Graduation Semester and Year

2020

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Raad Azzawi

Abstract

This research investigates the effect of an accidental explosion of a steam boiler in a boiler room on steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) structure in an industrial facility, using nonlinear analysis in ABAQUS FEA software. The mechanical properties of SFRC are calculated through testing at the UTA Civil Engineering Laboratory Building. Steel fiber dosages in concrete at different volume fractions are examined for the mechanical properties of concrete. In total, 9 (4” x 8”) cylindrical specimens for compressive strength and modulus of elasticity test, 9 (4” x 8”) cylindrical specimens for tensile strength test, and 9 (6” x 6” x 21”) beam specimens for modulus of rupture test were produced and tested after 28 days of curing. Modulus of Elasticity is found for the different volume fractions of SRFC by stress vs strain curve from experimental tests. Adding 1% of steel fiber in concrete can increase the modulus of elasticity by 11%, compressive strength by 22%, tensile strength by 42%, and modulus of rupture by 32 %. Using the concrete properties obtained from experimental results, numerical analysis is done to find the effect of the Steam Boiler explosion on SFRC boiler room using nonlinear analysis in ABAQUS FEA software. Dynamic/Explicit loading condition is considered for analysis. It’s found that adding 1% steel fiber by volume fraction can increase the overall capacity of concrete structure by 26%, decrease strain by 21%, and decrease the deflection by 23%. Parametric studies are also carried out at 1% SFRC by different arrangements of Steam Boiler closed room – with a rigid roof, with a frangible roof and circular vent in the roof. It’s found that the reflected pressure due to explosion can be significantly reduced on the surrounding walls. In case, roof with circular vent the stresses decrease by 50%, strain decrease by 70% and with frangible roof stress decrease by 31%, strain by 38% and strain decrease by 38%.

Keywords

SFRC, Internal explosion, ABAQUS, CONWEP, Steam boiler

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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