Title:
Tension Stiffening in Reinforced Concrete Membrane
Elements
Author(s):
Thomas T. C. Hsu and Li-Xin Zhang
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
93
Issue:
1
Appears on pages(s):
108-115
Keywords:
reinforced concrete; shear properties; strains; stress-strain
relationships; stresses; tension.
DOI:
10.14359/9681
Date:
1/1/1996
Abstract:
A rational prediction of the behavior of membrane elements requires a set of constitutive laws for materials. Three sets of constitutive laws of mild steel bars and concrete in tension were- evaluated. In the first set of simplified constitutive equations, the tensile strength of concrete is neglected and the elastic-perfectly-plastic stress-strain relationship of bare mild steel bars is assumed. This set of simplified constitutive laws is shown to predict the correct yield strength, but will overestimate the deformations because the tension stiffening effect due to the tensile resistance of concrete is neglected. In the second set of modijed constitutive equations, the average tensile stress-strain relationship of concrete is considered in addition to the stress-strain relationship of bare mild steel bars. This treatment produces a correct reduction in deformations due to the tension stiffening of concrete, but will result in an unwarranted increase in yield strength. The third set of accurate constitutive equations employs both the average tensile stress-strain relationship of concrete and the average stress-strain curve of mild steel bars stiffened by concrete. This third set of accurate constitutive equations is shown to provide good prediction for the entire load-deformation response of membrane elements.