Title:
Nonlinear Analysis of Membrane Elements by Fixed-Angle Softened-Truss Model
Author(s):
Thomas T. C. Hsu and Li-Xin "Bob" Zhang
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
94
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
483-492
Keywords:
constitutive laws; compatibility; equilibrium; fixed-angle;
membrane elements;membrane stresses; nonlinear analysis; post-cracking behavior;
reinforced concrete; rotating-angle; shear stress; shear strain; stresses;
softened truss model;
DOI:
10.14359/498
Date:
9/1/1997
Abstract:
A fixed-angle softened-truss model, which assumes the cracks to be oriented in the principal compression direction of the externally applied stresses, has been proposed for nonlinear analyses of reinforced concrete membrane elements [Pang and Hsu, 1996]. This new smeared-crack model takes into account the "concrete contribution" which is produced by the shear resistance of concrete along the initial crack direction. This "concrete contribution" cannot exist in the various rotating-angle models because they assume the cracks to be oriented in the principal compression direction of the post-cracking concrete. The fixed-angle softened-truss model is capable of predicting the entire load-deformation history because it takes into consideration all 12 equations governing the equilibrium condition, the compatibility condition, and the constitutive laws of materials. This paper proposes an efficient algorithm for solving these 12 governing equations. This algorithm is used to analyze the behavior of reinforced concrete panels tested at the University of Houston. The analysis shows that the new fixed-angle model is much more powerful than the prevailing rotating-angle models.