Probabilistic models for mechanical properties of concrete, reinforcing steel and pre-stressing steel

Abstract This paper presents probabilistic models for mechanical properties of pre-cast and cast-on-site concrete as well as of reinforcing and pre-stressing steel. An extended review of models available in the literature is made and new probabilistic models are developed based on a significant amount of data collected by the authors. New probabilistic models are proposed for concrete ultimate strength (separately for precast and cast-in-place concretes), for yield and ultimate strength of reinforcing steel and for proportionality limit and ultimate strength of pre-stressing steel. The new models account for a recent improvement of production and are more appropriate for the probabilistic assessment of modern concrete structures then the models available in the literature. Keywords: probabilistic modelsmechanical propertiesconcretereinforcing steelpre-stressing steelvariability Acknowledgments The first author thanks The Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology for the PhD grant that allowed the carrying out of this work.