CeSTaR - A Project Supported by TA ČR within the DELTA Program

The software was developed with a financial support from TA ČR

CeSTaR - Computer simulation and experimental validation - complex service for flexible and efficient design of pre-cast concrete columns with innovative multi-spiral reinforcement

CeSTaR – the DELTA* program of TAČR
Project ID: TF05000040
Duration: 01/2018 - 12/2019
Partners: Červenka Consulting s.r.o. - Ing. Jan Červenka, Ph.D., National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ČVUT/National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, Ruentex Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd

Cement and steel production account for about 7 % and 5 %, respectively, of CO2 generation. It is therefore highly desiArable to optimize the design of reinforced concrete structures in such a way that the properties of these materials are fully utilized. For this purpose, it is necessary to apply innovative ideas of structural design and advanced computational models, which must be carefully validated. Interactions between the implementation of highly costly and time consuming validation experiments and the computational model must be considered from the very beginning. This means that the computational model will be used in the design of the experiment, including optimization of the sensor layout, and then the measured data will be compared with the computationally predicted values. The detected differences will be exploited for improvements of the mathematical model. Such a challenging goal can be reached through close cooperation of partners only. The innovative design idea to be investigated in this project is inspired by the multi-spiral reinforcement for reinforced concrete columns initially developed by the National Taiwan University (NTU) and Ruentex Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd (RU). One example of a successful application of this concept is the five-spiral reinforcement. One of the most important contributions and benefits of the steel reinforcement is increasing of structural ductility, in particular in case of earthquake loading. This feature is extremely important for structural safety in the earthquake endangered regions such as Taiwan, Japan, South of Europe and many others. Therefore, in testing and modeling of such structures are crucial both parts - concrete and reinforcement, and their interaction. The appropriate features and models for concrete material should be established for the specific conditions such as confined 3D stress state. Equally important is also testing and modeling of the reinforcement and its interaction with the surrounding concrete (reinforcement bond). Complex tests should be developed for realistic testing of the reinforced concrete system properties and identification of the model parameters by inverse analysis.

Comparison between columns with conventional reinforcement and innovative five-spiral reinforcement (a)
under axial compressive load; and (b) under lateral cyclic load.

Testing facilities at NCREE: (a) Multi-Axial Testing System (MATS); and (b) reaction walls.

Testing method: (a) Axial compression or double-curvature lateral cyclic loading using MATS;
and (b) single-curvature lateral cyclic loading using the reaction wall.

Watch the video here.

Within the framework of this international project Červenka Consulting developed a new module based on ATENA software.

The beta version of this product is part of the new ATENA version 5.8 currently available in beta version. The version can be downloaded and tested with valid ATENA Hasp hardlocks.

*Project no. TF05000040 has been financed under the DELTA program of TA CR for the support of applied research and experimental development.