• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.351-374
• /
• 2022

Softening function is the primary input for modeling the fracture of concrete when the cohesive crack approach is used. In this paper, based on the laboratory data on notched beams, an inverse algorithm is proposed that can accurately find the softening curve of the concrete. This algorithm uses non-linear finite element analysis and the damage-plasticity model. It is based on the kinematics of the beam at the late stages of loading. The softening curve, obtained from the corresponding algorithm, has been compared to other softening curves in the literature. It was observed that in determining the behavior of concrete, the usage of the presented curve made accurate results in predicting the peak loads and the load-deflection curves of the beams with different concrete mixtures. In fact, the proposed algorithm leads to softening curves that can be used for modeling the tensile cracking of concrete precisely. Moreover, the advantage of this algorithm is the low number of iterations for converging to an appropriate answer.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.175-183
• /
• 2020

Fly ash has become an important component of concrete as supplementary cementitious material with the development of concrete technology. To make use of fly ash efficiently, four types of fly ash with particle size distributions that are in conformity with four functions, namely, S.Tsivilis, Andersen, Normal and F distribution, respectively, were prepared. The four particle size distributions as functions of the strength and pore structure of concrete were thereafter constructed and investigated. The results showed that the compressive and flexural strength of concrete with the fly ash that conforming to S.Tsivilis, Normal, F distribution increased by 5-10 MPa and 1-2 MPa, respectively, compared to the reference sample at 28 d. The pore structure of the concrete was improved, in which the total porosity of concrete decreased by 2-5% at 28 d. With regarding to the fly ash with Andersen distribution, it was however not conducive to the strength development of concrete. Regression model based on the grey multiple linear regression theory was proved to be efficient to predict the strength of concrete, according to the characteristic parameters of particle size and pore structure of the fly ash.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.313-328
• /
• 2001

This paper presents a three-dimensional finite element analysis methodology for a quantitative evaluation of confinement in concrete-filled box-shaped unstiffened steel columns. The confinement effects of concrete in non-circular sections can be assessed in terms of maximum average lateral pressure. A brief review of a previous method adopted for the same purpose is also presented. The previous method is based on a two-dimensional finite element analysis method involving a concrete-steel interaction model. In both the present and previous methods, average lateral pressure on concrete is computed by means of the interaction forces present at the concrete-steel interface. Subsequently, the strength enhancement of confined concrete is empirically related to the maximum average lateral pressure. The results of the former and latter methods are then compared. It is found that the results of both methods are compatible in terms of confined concrete strengths, although the interaction model yields a somewhat overestimated estimation of confinement than those of the present method when relatively high strength concrete is used. Furthermore, the confinement in rectangular-shaped sections is investigated and the reliability of previously adopted simplifications in such cases is discussed.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.289-299
• /
• 2022

Based on the random cracking theory, the cylinder RVE model of reinforced concrete is established and the damage process is divided into three stages as the evolution of the cracks. The stress distribution along longitude direction of the concrete and the steel bar in the cylinder model are derived. The equivalent elastic modulus of the RVE are derived and the user-defined field variable subroutine (USDFLD) for the equivalent elastic modulus is well integrated into the ABAQUS. Regarding the tensile rebars and the concrete surrounding the rebars as the equivalent homogeneous transversely isotropic material, and the FEM analysis for the reinforced concrete beams is conducted with the USDFLD subroutine. Considering the concrete cracking and interfacial debonding, the macroscopic damage process of the reinforced concrete beam under four-point bending loading in the simulation. The volume fraction of rebar and the cracking degree are mainly discussed to reveal their influence on the macro-performance and they are calibrated with experimental results. Comparing with the bending experiment performed with 8 reinforced concrete beams, the bending stiffness of the second stage and the ultimate load simulated are in good agreement with the experimental values, which verifies the effectiveness and the accuracy of the improved finite element method for reinforced concrete beam.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.267-282
• /
• 2013

This paper presents the behavior and design of axially loaded normal and steel fiber reinforced concrete in-filled steel tube (SFRCFT) columns, to examine the contribution of steel fibers on the compressive strength of the composite columns. Non-linear finite element analysis model (FEA) using ANSYS software has been developed and used in the analysis. The confinement effect provided by the steel tube is considered in the analysis. Comparisons of the analytical model results, along with other available experimental outputs from literature have been done to verify the structural model. The compressive strength and stiffness of SFRC composite columns were discussed, and the interpretation of the FEA model results has indicated that, the use of SFRC as infill material has a considerable effect on the strength and stiffness of the composite column. The analytical model results were compared with the existing design methods of composite columns - (EC4, AISC/LRFD and the Egyptian code of Practice for Steel Construction, ECPSC/LRFD). The comparison indicated that, the results of the FEA model were evaluated to an acceptable limit of accuracy. The code design equations were modified to introduce the steel fiber effect and compared with the results of the FEA model for verification.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.11-22
• /
• 2017

There are two methods to model the plastification of members comprising lumped and distributed plasticity. When a reinforced concrete member experiences inelastic deformations, cracks tend to spread from the joint interface resulting in a curvature distribution; therefore, the lumped plasticity methods assuming plasticity is concentrated at a zero-length plastic hinge section at the ends of the elements, cannot model the actual behavior of reinforced concrete members. Some spread plasticity models including uniform, linear and recently power have been developed to take extended inelastic zone into account. In the aforementioned models, the extended inelastic zones in proximity of critical sections assumed close to connections are considered. Although the mentioned assumption is proper for the buildings simply imposed lateral loads, it is not appropriate for the gravity load effects. The gravity load effects can influence the inelastic zones in structural elements; therefore, the plasticity models presenting the flexibility distribution along the member merely based on lateral loads apart from the gravity load effects can bring about incorrect stiffness matrix for structure. In this study, the linear flexibility distribution model is improved to account for the distributed plasticity of members subjected to both gravity and lateral load effects. To do so, a new model in which, each member is taken as one structural element into account is proposed. Some numerical examples from previous studies are assessed and outcomes confirm the accuracy of proposed model. Also comparing the results of the proposed model with other spread plasticity models illustrates glaring error produced due to neglecting the gravity load effects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.463-473
• /
• 2017

Reinforced concrete is a complex material to be modeled in finite element domain. A proper material model is necessary to represent the nonlinear behaviour accurately. Though the nonlinear analysis of RC structures evolved long back, still an accurate and reliable model to predict the realistic behaviour of components are limited. It is observed from literature that there are three well-known models to represent the nonlinear behaviour of concrete. These models include Chu model (1985), Hsu model (1994) and Saenz model (1964).A new stress-strain model based on Weibull distribution has been proposed in the present study. The objective of the present study is to analyze a reinforced concrete beam under flexural loading by employing all the models. Nonlinear behaviour of concrete is considered in terms of stress vs. strain, damage parameter, tension stiffening behaviour etc. The ductility of the RC beams is computed by using deflection based and energy based concepts. Both deflection ductility and energy based ductility is compared and energy based concept is found to be in good correlation with the experiments conducted. The behavior of RC beam predicted using ABAQUS has been compared with the corresponding experimental observations. Comparison between numerical and experimental results confirms that these four constitutive models are reliable in predicting the behaviour of RC structures and any of the models can be employed for analysis.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.73-83
• /
• 2016

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to develop a method for improving the accuracy of analysis results obtained from a two-dimensional (2-D) numerical analysis model of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP). METHODS : The analysis results from the 2-D numerical model of CRCP are compared with those from more rigorous three-dimensional (3-D) models of CRCP, and the relationships between the results are recognized. In addition, the numerical analysis results are compared with the results obtained from field experiments. By performing these comparisons, the calibration factors used for the 2-D CRCP model are determined. RESULTS : The results from the comparisons between 2-D and 3-D CRCP analyses show that with the 2-D CRCP model, concrete stresses can be overestimated significantly, and crack widths can either be underestimated or overestimated by a slight margin depending on the assumption of plane stress or plane strain. The behaviors of crack width in field measurements are comparable to those obtained from the numerical model of CRCP. CONCLUSIONS : The accuracy of analysis results from the 2-D CRCP model can be improved significantly by applying calibration factors obtained from comparisons with 3-D analyses and field experiments.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.483-496
• /
• 2010

This work deals with the determination of crack openings in 2D reinforced concrete structures using the Finite Element Method with a smeared rotating crack model or an embedded crack model. In the smeared crack model, the strong discontinuity associated with the crack is spread throughout the finite element. As is well known, the continuity of the displacement field assumed for these models is incompatible with the actual discontinuity. However, this type of model has been used extensively due to the relative computational simplicity it provides by treating cracks in a continuum framework, as well as the reportedly good predictions of reinforced concrete members' structural behavior. On the other hand, by enriching the displacement field within each finite element crossed by the crack path, the embedded crack model is able to describe the effects of actual discontinuities (cracks). This paper presents a comparative study of the abilities of these 2D models in predicting the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete structures. Structural responses are compared with experimental results from the literature, including crack patterns, crack openings and rebar stresses predicted by both models.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2024

Existing reinforced concrete buildings with seismically deficient column details affect the overall behavior depending on the failure type of column. This study aims to develop and validate a machine learning-based prediction model for the column failure modes (shear, flexure-shear, and flexure failure modes). For this purpose, artificial neural network (ANN), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), decision tree (DT), and random forest (RF) models were used, considering previously collected experimental data. Using four machine learning methodologies, we developed a classification learning model that can predict the column failure modes in terms of the input variables using concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength, axial load ratio, height-to-dept aspect ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, and transverse reinforcement ratio. The performance of each machine learning model was compared and verified by calculating accuracy, precision, recall, F1-Score, and ROC. Based on the performance measurements of the classification model, the RF model represents the highest average value of the classification model performance measurements among the considered learning methods, and it can conservatively predict the shear failure mode. Thus, the RF model can rapidly predict the column failure modes with simple column details.