A predictive temperature-dependent long-term creep model for concrete

The design of efficient and reliable countermeasures against cracking in massive concrete structures requires fundamental understanding of temperature-dependent creep, especially the basic creep. Since the long-term creep experimental data at different temperatures are rarely available for developing reliable empirical predictive models, the mesoscale simulation approach taking into account concrete heterogeneity offers an alternative approach. Even though such mesoscale simulations cannot be directly applied to the entire massive concrete structures due to computational intractability, it still helps to derive and examine predictive models by simulation of the meso–macro transition for the basic creep at different temperatures. In this paper, consideration is made on the equivalent age and reduced time to identify the impact of temperature on the maturity and viscosity in the mesoscale simulations. The simulation results are validated by experimental creep data at various curing and loading temperatures. The simulated results subsequently provide guidance to modify a macroscopic predictive creep model. The modified predictive model is able to describe the creep behaviour of concrete at various service temperatures based on the basic creep data of mortar at a reference temperature only.