Comparison of influence of thermal cycles on thermoactivated structures with respect to predicted models established in the Model Code 2010

Abstract

Global warming and increasing CO2 emissions make it necessary

to reduce energy consumption while maintaining thermal

comfort. The current trend advocates the combination of energy

conservation strategies and energy efficiency technologies and

therefore thermoactive structures play an important role.

The Model Code 2010 establishes a model of the effect of

temperature on the compressive, flexural and tensile strength

for normal concretes, but this model only takes into account the

effect of temperature, thus neglecting the age of the concrete, as

well as the effect produced by thermal cycles over time.

This article examines the behavior of concrete subjected to

thermal cycles, thus imitating the process of thermal loading and

unloading in thermoactivated structures throughout its period of

use. Cylindrical specimens have been made to study compression

behavior and tensile strength, and prismatic specimens have been

made to determine flexural strength. The results obtained have

been compared with the models established in the 2010 model

code, and large differences can be observed between them. It can

be concluded that the models established in the model code do

not describe the behavior of the concrete subjected to thermal

cycles.