José Pazini Figueiredo;
Maryangela Geimba de Lima;
Josemir Coelho Santos
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| Advisor: | Paulo Roberto do Lago Helene |
| Abstract | |
For a long time, concrete structures were considered \"maintenance-free\", i.e. quasi eternal, unless they were overloaded or destroyed intentionally or by accident. This thought has been reconsidered in recent decades when several concrete structures began to present problems and degraded much faster than expected. Structural monitoring has been originated from the need to access the safety condition of a structure more quickly, accurately and with the benefit of creating a database of the structure monitored. The high cost related to bridges, overpasses and other large structures still attracts the interest of researchers and equipment manufacturers. However, the monitoring of buildings is still a subject rarely addressed in research and publications. The problem chosen to be addressed in this research is the degradation of reinforced concrete foundation blocks by alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) due to difficult access during inspections and unpredictable development of the problem. A review on the sensors available on the market and on monitoring techniques used in other structures with the problem was undertaken. A simulation of the AAR`s expansion in concrete has been developed for an experiment with sensors and monitoring techniques of foundations. In this experiment, strain gauges were applied on the reinforcing bars and adapted on a long gauge on the surface. LVDTs (linear variable differential transformer) were also applied on the surface. The anchoring of the long gauges did not support the applied tension, preventing a correct evaluation of the sensor. LVDTs have great potential to monitor the development of cracks, but after the concrete suffering some expansion, they get misaligned with the surface. The strain gauges used in the armor showed a good relation with the expansion and have great potential in monitoring. The whole decision and design process for the structural health monitoring (SHM) for AAR attacked foundation blocks is explained and the project is defined. A proposal of a damage-tolerant approach for the block is given for optimization of maintenance and interventions. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 07/03138-2 - Development of techniques for remote monitoring of concrete buildings |
| Grantee: | Gilberto Nery de Araújo Neto |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |