Novel Fractional Approach to Concrete Creep Modeling for Bridge Engineering Applications

The article presents research on concrete creep in bridge structures, focusing on the influence of concrete mix composition and the use of advanced rheological models with fractional-order derivatives. Laboratory tests were performed on nine mixes varying in blast furnace slag content (0%, 25%, and 75% of cement mass) and air-entrainment. The results were used to calibrate fractal rheological models-Kelvin-Voigt and Huet-Sayegh-where the viscous element was replaced with a fractal element. These models showed high agreement with experimental data and improved the accuracy of creep prediction. Comparison with Eurocode 2 revealed discrepancies up to 64%, especially for slag-free concretes used in prestressed bridge structures. The findings highlight the important role of mineral additives in reducing creep strains and the need to consider individual mix characteristics in design calculations. In the context of modern bridge construction technologies, such as balanced cantilever or incremental launching, reliable modeling of early-age creep is particularly important. The proposed modeling approach may enhance the precision of long-term structural behavior analyses and contribute to improved safety and durability of concrete infrastructure.