Applications of a LITS semi-empirical model in plain and reinforced concrete members subjected to a uniaxial compressive load

This paper describes a LITS (Load Induced Thermal Strain) semi empirical model and two practical applications in simple and reinforced concrete members. The model allows a preliminary and straightforward quantification of the total strain of concrete structures submitted to heating and a sustained compressive load, without the need to use complex numerical analyses. The model takes into account the effect of the thermal expansion restraint due to the boundary conditions (temperature and compressive load) and can be adopted for several types of concretes (conventional, high strength and ultra high performance). In the first example, the total deformations of simple concrete specimens from KHOURY (2006) are determined. In the second example, the total displacement of a reinforced concrete column from SCHNEIDER et al (1994) is calculated. A comparison between the results of the model and the experimental values demonstrated the reliability of the semi-empirical model to obtain a preliminary quantification of the total deformations of concrete.