A new triangular layered plate element for the non-linear analysis of reinforced concrete slabs

Abstract

SUMMARYA new 3-node, 18-DOF triangular layered plate element is developed in this paper for the geometric and material non-linear analysis of isotropic plates and reinforced concrete slabs under service loads. The proposed model is a combination of Allman's 3-node, 9-DOF triangular membrane element with drilling degrees of freedom and the reÿned non-conforming 3-node, 9-DOF triangular plate-bending element RT9 in order to account for the coupling e ects between membrane and bending actions. The element is modelled as a layered system of concrete and equivalent smeared steel reinforcement layers, and perfect bond is assumed between the concrete layers and the smeared steel layers. The maximum normal stress criterion is employed to detect cracking of the concrete, and a smeared ÿxed crack model is assumed. Both geometric non-linearity with large displacements but moderate rotations and material non-linearity, which incorporates tension, compression, concrete cracking and tension sti ening, are included in the model. An updated Lagrangian approach is employed as a solution strategy for the non-linear ÿnite element analysis and a numerical example of reinforced concrete slab is given to demonstrate the e cacy of this robust element.