Uncertainty evaluation of reinforced concrete structures behavior

The evaluation of reinforced concrete structures behavior is doted of uncertainty as parameters, like used materials and geometry, are not deterministic. This article presents experimental tests and respective numerical study of a series of simply and mixed supported reinforced concrete beams, which were loaded till rupture. Those beams were executed at same time, presenting different longitudinal reinforcement, distance between transversal reinforcement and concrete covering. Such beams were first analyzed using a calibrated deterministic non-linear numerical model. In order to take into account the uncertainty, a probabilistic nonlinear analysis was then executed. The results from numerical analysis were defined by random distributions. Experimental data was grouped by beam typologies and characterized by a random distribution, also. An index, which relates the proximity of both random distributions, was then defined. Such index will characterize, in a more rigorous and consistent way, if the structural behavior is, or not, within the expected one.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT