Development and application of a new model for fracture behavior analysis of structures

ABSTRACT

A new method for fracture analysis of reinforced concrete structures is proposed. The concrete is modeled as an assembly of distinct elements made by dividing the concrete virtually. These elements are connected by distributed springs in both normal and tangential directions. The reinforcement bars are modeled as continuos springs conneting elements together. Local failure of concrete is modeled by failure of springs connecting elements when the stress calculated from forces acting on springs exceed the critical stress. The element formulation and the computer code were developed and the accuracy of the method were verified by comparing many experimental results. In these experiments the results showed good agreement in determining the failure load, the load-deflection relations, the prediction of crack initiation, crack location and crack propagation. The formulations used to ddevelop this method are simple and efficient in modeling the mechanical behavior of RC structures. (AU)