Analytical study of performance evaluation for seismic retrofitting of reinforced concrete building using 3D dynamic nonlinear finite element analysis

This paper presents three-dimensional finite element （FE） analyses of an all-frame model of a three-story reinforced concrete （RC） building damaged in the 1999 Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake. Non-structural brick walls of the building acted as a seismic resistant element although their contributions were neglected in the design. Hence, the entire structure of a typical frame was modeled and static and dynamic nonlinear analyses were conducted to evaluate the contributions of the brick walls. However, the results of the analyses were considerably overestimated due to coarse mesh discretizations, which were unavoidable due to limited computer resources. This study corrects the overestimations by modifying （1） the tensile strengths and （2） shear stiffness reduction factors of concrete and brick. The results indicate that brick walls improve frame strength although shear failures are caused in columns shortened by spandrel walls. Then, the effectiveness of three types of seismic retrofits is evaluated. The maximum drift of the first floor is reduced by 89.3%, 94.8%, and 27.5% by Steel-confined, FuI1-RC, and Full-brick models, respectively. Finally, feasibility analyses of models with soils were conducted. The analyses indicated that the soils elongate the natural period of building models although no significant differences were observed.

Full－range nonlinear analysis of fatigue behaviors of reinforced concrete structures by finite element method

The offshore reinforced concrete structures are always subject to cyclic load, such as wave load.In this paper a new finite element analysis model is developed to analyze the stress and strain state of reinforced concrete structures including offshore concrete structures, subject to any number of the cyclic load. On the basis of the anal ysis of the experimental data,this model simplifies the number of cycles-total cyclic strain curve of concrete as three straight line segments,and it is assumed that the stress-strain curves of different cycles in each segment are the same, thus the elastoplastic analysis is only needed for the first cycle of each segment, and the stress or strain corresponding to any number of cycles can be obtained by superposition of stress or strain obtained by the above e lastoplastic analysis based on the cyclic numbers in each segment.This model spends less computer time,and can obtain the stress and strain states of the structures after any number of cycles.The endochronic-damage and ideal offshore concrete platform subject to cyclic loading are experimented and analyzed by the finite element method based on the model proposed in this paper. The results between the experiment and the finite element analysis are in good agreement,which demonstrates the validity and accuracy of the proposed model.

NONLINEAR ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE RECTANGULAR SLABS USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

The nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete rectangular slabs undermonotonic transverse loads is performed by finite element method.The layered rectangu-lar element with 4 nodes and 20 degrees of freedom is developed,in whichbending-stretching coupling effect is taken into account.An orthotropic equivalentuniaxial stress-strain constitutive model of concrete is used.A program is worked out andused to calculate two reinforced concrete slabs.The results of calculation are in goodconformity with the corresponding test results.In addition,the influence of tension stif-fening effect of cracked concrete on the results of calculation is discussed.

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Deep Beams

By the nonlinear finite element analysis （FEA） method, the mechanical properties of the steel fiber reinforced concrete （SFRC） deep beams were discussed in terms of the crack load and ultimate bearing capacity. In the simulation process, the ANSYS parametric design language （APDL） was used to set up the finite element model; the model of bond stress-slip relationship between steel bar and concrete was established. The nonlinear FEA results and test results demonstrated that the steel fiber can not only significantly improve the cracking load and ultimate bearing capacity of the concrete but also repress the development of the cracks. Meanwhile, good agreement was found between the experimental data and FEA results, if the unit type, the parameter model and the failure criterion are selected reasonably.

Finite Element Method for Design of Reinforced Concrete Offshore Platforms

A design method of reinforced concrete (R. C.) offshore platforms with nonlinear finite element analysis is proposed. According to the method, a computer program is developed. In this program nonlinear constitutive relationships and strength criteria of concrete and steel bars are included, and the progressive cracking and crushing of the concrete are taken into account. Based on the stress distribution obtained by the nonlinear finite element analysis, the amount of reinforcement in the control sections can be computed and adjusted automatically by the program to satisfy the requirement of the design. The amount of reinforcement required in the control sections, which are obtained with the nonlinear finite element analysis, is agreeable to that obtained in the experiment. This shows that the design method of R. C. offshore platform with the nonlinear finite element method proposed by the authors is reliable for practical use.

Numerical Modeling Strategy for the Simulation of Nonlinear Response of Slender Reinforced Concrete Structural Walls

A three-dimensional nonlinear modeling strategy for simulating the seismic response of slender reinforced concrete structural walls with different cross-sectional shapes is presented in this paper.A combination of nonlinear multi-layer shell elements and displacement-based beam-column elements are used to model the unconfined and confined parts of the walls,respectively.A uniaxial material model for reinforcing steel bars that includes buckling and low-cyclic fatigue effects is used to model the longitudinal steel bars within the structural walls.The material model parameters related to the buckling length are defined based on an analytical expression for reinforcing steel bars embedded in reinforced concrete elements,which are developed based on beam-on-springs model,and validated with experimental tests of boundary elements of structural walls available in the literature.Six experimental case studies of reinforced concrete walls with rectangularshape,T-shape,and U-shape cross-section are used to validate the structural wall numerical modeling strategy.

Finite element model of reinforcement corrosion in concrete

A nonlinear finite element model （FEM） of the corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete has been successfully developed on the basis of mathematical analysis of the electrochemical process of steel corrosion in concrete. The influences of the area ratio and the Tafel constants of the anode and cathode on the potential and corrosion current density have been examined with the model. It has been found that the finite element calculation is more suitable for assessing the corrosion condition of steel reinforcement than ordinary electrochemical techniques due to the fact that FEM can obtain the distributions of potential and corrosion current density on the steel surface. In addition, the local corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete is strengthened with the decrease of both the area ratio and the Tafel constants. These results provide valuable information to the researchers who investigate steel corrosion.

Performance index limits of high reinforced concrete shear wall components

The deformation performance index limits of high reinforced concrete （RC） shear wall components based on Chinese codes were discussed by the nonlinear finite element method. Two typical RC shear wall specimens in the previous work were first used to verify the correctness of the nonlinear finite element method. Then, the nonlinear finite element method was applied to study the deformability of a set of high RC shear wall components designed according to current Chinese codes and with shear span ratio λ≥2.0. Parametric studies were made on the influence of shear span ratio, axial compression ratio, ratio of flexural capacity to shear capacity and main flexural reinforcement ratio of confined botmdary members. Finally, the deformation performance index and its limits of high RC shear wall components under severe earthquakes were proposed by the finite element model results, which offers a reference in determining the performance status of RC shear wall components designed based on Chinese codes.

Nonlinear seismic response analysis of reinforced concrete tube in tube structure

Super-highly reinforced concrete tube in tube structure is a developing structure system of high-rise building. The more reasonable derivation process of the multi-vertical-line-element model stiffness matrix is given.On the premise of pointing out the problems of present multi-spring element model, combined with present multivertical-line-element model for analyzing on shear wall, the model is expanded to spatial one, and the stiffness matrix of which is derived. Combined with hysteretic axial model and hysteretic shear model, it is suitable for columns,wall limbs and beams with all kinds of section form. Some examples are calculated and compared with test results,which shows that the models have relatively good accuracy. On the base of the experimental phenomenon and failure mechanism for tube in tube structure specimen, nonlinear seismic responses analysis program on the basis of the advantaged element model for tube in tube structure is developed. Calculation results are in good agreement with those of the pseudo-dynamic tests and the failure mechanism can be well reflected.

Experimental and Computational Investigation of Hybrid FRP Bonded-Reinforced Concrete Beams under Cyclic Loading

Although several experimental and numerical studies have been carried out on the shear capacity of RC beams retrofitted by carbon or glass fibre-reinforced polymers, there has been little work on hybrid FRP sheet applications, particularly under cyclic loading. In the present research, five RC beams were constructed, and four of which were retrofitted using various schemes of FRP sheets. All beams were subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading in an attempt to represent the effect repetitive loading. The ultimate load, and deflection response at mid-span of the beams were measured and compared with predictions of a computational model based on finite element analysis. Experimental results demonstrated that hybrid applications of FRP sheets can improve the shear performance of retrofitted RC beams and increase the ultimate strain of the FRP sheets at failure. The results of the computational model were in reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental results.

Performance of Steel-fiber Reinforced Concrete Exposed to High Temperature

Effects of high temperature on the compressive and splitting strength of the steel-fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) with different content of steel-fiber were investigated and its mechanism was simply analyzed.Results indicate that the compressive and splitting strength of SFRC decrease slowly within 400 ℃ and they decay a little faster when over 400 ℃.The residual compressive and splitting strength rate of SFRC (2% fiber) increase about 27.6% and 9.3% of that of the control concrete without steel-fiber,respectively.The finite element software ANSYS was adopted to analyze the temperature field and stress field of the steel-fiber reinforced concrete at 400 ℃.The simulation results can further explain the effects of fiber content on the thermal field and stress field in SFRC and forecast the crack tendency of SFRC during heating process.

Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Rebound Optimization

Glass fibre reinforced concrete placement technique generates losses due to rebound effects of the already sprayed concrete particles.Rebounded concrete amount cause a significant difference between the initial mix design and emplaced mix compositions.Apart from the structural differences,it comes with a cost increase which was resulted by the splashed concrete amount.Many factors such as viscosity and quantity of mixes dominate this rebound amount in sprayed glass fibre reinforced concrete applications depending on production technologies and processes;however,this research focuses on the spray distance and the angle of the spray gun which mainly effects the rebound amount in glass fibre reinforced concrete production.This paper aims to understand the required angle and distance for glass fibre reinforced concrete mixes having on-site plastic viscosity values.Glass fibre reinforced mixtures were also modelled with a finite element method based software and,the analysis results were compared with production line results.Results of the analysis and on-site studies showed a decisive correlation between,discharge distance,discharge angle and the viscosity of the concrete.

Mesoscopic investigation on seismic performance of corroded reinforced concrete columns

In addition to the normal service loadings,engineering structures may be subjected to occasional loadings such as earthquakes,which may cause severe destruction.When the steel rebar is corroded,the damage could be more serious.To investigate the seismic performance of corroded RC columns,a three-dimensional mesoscale finite element model was established.In this approach,concrete was considered as a three-phase composite composed of aggregate,mortar matrix and interfacial transition zone(ITZ).The nonlinear spring were used to describe the bond slip between steel and concrete.The degradation of the material properties of the steel rebar and cover concrete as well as the bonding performance due to corrosion were taken into account.The rationality of the developed numerical analysis model was verified by the good agreement between the numerical results and the available experimental observation.On this basis,the effect of corrosion level,axial force ratio and shear-span ratio on the seismic performance of corroded RC columns,including lateral bearing capacity,ductility,and energy consumption,were explored and discussed.The simulation results indicate that the mesoscopic method can consider the heterogeneity of concrete,to more realistically and reasonably reflect the destruction process of structures.

3D Nonlinear Numerical Simulation of Intact and Debonded Reinforced Concrete Beams

To study the behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) structures with sections of concrete removed and the reinforcement exposed, 3D nonlinear numerical analysis was performed upon both intact and debonded RC beams by using finite element techniques. The deformational characteristics and the ultimate loads were obtained through numerical models, as well as crack and stress distributions. The failure modes can also be deduced from computational results. Compared with intact beams, the normal assumptions of plane section behaviour is not hold true and the patterns of stress and strain are different in debonded RC beams. The numerical results show good consistency with experimental data. This kind of numerical simulation is a supplement to existing codes.

Failure Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Damage Mechanics and Classical Laminate Theory

The prediction of the behavior of reinforced concrete beams under bending is essential for the perfect design of these elements.Usually,the classical models do not incorporate the physical nonlinear behavior of concrete under tension and compression,which can underestimate the deformations in the structural element under short and long-term loads.In the present work,a variational formulation based on the Finite Element Method is presented to predict the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams.The physical nonlinearity due cracking of concrete is considered by utilization of damage concept in the definition of constitutive models,and the lamination theory it is used in discretization of section cross of beams.In the layered approach,the reinforced concrete element is formulated as a laminated composite that consists of thin layers,of concrete or steel that has been modeled as elastic-perfectly plastic material.The comparison of numerical load-displacement results with experimental results found in the literature demonstrates a good approximation of the model and validates the application of the damage model in the Classical Laminate Theory to predict mechanical failure of reinforced concrete beam.The results obtained by the numerical model indicated a variation in the stress-strain behavior of each beam,while for under-reinforced beams,the compressive stresses did not reach the peak stress but the stress-strain behavior was observed in the nonlinear regime at failure,for the other beams,the concrete had reached its ultimate strain,and the beam’s neutral axis was close to the centroid of the cross-section.

Analytical Study of Mechanism of Concrete Cracking and Its Propagation Due to Corrosion of Reinforcement in RCC

The experimental results which were carried out by different researchers on corrosion of RCC beam were validated in ABAQUS. A finite element (FE) model similar to experimental condition was generated in ABAQUS. The model with different percentages of corrosion and with varying load conditions was also generated. The deflections of RCC beam for different corrosion percentages and for varying load conditions were then validated. The model is then used to explore the effects of bar radial expansion, due to formation of corrosion products, on the cracking of cover concrete. The predictions are compared with tests results from reinforced concrete accelerated corrosion specimens. The aim of the analytical investigation was to reveal the mechanism for the development of concrete cracking due to corrosion of reinforcement. Further the finite element model will be used to explain qualitatively the experimentally determined relationship between amount of corrosion for concrete cracking and ratio of concrete cover to bar diameter, as well as that between reinforcement bond strength and amount of corrosion.

The Structural Behavior of Low/Medium/High Rise Concrete Office Buildings in Kuwait

The main concern of this paper is to provide an extensive study for the structural behavior of low/medium/high rise office buildings aiming to deepen structure and architect designers understanding for such type of buildings. The study is performed on reinforced concrete and emphasized only on Kuwait city conditions for wind. Regular layout plan building with different heights ranging from five to fifty typical office stories are investigated in this study. Three dimensional finite element techniques through ETABS software are used in conducting analysis for structures presented here-in. A serviceability study is performed to ensure that buildings have sufficient stability to limit lateral drift and peak acceleration within the acceptable range of occupancy comfort. In addition, an ultimate strength study is carried out to design and verify that all the structural elements are designed to withstand factored gravity and lateral loadings in a safe manner according to the international building codes. The building slenderness ratio and the building core size and location are the studied parameters since they are the key drivers for the efficient structural design. Analysis results are presented and discussed and finally conclusions are summarized as guidelines for designers of concrete office buildings in Kuwait.

Slenderness Ratio Influence on the Structural Behavior of Residential Concrete Tall Buildings

The main concern of this paper is to study the influence of the building slenderness ratio on the structural behavior of the residential concrete tall buildings aiming to deepen structure and architect designers understanding for such type of buildings. The study is emphasized only on Kuwait city design conditions for wind and seismic loadings. The paper presents an actual case study for adding two thirty stories residential towers with two different slenderness ratios to an existing residential complex. Wind loading is considered using both code values and wind tunnel results. Three dimensional finite element techniques through ETABS software are used in conducting analysis for structures presented here. A serviceability study is performed to ensure that buildings have sufficient stability to limit lateral drift and peak acceleration within the acceptable range of occupancy comfort. In addition, an ultimate strength study is carried out to verify that all the structural elements are designed to withstand factored gravity and lateral loads in a safe manner according to the international building codes. Analysis results are presented and discussed. A brief idea about foundation design of the new towers and its connection to the existing foundation is presented. Finally conclusions are summarized as guidelines for the structural professions of concrete residential tall buildings.

Numerical modelling of reinforced concrete flexural members strengthened using textile reinforced mortars

Externally bonded(EB)and near-surface mounted(NSM)bonding are two widely adopted and researched strengthening methods for reinforced-concrete structures.EB composite substrates are easy to reach and repair using appropriate surface treatments,whereas NSM techniques can be easily applied to the soffit and concrete member sides.The EB bonded fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)technique has a significant drawback:combustibility,which calls for external protective agents,and textile reinforced mortar(TRM),a class of EB composites that is noncombustible and provides a similar functionality to any EB FRP-strengthened substrate.This study employs a finite element analysis technique to investigate the failing failure of carbon textile reinforced mortar(CTRM)-strengthened reinforced concrete beams.The principal objective of this numerical study was to develop a finite element model and validate a set of experimental data in existing literature.A set of seven beams was modelled and calibrated to obtain concrete damage plasticity(CDP)parameters.The predicted results,which were in the form of load versus deflection,load versus rebar strain,tensile damage,and compressive damage patterns,were in good agreement with the experimental data.Moreover,a parametric study was conducted to verify the applicability of the numerical model and study various influencing factors such as the concrete strength,internal reinforcement,textile roving spacing,and externally-applied load span.The ultimate load and deflection of the predicted finite element results had a coefficient of variation(COV)of 6.02%and 5.7%,respectively.A strain-based numerical comparison with known methods was then conducted to investigate the debonding mechanism.The developed finite element model can be applied and tailored further to explore similar TRM-strengthened beams undergoing debonding,and the preventive measures can be sought to avoid premature debonding.