• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.401-416
• /
• 2008

The paper presents a methodology to model three-dimensional reinforced concrete members by means of embedded discontinuity elements based on the Continuum Strong Discontinuous Approach (CSDA). Mixture theory concepts are used to model reinforced concrete as a 3D composite material constituted of concrete with long fibers (rebars) bundles oriented in different directions embedded in it. The effects of the rebars are modeled by phenomenological constitutive models devised to reproduce the axial non-linear behavior, as well as the bond-slip and dowel action. The paper presents the constitutive models assumed for the components and the compatibility conditions chosen to constitute the composite. Numerical analyses of existing experimental reinforced concrete members are presented, illustrating the applicability of the proposed methodology.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.43-64
• /
• 2006

A tendon model that can effectively be used in finite element analyses of prestressed concrete (PSC) structures with bonded tendons is proposed on the basis of the bond characteristics between a tendon and its surrounding concrete. Since tensile forces between adjacent cracks are transmitted from a tendon to concrete by bond forces, the constitutive law of a bonded tendon stiffened by grouting is different from that of a bare tendon. Accordingly, the apparent yield stress of an embedded tendon is determined from the bond-slip relationship. The definition of the multi-linear average stress-strain relationship is then obtained through a linear interpolation of the stress difference at the post-yielding stage. Unlike in the case of a bonded tendon, on the other hand, a stress increase beyond the effective prestress in an unbonded tendon is not section-dependent but member-dependent. The tendon stress unequivocally represents a uniform distribution along the length when the friction loss is excluded. Thus, using a strain reduction factor, the modified stress-strain curve of an unbonded tendon is derived by successive iterations. The validity of the proposed two tendon models is verified through correlation studies between analytical and experimental results for PSC beams and slabs.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.179-189
• /
• 2017

Concrete shear walls are one of the major structural lateral resisting systems in buildings. In some cases, due to the change in the occupancy of the structure or functional requirements like architectural and even mechanical ones, openings need to be provided and installed in structural walls after their construction. Providing these openings may significantly influence the structural behavior of the constructed wall. This paper considers the results of a nonlinear finite element analysis of shear walls with opening strengthened by carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips with different configurations. Details of bond-slip constitutive model of link elements to simulate the connections of FRP strips to concrete surface is presented. The proposed model in this research has been validated using experimental results available in the literature. The results indicated that the proposed configuration of CFRP strips significantly improved the lateral resistance and deformation capacity of the shear walls with opening.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.285-294
• /
• 2019

In the present paper, the fiber theory has been employed to model the reinforced concrete (RC) deep beams (DBs) considering the reinforcing steel bar-concrete interaction. To simulate numerically the behavior of materials, the uniaxial materials' constitutive laws have been employed for reinforcements and concrete and the bond stress-slip between the reinforcing steel bars and surrounding concrete are taken into account. Because of the high sensitivity of DBs to shear deformations, the Timoshenko beam theory has been applied. The shear stress-strain (S-SS) relationship has been defined by the modified compression field theory (MCFT) model. By modeling about 300 RC panels and employing a produced numerical database, a study has been carried out to show the sensitivity of the MCFT model. This is performed based on the multiple linear regression (MLR) models. The results of this research also illustrate how different parameters such as characteristic compressive strength of concrete, yield strength of reinforcements and the percentages of reinforcements in different directions get involved in the shear behavior of RC panels without applying complex theories. Based on the results obtained from the analysis of the MCFT S-SS model, a relatively simplified numerical S-SS model has been proposed. Application of the proposed S-SS model in modeling and analyzing the considered samples indicates that there is a good agreement between the simulated and the experimental test results. The comparison between the proposed S-SS model and the MCFT model indicates that in addition to the advantage of better accuracy, the main advantage of the proposed method is simplicity in application.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.163-173
• /
• 2024

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have a proven strength enhancement capability when installed into Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. The brittle failure of traditional FRP strengthening systems has attracted researchers to develop novel materials with improved strength and ductility properties. One such material is that known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study presents a numerical investigation of the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP systems. This material is distinguished by its large rupture strain, leading to an improvement in the ductility of the strengthened structural members compared to conventional FRPs. A three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model is developed in this study to predict the load-deflection response of a series of experimentally tested beams published in the literature. The numerical model incorporates constitutive material laws and bond-slip behavior between concrete and the strengthening system. Moreover, the validated model was applied in a parametric study to inspect the effect of concrete compressive strength, PET-FRP sheet length, and reinforcing steel bar diameter on the overall performance of concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.781-788
• /
• 2009

Mechanical properties of steel-concrete interface were evaluated on the basis of experimental observations. The properties included bond strength, unbounded and bonded friction angles, residual level of friction angle, mode I fracture energy, mode II bonded fracture energy and unbonded slip-friction energy under different levels of normal stress, and shape parameters to define geometrical shape of failure envelope. For this purpose, a typical type of constitutive model of describing steel-concrete interface behavior was presented based on a hyperbolic three-parameter Mohr-Coulomb type failure criterion. The constitutive model depicts the strong dependency of interface behavior on bonding condition of interface, bonded or unbounded. Values of the interface parameters were determined through interpretation of experimental results, geometry of failure envelope and sensitivity analysis. Nonlinear finite element analysis that incorporates steel-concrete interface as well as material nonlinearities of concrete and steel were performed to predict the experimental results.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.951-972
• /
• 2015

The focus of the present study is to investigate both local and global behaviour of a precast concrete sandwich panel. The selected prototype consists of two reinforced concrete layers coupled by a system of cold-drawn steel profiles and one intermediate layer of insulating material. High-definition nonlinear finite element (FE) models, based on 3D brick and 2D interface elements, are used to assess the capacity of this technology under shear, tension and compression. Geometrical nonlinearities are accounted via large displacement-large strain formulation, whilst material nonlinearities are included, in the series of simulations, by means of Von Mises yielding criterion for steel elements and a classical total strain crack model for concrete; a bond-slip constitutive law is additionally adopted to reproduce steel profile-concrete layer interaction. First, constitutive models are calibrated on the basis of preliminary pull and pull-out tests for steel and concrete, respectively. Geometrically and materially nonlinear FE simulations are performed, in compliance with experimental tests, to validate the proposed modeling approach and characterize shear, compressive and tensile response of this system, in terms of global capacity curves and local stress/strain distributions. Based on these experimental and numerical data, the structural performance is then quantified under various loading conditions, aimed to reproduce the behaviour of this solution during production, transport, construction and service conditions.