A computational tool for FE analysis of RC structures affected by environmental degradation

The present paper fits within the research field on reinforced concrete (RC) durability and its influence on structural performance of existing RC buildings, especially in seismic zones. A coupled environmental-mechanical damage model previously developed by some of the authors is enhanced in order to take into account different degradation mechanisms, among others reinforcement corrosion and freeze-thaw cycles on structural behaviour of RC elements. The object-oriented framework for F.E. analysis OpenSees is selected for its very promising results obtained during the last years and for its modularity and extensibility. In this work particular attention is devoted to nesting the damage models into the OpenSees framework seamlessly. An overview of the developed classes and their main methods is given. Afterwards, a new post-processing utility, that permits the interface with GiD (a pre- and post-processor developed by CIMNE, Barcelona), is presented.