Modelling of crack closure for finite-element analysis of structural concrete

✍ Scribed by M.D Kotsovos; K.V Spiliopoulos

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 889 KB
• Volume: 69
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0045-7949
• DOI: 10.1016/s0045-7949(98)00107-2

✦ Synopsis

An existing ®nite element (FE) model of structural concrete is extended so as to also allow for crack closure in localized regions of a structure. The model is used to study the behaviour of structural concrete members under various types of loading, encompassing both proportional and sequential loadings. The analysis is found to yield a close ®t to experimental values, and to con®rm the view that, while neglecting crack closure has a negligible eect on the predicted behaviour of structural concrete under proportional loading, sequential loading usually requires a proper allowance of crack closure if sensible analytical predictions are to be achieved. Moreover, the results support experimental ®ndings which indicate that compliance with the earthquake-resistant design clauses of the Greek version of the new European code of practice may, in fact, cause, rather than safeguard against, brittle types of failure.