Title:
Rigid-Body-Spring Network Modeling of Prestressed Concrete Members
Author(s):
John E. Bolander, Jr. and Gi Suop Hong
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
99
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
595-604
Keywords:
concrete; fracture; partial prestressing; tendon
DOI:
10.14359/12299
Date:
9/1/2002
Abstract:
Random lattice models are used to simulate structural concrete members under short-term monotonic loadings. The approach is based on the use of rigid-body-spring networks, which are constructed from Voronoi tessellations of the concrete domain. Reinforcing material can be positioned within the model irrespective of the rigid-body-spring network defining the concrete material. Construction of the concrete network, reinforcement discretization, and the assignment of associated bond linkages are highly automated. Model accuracy and efficacy are demonstrated through examples involving self-weight balancing in prestressed beams, elastic stress analyses local to the prestressing anchorages, and failure analyses of partially prestressed concrete beams. The model reproduces the main features of the test program results (such as load-displacement response, crack patterns, peak load, and strain in the unbonded prestressing tendons) in an objective manner, independent of mesh size and random geometry.