Implementation of the modified compression field theory in a tangent stiffness-based finite element formulation

Abstract

A finite element implementation of the modified compression field theory (MCFT) using a tangential formulation is presented in this work. Previous work reported on implementations of MCFT has concentrated mainly on secant formulations. This work describes details of the implementation of a modular algorithmic structure of a reinforced concrete constitutive model in nonlinear finite element schemes that use a Jacobian matrix in the solution of the nonlinear system of algebraic equations. The implementation was verified and validated using experimental and analytical data reported in the literature. The developed algorithm, which converges accurately and quickly, can be easily implemented in any finite element code.