Computer Aided Design of RC Structures

S M Shahidul Islam,A Khennane

doi:10.1007/s40069-012-0027-7

S M Shahidul Islam, A Khennane

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40069-012-0027-7

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Abstract

After reviewing the background and motivations for using modern computational methods for the design of reinforced concrete structures, an algorithm making use of the object oriented programming language Python and professionally developed finite element software is presented for the sizing and placement of the reinforcement in RC structures. The developed method is then used to design the reinforcement of a deep beam. To validate the design, two identical deep beam specimens were manufactured with the obtained steel, and then tested in the laboratory. It was found that the experimental results corroborated those predicted with the finite element design method.

Highlights

Since the first application of the finite element to the analysis of reinforced beams by Ngo and Scordelis (1967), a large number of approaches for modeling the behavior of concrete as a material or the behavior of reinforced concrete structures have been developed. While it is not the aim of the present study to provide a detailed review of the very large body of literature on this subject, as there are many good quality reviews published in the literature (ASCE 1982; de Borst 2002), it is still worthwhile to briefly describe some of the major developments that have occurred in this area
Unlike in other fields of engineering; such as metal forming, where numerical simulations are being conducted on a routine basis to design industrial parts (Khelifa et al 2007), or the automobile industry, which simulates crash tests extensively even though it is possible to develop a product solely through prototyping, automated design of concrete structures has not attracted a lot of attention
An algorithm making use of professionally developed finite element software is presented for the design of the reinforcement

Summary

Introduction

Since the first application of the finite element to the analysis of reinforced beams by Ngo and Scordelis (1967), a large number of approaches for modeling the behavior of concrete as a material or the behavior of reinforced concrete structures have been developed. Unlike in other fields of engineering; such as metal forming, where numerical simulations are being conducted on a routine basis to design industrial parts (Khelifa et al 2007), or the automobile industry, which simulates crash tests extensively even though it is possible to develop a product solely through prototyping, automated design of concrete structures has not attracted a lot of attention This lack of interest can be explained by the difficulties associated with modeling the complex behavior of reinforced concrete, and by the fact that civil engineering structures are unique. It is worth to note that the CDPM is primarily intended for the analysis of concrete under cyclic/dynamic loading As such, it includes material softening and stiffness degradation, which at times, can lead to convergence difficulties. The 50 mm element size is adopted for the remaining of the analyses because it is computationally less expensive

Design Principles and Methodology

Experimental Validation

Concluding Remarks