Nonlinear finite element analysis of normal and high strength concrete structures

This thesis presents a new hypoelasticity model which was implemented in nonlinear finite formulation to analyze normal and high strength reinforced concrete structures under both monotonically increasing and reversed cyclic loadings. The model includes a new hypoelasticity constitutive relationship utilizing the rotations of material axis through subsequent iterations, employment of both fixed and rotating crack models, compressive strength degradation in post-cracking regime, new uniaxial stress-strain relationships for concrete under monotonically increasing and reversed cyclic loadings, accounting for mesh sensitivity, and utilizing the tensile strength degradation due to extensive internal microcracking of the concrete. The model can account for high nonlinearity of the stress-strain behaviour of concrete in the pre-peak regime, the softening behaviour of concrete in the post-peak regime, the stiffness degradation caused by the extension of microcracks during subsequent unloadings and reloadings and the irrecoverable volume dilatation at high levels of compressive load.The effect of element size on different behavioural aspects of reinforced concrete elements including the load-displacement and load-strain characteristics, crack pattern and ultimate load are discussed along with a comparison with the experimental data where available. Various analyses indicated that the length of the descending branch of the tensile stress-strain curve of concrete defined by the value of the ultimate tensile strain, $ varepsilon sb{ rm tu}$, has a significant effect on the computed results. If the value of $ varepsilon sb{ rm tu}$ is adjusted appropriately according to the element size, it can help eliminate the mesh sensitivity drawback. To adjust an appropriate value for $ varepsilon sb{ rm tu}$, two models have been used: (a) crack band model, as a function of the fracture energy, mesh size and tensile strength of concrete, and (b) a new proposed model as a function of only the element size. The analytical results obtained using the different models are compared with the experimental results; the proposed model gives good agreement. The proposed formula is very simple and can be used for both square and non-square elements.The effect of steel reinforcement details on the general behaviour of the structure and its mode of failure, the criterion for using the rotating crack model versus the fixed crack model, and the importance of compressive strength degradation in the post-crack regime are established using detailed analysis of five shear panels tested by Vecchio and Collins (1982). The effect of a sudden drop of the stress after the tensile strength of concrete has been exceeded on the load-deflection response, the ductility ratio and the crack pattern for two high strength concrete beams are also examined. Further analyses of a squat shear wall and a shear panel are carried out to examine the reliability of the computer program HODA developed in this study for analysis of concrete structures under both monotonic and reversed cyclic loads.Complete response of three structural walls in a low-rise building is studied under monotonically increasing loads until failure using the nonlinear finite elements program HODA. The influence of the tension-stiffening, steel strain-hardening on the load-deflection response and the ultimate load are studied for the case of the rectangular wall. The influence of smeared steel idealization and bar elements idealization on the wall response are also investigated. The ultimate loads of walls are compared with the values calculated using the current CSA Standard CAN3-A23.3-M84. (Abstract shortened by UMI.