Nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures subjected to transient thermal loads

The need to incorporate fire loads into reinforced concrete structural design has long been recognized, and the traditional design method for structural fire resistance has been widely practiced by engineers mainly because of its simplicity. To simulate the structure's response to thermal loads, this research develops and implements a 2D nonlinear finite element transient analysis for reinforced concrete structures subjected to high temperatures.; The proposed computational scheme takes into account time-varying thermal loads, heat-of-hydration effects, and temperature-dependent material properties. Algorithms for calculating the closed-form element stiffness for a quadrilateral element with a fully-populated material stiffness are also developed. Then, the capability of a 2D nonlinear finite element transient thermal analysis is implemented into program VecTor2(c), a nonlinear analysis program for 2D reinforced concrete membranes.; The results obtained from four numerical tests indicate that the proposed computational scheme and the implemented codes are accurate and reliable.