Development of enhanced modeling techniques for nonlinear behavior and crack opening in reinforced concrete structures using the applied element method

Date

2023-12-8

Author

Muka, Norgen

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Assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) members for damage usually entails crack location and crack width monitoring which are later used in determination of performance states and damage quantification. Prediction of cracking in RC members using numerical simulations is a challenging task usually conducted with the finite element technique. The localization of the cracks and crack width determination are difficult in finite element (FE) simulations. With discrete element tools such as the applied element model (AEM), on the other hand, individual cracks as well as their crack widths, can be determined enabling the use of these models for determining the relationships between member crack widths and damage states. In this work, a bond enhanced reinforcement implementation to the modified applied element method is presented to this end. A reinforcement model was developed to couple with the modified AEM, including both tensile and compressive failure for concrete. As well as uniaxial response, bond response defining the connection between bars and the concrete was included in the model. The softening responses of concrete and steel, as well as the cyclic degradation, were included in the implementation. The study is arranged in three sections. First, the associated discretization of the model and the constitutive relationships are presented. After the presentation of the theoretical setup, the developed framework is validated for multiple benchmark tests for plain and RC members. Finally, the response of a RC column under seismic loading is investigated and the relationships between cracking and typical response levels are examined. The results demonstrate that the bond enhanced reinforcement model predicts typical RC member response well, in terms of load-displacement relationships, as well as crack patterns/widths.

Subject Keywords

Applied Element, Bond, Crack Width, Discrete Element, Reinforced Concrete

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/108300

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis