Nonlinear Finite Element Structural Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams with out of Plane Parts

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the structural behavior of the reinforced concrete beams contain out of plane parts with the straight beam by finite element analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS software package. The studied models were evaluated by comparing their results with previous experimental results of the research done by the same authors. The study focused on the effects of the number of the out of plane parts on the beams' mid span deflection, the cracking and ultimate loads, and failure mode. The obtained results showed that load bearing capacity of the beams with one, two, and three out of plane parts was lower than the capacity of the straight beam by about 35%, 33%, and 68%. In addition, the results of the beams with an even number of out of plane parts were generally better than the results of those with odd number, and the increasing number of out of plane parts changed the failure mode from flexure to combined flexure plus torsion. Finally, the FEM analysis was comparable with those obtained from the experimental procedures with an average difference ratio not exceeding 5% in the ultimate load and 7% in the deflection.