General

During the hardening process of concrete, heat is developed. By means of simulation the temperature-history can be predicted. Based on the calculated temperatures stresses arising from temperature differences can be determined. The analysis is including maturity-aging material-properties and eigen-strain (e.g. shrinkage) and creeping-effects.

Before the execution, you can choose a construction method which is satisfying requirements concerning:

- max. temperature

- differences in temperatures

- strength (based on maturity)

- curing (including rate of evaporation or total evaporation)

- freezing

- maximum exploitation of tensile strength (crack-formation)

By means of b4cast you can describe your 3D-dimensional structure and try different construction methods in order to get an optimum solution regarding quality, time and money.

Since b4cast is based on the Finite Element Method, you will be able to solve a wide range of problems.

Even though b4cast is general, it is very easy to use. The user does not need previous knowledge about the Finite Element Method. He/she should just describe the construction method, start the calculation and check a few quality points when the results are viewed.

Construction Method

Volumes corresponding to actual castings are defined geometrically. Time of casting and the casting temperature are defined. Scheduling of cooling pipes/heating wires is possible.

 

 

Materials

The hardening concrete is described by:

Materials can be imported from and exported to libraries. In that way the same material can be reused in different jobs. Together with the software are delivered examples on materials, which are ready to use.

Read details here

 

Thermal Boundaries

The following models can be assigned to surfaces:

All models are functions of time.

Shields can be imported from and exported to libraries. In that way the same shield can be reused in different jobs. Together with the software are delivered examples on shields, which are ready to use.

Internal heating or cooling can be considered by specifying heating cables and cooling pipes. Read details here. 

 

Displacement boundaries and external loads

Self-weight and external loads are considered as functions of time.

The structure can be provided with displacement boundaries in relation to external restraints. Displacement boundaries are also used in specifying planes of symmetry.

If none or some displacement boundaries are supplied by the user the software automatically complement boundaries in a way, which makes the structure statically determinate.

Self-weight and external loads are considered.

 

Calculation Method

The analyses (thermal- and stress-) are performed by means of the Finite Element Method. The structure is automatically meshed into tetrahedrons.

The variation of temperature, maturity and stress is assumed to be parabolic within each element.

Therefore, the user shall compare the fineness of the mesh with the variation of the temperature/stress-field he/she wants to determine.

If the mesh is too coarse iso-lines are not smooth. In that case the structure should be re-meshed with smaller element-size.

However, it should be noted that differences in material properties and concrete age mean that the iso-lines across construction joints do not have to be smooth.

Results

Results are:

Results variation in space are presented as contour plots in user-defined sections

Results variation in time are presented as graphs with minimum/maximum-values, average values, or values in user-defined points.

Cross-sections with extreme values can automatically be located.

Displacements are also visualized on a 3D image.

 

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