Time-dependent Effect on Concrete Slab: Early-age Concrete Properties and Construction Loading on Slab Serviceability

This book introduces analytical methods to investigate the influence of material properties, construction sequence, and time-dependent effect on the performance of concrete flat slab systems. Emphasis was placed on implementation of material constitutive model, cracking, and deflection of slabs under service load conditions. In order to investigate the early age effect of concrete, an experimental program was performed for one-way reinforced concrete slab. Results of this study help to provide recommendations for improved design of concrete slab systems. The UMAT defined in ABAQUS/Standard is used to idealize material behavior. Time-dependent effects are implemented along with tension stiffening models. Laboratory tests on nine simply supported one-way reinforced concrete members subjected to sustained load was performed. The test results demonstrated the effect of shrinkage restraint provided by embedded bars on the flexural cracking of the specimens under applied load, as well as effects of early age loading on time-dependent response.