Analysis of Concrete Cracking in Lock Wall Resurfacing

Abstract : An aging constitutive model for concrete including creep, shrinkage, and cracking is used in a general-purpose heat transfer and structural analysis finite element code to predict the response of concrete overlays placed on lock wall surfaces. Model predictions corresponded well with test results. The model was used to predict the response of concrete overlays with varying thicknesses and placement conditions. In all of the analyses, shrinkage had a dominant effect on cracking. Ambient temperature, thickness of overlay, and use of a bond breaker also significantly affected cracking. Recommendations include careful curing procedures and the use of mix proportions that minimize shrinkage and emphasize the importance of early-time materials property tests in predicting stresses and cracking.