STUDYING OPTIMIZATION OF NONLINEAR FE MODELLING PARAMETERS FOR RC BEAMS WITH CASE STUDY APPLICATION OF LEDGED RC L-SHAPED BEAMS

Abstract

In this research a simple reinforced concrete beam was modelled in form of 2D and 3D models in nonlinear FE analysis using a commercial nonlinear software package (ATENA) focusing on the following three parameters: the effect of mesh size, element type and reinforcement form/modelling (smeared or discrete). After establishing the most suitable of these parameters to use in simulation in the nonlinear analysis of RC structures, a verification was made using published results of nine RC simply supported beams which their results of load deflection curves or moment–deflection curves were found in the literature from tests. The results of the studied beams gave good agreement with the published results based on the findings from the parameters and assumptions that are considered in the thesis. After this verification of the previous parameters, a case study application on L-shaped RC (ledged) beams was conducted with a view to enhance the shear ledge capacity by investigating reinforcement details without changing the ledge beam geometry.