FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING OF REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

This thesis deals with nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures under monotonically increasing loads. Post-cracking behaviour of planar reinforced concrete structures is studied to investigate the tension stiffening phenomenon and the post-cracking shear resistance. The feasibility of using the available bond stress-slip relationships to model the steel-concrete interface behaviour is examined by incorporating these relationships in a three dimensional axisymmetric finite element model and analyzing several reinforced concrete tension specimens.;A finite element model which uses the advanced endochronic stress-strain relationship and incorporates the results of the investigation on post-cracking behaviour and steel-concrete interface behaviour is formulated and used in the analysis of several reinforced concrete members. Analysis results are compared with the available experimental data and with the results obtained by other researchers. Excellent correlation was obtained between the computed values and the experimental results.