Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded Concrete

Abstract Investigating the fatigue behavior of concrete structures from wind turbine towers is associated with major challenges due to the high number of occurring load cycles and large cross-sectional dimensions. Thus, only few studies have been carried out on concrete structures subjected to cycli...

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Main Authors: Dennis Birkner, Steffen Marx
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069-025-00762-8
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author Dennis Birkner
Steffen Marx
author_facet Dennis Birkner
Steffen Marx
author_sort Dennis Birkner
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Investigating the fatigue behavior of concrete structures from wind turbine towers is associated with major challenges due to the high number of occurring load cycles and large cross-sectional dimensions. Thus, only few studies have been carried out on concrete structures subjected to cyclic bending loads. Numerical simulations, in contrast, enable fast investigations of many parameter variations. There are many material models available for different applications, yet they quickly become very complex and require time-consuming calibration of input parameters in structural tests. A model for simulating macroscopic damage processes in fatigue-loaded compressed concrete cross sections, which can be calibrated using standard cylinder tests, does not yet exist. The present work aims to close this gap and implements an additive strain model to simulate the strain and damage development of concrete subjected to fatigue bending loads. Therefore, experimental investigations were designed and carried out. Static and cyclic tests on concrete cylinders yielded the input parameters for the material model. A strain model was implemented in ANSYS Mechanical. The numerical implementation was validated using fatigue tests on large prestressed beams in a resonance-based testing facility. The beam specimens mostly failed due to fatigue in the compression zone. The numerical model confirmed the effects observed in the beam tests and was able to simulate the most damaged regions very well. Moreover, stress redistribution to less loaded regions as a result of relief of the damaged regions was detected. This confirmed the positive effect of stress redistributions on the fatigue life of the structures.
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spelling doaj-art-de1ab2b1c8774986bfc2a00656f2ade42025-08-20T03:40:50ZengSpringerOpenInternational Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials2234-13152025-03-0119111610.1186/s40069-025-00762-8Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded ConcreteDennis Birkner0Steffen Marx1Ramboll Deutschland GmbHInstitute of Concrete Structures, Dresden University of TechnologyAbstract Investigating the fatigue behavior of concrete structures from wind turbine towers is associated with major challenges due to the high number of occurring load cycles and large cross-sectional dimensions. Thus, only few studies have been carried out on concrete structures subjected to cyclic bending loads. Numerical simulations, in contrast, enable fast investigations of many parameter variations. There are many material models available for different applications, yet they quickly become very complex and require time-consuming calibration of input parameters in structural tests. A model for simulating macroscopic damage processes in fatigue-loaded compressed concrete cross sections, which can be calibrated using standard cylinder tests, does not yet exist. The present work aims to close this gap and implements an additive strain model to simulate the strain and damage development of concrete subjected to fatigue bending loads. Therefore, experimental investigations were designed and carried out. Static and cyclic tests on concrete cylinders yielded the input parameters for the material model. A strain model was implemented in ANSYS Mechanical. The numerical implementation was validated using fatigue tests on large prestressed beams in a resonance-based testing facility. The beam specimens mostly failed due to fatigue in the compression zone. The numerical model confirmed the effects observed in the beam tests and was able to simulate the most damaged regions very well. Moreover, stress redistribution to less loaded regions as a result of relief of the damaged regions was detected. This confirmed the positive effect of stress redistributions on the fatigue life of the structures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069-025-00762-8ConcreteDamageFatigueFEMStress redistributionANSYS
spellingShingle Dennis Birkner
Steffen Marx
Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded Concrete
International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
Concrete
Damage
Fatigue
FEM
Stress redistribution
ANSYS
title Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded Concrete
title_full Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded Concrete
title_fullStr Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded Concrete
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded Concrete
title_short Numerical Implementation of an Additive Strain Model for the Damage Simulation of Fatigue-Loaded Concrete
title_sort numerical implementation of an additive strain model for the damage simulation of fatigue loaded concrete
topic Concrete
Damage
Fatigue
FEM
Stress redistribution
ANSYS
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069-025-00762-8
work_keys_str_mv AT dennisbirkner numericalimplementationofanadditivestrainmodelforthedamagesimulationoffatigueloadedconcrete
AT steffenmarx numericalimplementationofanadditivestrainmodelforthedamagesimulationoffatigueloadedconcrete