Two-dimensional modeling of material failure in reinforced concrete by means of a continuum strong discontinuity approach

J. OLIVER; LINERO, D.L.; A E. HUESPE; O. MANZOLI

COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Año: 2008 vol. 197 p. 332 - 348

0045-7825

The paper presents a new methodology to model material failure, in two-dimensional reinforced concrete members, using the ContinuumStrong Discontinuity Approach (CSDA). The mixture theory is used as the methodological approach to model reinforced concreteas a composite material, constituted by a plain concrete matrix reinforced with two embedded orthogonal long fiber bundles(rebars). Matrix failure is modeled on the basis of a continuum damage model, equipped with strain softening, whereas the rebars effectsare modeled by means of phenomenological constitutive models devised to reproduce the axial non-linear behavior, as well as the bond?slip and dowel effects. The proposed methodology extends the fundamental ingredients of the standard Strong Discontinuity Approach,and the embedded discontinuity finite element formulations, in homogeneous materials, to matrix/fiber composite materials, as reinforcedconcrete. The specific aspects of the material failure modeling for those composites are also addressed. A number of availableexperimental tests are reproduced in order to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed methodology.