Reinforcement Analysis Using the Finite Element Method

Abstract

Earth anchors inclusive solid bars (bolt, rebar) and stranded wire cables, have been extensively exercised in a wide range of geotechnical engineering. Shotcrete is also prevalent for the purpose to restrain rock exposures from excessive deforming and loosening. The relationships of meso-structure property are at the heart of the FEM towards the performance of reinforced hydraulic structures. Based on experimental studies, this chapter presents comprehensive studies inclusive explicit (distinct) approach and implicit (equivalent) approach of reinforcement components and joints. Either of them exhibits intrinsic advantages and disadvantages. The former uses special elements to individually discretize joints and reinforcement components to extract detailed behaviors of reinforced structures, whereas the latter elaborates an equivalent constitutive relation neglecting the exact positions of joints and reinforcement components to provide the overall structural response. One of the major advancements achieved in this chapter is that the localized shear deformation at the intersection points of bolts/shotcrete layers with joints is taken into account, which enables to describe the behaviors of bolt/shotcrete at the joint in much more detail even with implicit approach. The other important advancement is the consideration of the interface between equivalent bolt-grout material and host rock, which makes it possible to simulate the pull-out mechanism of bolt with explicit approach. In addition to a number of validation examples interspersed within the context, this chapter is closed with three engineering application cases (underground cavern, cut slope, dam foundation).