1. Introduction

A certain number of civil engineering structures in the EDF production park, mainly dams, present concrete swelling pathologies due to the alkali-aggregate reaction (RAG). In order to assess the safety and operating margins of these installations, and to control maintenance costs, EDF and the Materials and Durability of Constructions Laboratory (LMDC) of Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse III) have developed a numerical model, [Grimal, 2007], allowing to desimulate the mechanical behavior of structures affected by the RAG. The aim of this model is to assess deformations and anisotropic damage (cracking) of affected structures. Indeed, recent experimental research confirms that swelling due to RAG becomes highly anisotropic when the stress state becomes deviatoric. In addition, since the kinetics and the amplitude of the reaction are highly dependent on the water content and the temperature of the concrete, the model takes into account these environmental phenomena. In addition, compression and traction creeps play a significant role in the behavior of structures, so they have been treated in a specific manner.

In code_aster, the template is used under the name BETON_RAG.