Forensic assessments of the influence of reinforcement detailing in reinforced concrete half-joints: A nonlinear finite element study

Abstract

This paper presents the results of forensic assessments on reinforced concrete half-joint beams tested within the literature through the application of nonlinear finite element analyses. The software package ATENA Science was utilised, in which critical evaluations were conducted into the accuracy of the software in predicting the response of reinforced concrete half-joints with inadequate reinforcement detailing. It was shown that the load capacity of the half-joints could be predicted accurately, with an average experimental-over-predicted ratio of 1.04 and a coefficient of variation of 7.3%. The predicted crack patterns and modes of failure consistently coincided with those obtained experimentally, exhibiting localised failures at the re-entrant corner of the nib, along with failures located within the full depth of section due to an inadequate amount of shear reinforcement. Moreover, the combination of bar reductions to replicate severely corroded reinforcement at critical zones highlighted the influence deterioration mechanisms have on the structural capacity, with reductions of more than 50% observed in comparison to newly constructed half-joints with no deterioration.