Abstract
Reinforced concrete structures, built in the last century, are reaching end of their life span and need strength assessment for their continuous safe use. Strength assessment is also required with increase in loads due to change in use or increasing weight of applied loading. Quite often people use finite element programs based on linear elastic theory to assess the carrying capacity of structural elements. However, the real behaviour of reinforced concrete structures in the vicinity of failure is plastic. In this paper, assessment methods based on nonlinear finite element (NLFE) method (using DIANA) and yield line theory (following the hodograph approach) are explained. In addition, new yield line mechanisms for flat slabs supported on non-rectangular column grid are introduced and compared with experimental observations and NLFE predictions. Based on comparison between the predictions by NLFE and Yield line theory conclusions are made.
Highlights
Reinforced concrete structures, such as buildings, bridges and transmission poles etc, built in the last century, are reaching end of their life span and need strength assessment for their continuous safe use
Up to now the nonlinear finite element (NLFE) method is more suited to indepth, specialised assessments of major tructures or for laboratory research, and is not presently considered to be a practical option for use in assessing structural elements in Sri Lanka. This situation could well change in the future as developments in computer industry continuously result in decreasing costs and greater speed with NLFE programs
Yield line and nonlinear finite element predictions are compared with experimental results before concluding the paper
Summary
Reinforced concrete structures, such as buildings, bridges and transmission poles etc, built in the last century, are reaching end of their life span and need strength assessment for their continuous safe use. Linear elastic finite element analysis is considered to give very approximate solutions for the analysis of reinforced concrete elements because on cracking, the section moduli are no longer uniform. Up to now the NLFE method is more suited to indepth, specialised assessments of major tructures or for laboratory research, and is not presently considered to be a practical option for use in assessing structural elements in Sri Lanka This situation could well change in the future as developments in computer industry continuously result in decreasing costs and greater speed with NLFE programs. Yield line analysis based on hodograph approach is briefly explained This is followed by details of nonlinear finite element model adopted for the modelling of experimental slabs. Yield line and nonlinear finite element predictions are compared with experimental results before concluding the paper
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