A comprehensive nonlinear finite element modelling and parametric analysis of reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to present comprehensive nonlinear material modelling techniques and simulations of reinforced concrete (RC) beams subjected to short-term monotonic static load using the robust and reliable general-purpose finite element (FE) software ANSYS. A parametric study is carried out to analyse the flexural and ductility behaviour of RC beams under various influencing parameters. Design/methodology/approach To develop and validate the numerical FE models, a total of four experimentally tested simply supported RC beams are taken from the available literature and two beams are selected from each author. The concrete, steel reinforcements, bond-slip mechanism, loading and supporting plates are modelled using SOLID65, LINK180, COMBIN39 and SOLID185 elements, respectively. The validated models are then used to conduct parametric FE analysis to investigate the effect of concrete compressive strength, percentage of tensile reinforcement, compression reinforcement ratio, transverse shear reinforcement, bond-slip mechanism, concrete compressive stress-strain constitutive models, beam symmetry and varying overall depth of beam on the ultimate load-carrying capacity and ductility behaviour of RC beams. Findings The developed three-dimensional FE models can able to capture the load and midspan deflections at critical points, the accurate yield point of steel reinforcements, the formation of initial and progressive concrete crack patterns and the complete load-deflection curves of RC beams up to ultimate failure. From the numerical results, it can be concluded that the FE model considering the bond-slip effect with Thorenfeldt’s concrete compressive stress-strain model exhibits a better correlation with the experimental data. Originality/value The ultimate load and deflection results of validated FE models show a maximum deviation of less than 10% and 15%, respectively, as compared to the experimental results. The developed model is also capable of capturing concrete failure modes accurately. Overall, the FE analysis results were found quite acceptable and compared well with the experimental data at all loading stages. It is suggested that the proposed FE model is a practical and reliable tool for analyzing the flexural behaviour of RC members and can be used for performing parametric studies.

Computational modeling and simulations for predicting the nonlinear responses of reinforced concrete beams

“…A Poisson ratio of 0.2 is assigned for concrete (ACI-318, 2019; Pandimani et al. , 2021a, b). The nonlinear property of concrete in compression is assigned by using an isotropic elastic multi-linear (MISO) stress-strain curve proposed by Desayi and Krishnan expression as given in equation (1) (Wolanski, 2004; Godínez-Domínguez et al.…”

“…The SOLID65 and LINK180 elements are discretized into 25 × 25 × 25 mm discrete elements along the length, depth, and width directions to get reliable solutions, as shown in Figure 2 (Kaya and Anil, 2021; Pandimani et al. , 2021a, b).…”

“…This element also comprises plasticity, large deflection, stress stiffening, creep and swelling properties (Wolanski, 2004; Yousaf et al ., 2017; Pandimani et al. , 2021a, b; Naser et al ., 2021; Abuodeh et al ., 2021; Hawileh et al ., 2013). It is an eight-node hexahedron element with x, y and z translational degrees of freedom (DOF) at each node.…”

Finite-element modeling of partially prestressed concrete beams with unbonded tendon under monotonic loadings

“…The linear and nonlinear material property of a concrete element is modeled using the three dimensional (3-D) hexagonal eight-node solid65 element having three translational degrees of freedom (DOF) in the x-, y- and z-directions at each node, as shown in Figure 4(a) (Pandimani et al , 2021; Barour et al , 2019; ANSYS, 2007; Mehmet and Hakan, 2019). This element is capable of simulating the cracking and crushing phenomenon of concrete.…”

Insight into numerical characteristics of embedded finite elements for pile‐type structures employing an enhanced formulation

“…1 In the context of computational modelling, as considered in the following, the former will be referred to as sub-scale elements (SSE), the matrix material as macroscale element (MSE) and the composite material as embedded reinforcement model (ERM). In the literature, a variety of cross-disciplinary applications exists, for instance in the form of steel reinforcements within concrete structures in structural engineering [2][3][4][5] or fibre-reinforced composites in material science. [6][7][8][9][10] Likewise, this concept can be found in other fields than solid mechanics 11,12 ; for example, countless biological systems comprise biopolymer networks of highly slender filaments, whereas the latter govern crucial processes, including cell migration and cell division.…”