Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive Review

Hydraulic concrete structures in cold regions often suffer from the combined action of freeze-thaw (FT) cycles and external loads, indicating that these structures often depend on the combined effects of two or more factors. In recent years, researchers around the world have made considerable effort...

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Main Authors: Xiangyi Zhu, Xiaohe Zhou, Yuxuan Xia, Xudong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1596
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author Xiangyi Zhu
Xiaohe Zhou
Yuxuan Xia
Xudong Chen
author_facet Xiangyi Zhu
Xiaohe Zhou
Yuxuan Xia
Xudong Chen
author_sort Xiangyi Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Hydraulic concrete structures in cold regions often suffer from the combined action of freeze-thaw (FT) cycles and external loads, indicating that these structures often depend on the combined effects of two or more factors. In recent years, researchers around the world have made considerable efforts and explorations to solve this challenge, achieving fruitful research results. This article provides a comprehensive literature review on performance degradation law and model construction of hydraulic concrete under FT cycles. Firstly, the theory and characterization method of FT damage for concrete are introduced. Given the inherent deficiencies of traditional detection methodologies and the constraints imposed by extant computed tomography (CT) technology, there is an urgent need to develop a high-precision segmentation technique for concrete. By capitalizing on the resultant microstructure, a more accurate predictive model can be established. Thereafter, an in-depth discussion is conducted on the damage mechanism of hydraulic structures when subjected to freeze-thaw (FT) cycles in conjunction with external loading scenarios, namely fracture, direct tension, triaxial stress, and hydraulic wear. As the combined effects of different factors cause more serious damage to hydraulic structures than a single factor, the evolution law is more complex. Although researchers have attempted to reveal the deterioration mechanism of multi-factor interaction by means of numerical methods, there are still many fundamental issues that require further exploration and more in-depth research due to the limitations of constitutive models. Finally, the existing research results are summarized, and novel insights are proposed for future research directions. This study promptly identifies the gaps that urgently need to be filled, especially the insufficient understanding of the complex stress state of hydraulic concrete structures and the inadequate research on the performance deterioration law under multi-factor combined action. This investigation aims to determine the future research focus in relation to hydraulic concrete in cold regions that could advance the revelation of the deterioration mechanism caused by multi-factor interaction. By providing a detailed overview of the current hydraulic concrete structures in terms of the combined action of FT cycles and external loads, highlighting the research limitations, and suggesting future research directions, this review seeks to contribute to the safe operation of hydraulic concrete structures in cold regions.
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spelling doaj-art-186cbb1f6b754350929bf0a7bf4ee2f52025-08-20T03:14:36ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-05-011510159610.3390/buildings15101596Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive ReviewXiangyi Zhu0Xiaohe Zhou1Yuxuan Xia2Xudong Chen3School of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaSchool of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaSchool of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaCollege of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaHydraulic concrete structures in cold regions often suffer from the combined action of freeze-thaw (FT) cycles and external loads, indicating that these structures often depend on the combined effects of two or more factors. In recent years, researchers around the world have made considerable efforts and explorations to solve this challenge, achieving fruitful research results. This article provides a comprehensive literature review on performance degradation law and model construction of hydraulic concrete under FT cycles. Firstly, the theory and characterization method of FT damage for concrete are introduced. Given the inherent deficiencies of traditional detection methodologies and the constraints imposed by extant computed tomography (CT) technology, there is an urgent need to develop a high-precision segmentation technique for concrete. By capitalizing on the resultant microstructure, a more accurate predictive model can be established. Thereafter, an in-depth discussion is conducted on the damage mechanism of hydraulic structures when subjected to freeze-thaw (FT) cycles in conjunction with external loading scenarios, namely fracture, direct tension, triaxial stress, and hydraulic wear. As the combined effects of different factors cause more serious damage to hydraulic structures than a single factor, the evolution law is more complex. Although researchers have attempted to reveal the deterioration mechanism of multi-factor interaction by means of numerical methods, there are still many fundamental issues that require further exploration and more in-depth research due to the limitations of constitutive models. Finally, the existing research results are summarized, and novel insights are proposed for future research directions. This study promptly identifies the gaps that urgently need to be filled, especially the insufficient understanding of the complex stress state of hydraulic concrete structures and the inadequate research on the performance deterioration law under multi-factor combined action. This investigation aims to determine the future research focus in relation to hydraulic concrete in cold regions that could advance the revelation of the deterioration mechanism caused by multi-factor interaction. By providing a detailed overview of the current hydraulic concrete structures in terms of the combined action of FT cycles and external loads, highlighting the research limitations, and suggesting future research directions, this review seeks to contribute to the safe operation of hydraulic concrete structures in cold regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1596hydraulic concreteFT cyclesexternal loadsmulti-factor combined actiondeterioration mechanism
spellingShingle Xiangyi Zhu
Xiaohe Zhou
Yuxuan Xia
Xudong Chen
Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive Review
Buildings
hydraulic concrete
FT cycles
external loads
multi-factor combined action
deterioration mechanism
title Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive Review
title_full Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive Review
title_fullStr Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive Review
title_full_unstemmed Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive Review
title_short Performance Degradation Law and Model Construction of Hydraulic Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A Comprehensive Review
title_sort performance degradation law and model construction of hydraulic concrete under freeze thaw cycles a comprehensive review
topic hydraulic concrete
FT cycles
external loads
multi-factor combined action
deterioration mechanism
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1596
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AT xiaohezhou performancedegradationlawandmodelconstructionofhydraulicconcreteunderfreezethawcyclesacomprehensivereview
AT yuxuanxia performancedegradationlawandmodelconstructionofhydraulicconcreteunderfreezethawcyclesacomprehensivereview
AT xudongchen performancedegradationlawandmodelconstructionofhydraulicconcreteunderfreezethawcyclesacomprehensivereview