A nonlinear finite element program to simulate the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) members under the action of monotonic increasing loading has been developed. The nonlinear response of the RC members is mainly due to the nonlinear material characteristics including nonlinear biaxial stress-strain relations and cracking of concrete and yielding of steel reinforcement. A constitutive model of concrete under biaxial stress state is adopted in this thesis. In this model, concrete fails and critical cracks occur when the tensile strain of concrete exceeds the limiting tensile strain. The complete stress-strain relationship of concrete under compression and tension are employed in the study to investigate the post-peak behavior of reinforced concrete members. An elaborate cracking model has been implemented which allows concrete to crack in one or two directions. The tension stiffening effect of cracked concrete is also incorporated into this model by including a descending branch in the stress-strain curve of concrete under tension. Other nonlinear effects such as crushing of concrete in compression and yielding or strain hardening of steel reinforcement are also taken into account. A nonlinear finite element program was developed, in which the abovementioned nonlinear effects have all been included in modeling the reinforced concrete structures. The nonlinear equations of equilibrium are solved using an incremental-iterative technique performed under displacement control. The validity of the model including the confinement effect of secondary reinforcements has been examined by analyzing three reinforced concrete beams. The performance of the numerical model was assessed by comparing results with those from available experimental data. / published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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The work described in this thesis is concerned with the behaviour, analysis and design of reinforced concrete beams. A brief historical review of the methods of analysis on deep beams is given. The current major codes of practice and design manuals associated with reinforced concrete deep beams are reviewed. This study has been useful in identifying the limitations of the current design documents on the subject of deep beams. Because of the acute shortage of information regarding buckling, web-opening and combined loading, three test programmes are performed to provide experimental evidence on these topics. Their behaviour is examined in terms crack developments, crack patterns, modes of failure, in-plane and lateral displacements, ultimate loads, strains and stresses. The ultimate buckling strength of the slender deep beams without web-openings are analysed using the methods described in the CIRIA Guide (1977). Adopting the same methods in the guide, an attempt has been made to analyse the buckling strength of deep beams with web-openings. Based on the structural idealization of Kong et al (1973), a modified approach is proposed for the ultimate shear strength of deep beams with web-openings. In addition, the CIRIA ultimate shear interaction equation for deep beams under combined top and bottom loadings is studied and an equation is proposed for the uniformly distributed loading cases. Finally, based upon these findings, some design recommendations are given.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 288-293). Also available in electronic version.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.429-437).

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.195-207).