Evaluating the load-carrying ability of compressed reinforced concrete elements with heterogeneous strength properties of concrete

This article presents a methodology of determining the load-carrying ability of compressed reinforced concrete elements with layers of various concrete strength and describes the stress-strain behaviour of these elements. The methodology is based on the use of a deformation model and diagrams of materials deformation [1, 2]. The authors used this methodology to develop an algorithm. The algorithm makes it possible to evaluate stress and strain state of normal sections at all stages of loading up to destruction. The solution of the problem is shown as a data table. Analysis of this data table allows to estimate an expected pattern of the samples destruction. The paper also gives an example of calculation of a compressed reinforced concrete element with heterogeneous strength properties of a compressed area with symmetrical reinforcement (4 bars). The calculation methodology in this article has been successfully used to evaluate the load bearing capacity of the described samples and those of other authors