Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced Concrete (RC) Beam 15 March 2013 : D2

Initial Release
With No Shear Reinforcement

Prepared By:
David R. Dearth, P.E.

Applied Analysis & Technology, Inc.

16731 Sea Witch Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Telephone (714) 846-4235
E-Mail AppliedAT@aol.com
Web Site www.AppliedAnalysisAndTech.com

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Introduction/Abstract Initial Release

 In Reference 1, K. Hibino, … et al., experimentally tested the loading capacity of a reinforced concrete
(RC) beam with no shear reinforcement. The results of the experimental tests are compared to
analytical results obtained using DIANA FEA software.

 In References 2 & 3, S. Parvanova1, … et al., revisited the results presented by K. Hibino and
compared analytical results obtained using Ansys FEA software to the experimental test data reported
in Reference 1.

 The author(s), in Table 1 of Reference 1, listed material properties for the concrete used in the DIANA
analysis and the author(s) in Reference [2] listed identical material properties to be used in the Ansys
analysis. A review of these properties did not find the values to follow guideline equations listed in ACI
318 for normal weight concrete. However, to be consistent with the previous papers, it was decided to
use material properties as listed in Reference 1 & 2.

 It is the purpose of this paper to analyze the “RC Beam with no Shear Reinforcement” using
MSC/Marc and compare results to both the experimental test data and analytical results obtained using
Diana in Reference 1 and Ansys in Reference 2. For comparison purposes the finite element
idealization mesh density used in Reference 2 is reproduced with the exception of uniform grid spacing
used throughout.

 The results of this analysis demonstrated good agreement of the Marc FEA analytical solution to the
experimental data listed in Ref. [1].

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 Original RC Geometry with Rebar Definition from Reference 1 : No Scale 15 March 2013 : D2
Initial Release

Note: In Ref [1], parameter “d” 
is the effective depth of the 
beam to the re‐bar d=200 mm

Configuration Tested, 
effective depth d=200 mm, 
from a/d=3  a=600 mm

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 RC Geometry with Rebar Definition from Reference 1 15 March 2013 : D2
Initial Release
Case [a/h=3  a=600 mm] Dimensions Converted to Inches – No Scale

Ultimate Shear Load for Case a=600 mm

From Ref [1] P = 88.2 kN  19,830 lbs.

Note: In Ref [2] & [3], parameter “h” is the effective depth of the beam 
to the re‐bar h=200 mm

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Material Properties from Reference ]1] 15 March 2013 : D2
Initial Release
MKS Units Conversion to IPS

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 Material Properties 15 March 2013 : D2
Initial Release
Concrete Tension Stress-Strain Curve

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 RC Concrete Beam, No Shear Reinforcement, Boundary Conditions & Loading 15 March 2013 : D2
Initial Release
P/2
P/2 Total Ultimate Loading, Ref [1]
Ptot = 88.2 kN  19,830 lbs.

Vertical Reactions, BC=Ty

RC Beam with Qtr Symmetric FEA

Concrete 3D Solids X-Y Symmetric

Plane, BC=Tz
P/4 Qtr Symmetric Applied Loading,
Ptot /4 = 22.05 kN  4,957 lbs.
Steel Rebar Truss/Links
0.626” dia. Area = 0.308 in2
 16 mm dia.

Steel Reaction & Load Y-Z Symmetric

Plates 3D Solids Plane, BC=Tx

Vertical Reactions, BC=Ty

Quarter Symmetric RC Beam

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 Concrete & Steel : Isotropic Properties 15 March 2013 : D2
Initial Release

The concrete is idealized using 3D solid elements. The re-bar is idealized using 1D Truss (Link) elements.
The re-bar is discretely idealized sharing common grid points (nodes) with the 3D solid concrete elements.

Material values for Young’s modulus of elasticity, Ec, cracking stress, fr, for the concrete, Young’s modulus of
elastic, Esteel, and yield stress, fty, for the re-bar are explicitly entered using listed values from Ref. [1].

Concrete Material Properties [1] Steel Re-Bar Material Properties [1]

Elastic : Ec= 5.149 x 106 psi, ν =0.18 Elastic : Esteel = 29.878 x 106 psi, ν =0.3
Cracking : Critical Cracking Stress (Rupture Stress) fr = 418 psi Steel Yield Stress fty = 57,430 psi ]Assumed Perfectly Plastic]
Tension Softening : Es= 146,170 psi, Gf = 0.340 lb/in [Calculated]
Crushing Strain, εc = 0.0017 in/in, Shear Retention : 1% [Assumed]

Concrete & Re-bar Isotropic Material Input Dialog – MSC/Marc

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 Results: Load vs Deflection Curve, RC Concrete Beam, No Shear Reinforcement 15 March 2013 : D2
Initial Release

*
*

*Note: See Appendix A for detailed summary ACI 318 arithmetic hand calculations.
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References
1) Hibino, K., T. Kojima, N. Takagi: “FEM study on the shear behavior of RC beam by the use of discrete
model”, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Ritsumeikan
University, Kusatu, Shiga, Japan & Proceedings of the DIANA Conference - Constitutive models for
quasi-brittle materials, October 2002.

2) Sonia L. Parvanova1, Konstantin S. Kazakov2, Irina G. Kerelezova1, Gospodin K. Gospodinov1 , Mogens

P. Nielsen3, “Modelling The Nonlinear Behavior of R/C Beams With Moderate Shear Span And
Without Stirrups Using ANSYS”; 1: University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia,
Bulgaria, 2: Lozenetz-consult Ltd, Sofia, Bulgaria, 3: Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby,
Kopenhagen, Denmark

3) S. Parvanova1, K. Kazakov1, I. Kerelezova11, G. Gospodinov1 and M. P. Nielsen2 , “On a Diagonal

Numerical Crack Model of RC Beam With No Shear Reinforcement”, 1: University of Architecture,
Civil Engineering and Geodesy, 1 Smirnenski blv., Sofia, Bulgaria, 2: Technical University of Denmark,
Anker Engelundsvej 1, Lyngby, Copenhagen, Denmark

4) ACI 318-08, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary” ACI Manual of
Concrete Practice, Part 3, American Concrete Institute, Detroit, MI, 1992.

5) MSC/Marc Reference Manuals & Finite Element Analysis System: Volumes A, B, C, D" MSC Software
Corporation, 2 MacArthur Place, Santa Ana, California 92707

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Appendix A

Summary ACI 318 Hand Calculations & Analysis Notes

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 Analysis of RC Beams using Nonlinear Finite Element Techniques 9 March 2013

RC Beam Tested by K. Hibino 2002

Stage 1: Linear Elastic Moment of Inertia Calculations for Composite Section
The concrete compressive strength at 28 days is given as:
fc  3872.5 psi Listed Value from Hibino Report
Using ACI 318 8.5.1 the modulus of elasticity of the concrete is computed as follows:

Ec_ACI  57000 fc  3547077 psi Concrete Modulus per ACI 318 8.5.1

Ec  5148840 psi Concrete Modulus Listed Value given in Hibino Report

The tensile capacity stress of the concrete, fr, is defined using ACI 318 9.5.2.3. This value fr
is also referred to as the modulus of rupture.
fr_ACI  7.5 fc  467 psi Concrete Cracking Stress per ACI 9.5.2.3

fr  417.7 psi Concrete Cracking Stress Listed Value from Hibino Report

Where:

ab  23.622 in Lb  70.866 in

Beam Section Gross Moment of Inertia

bc  5.906 inches, Base

Beam Cross Section hc  9.449 inches, Height

Ic_gross 
 bc hc 
3
 415.2 inches4
12

Per ACI 9.5.2.3 the crack initiation moment Mcr_gross=

Mcr_gross 
 fr Ic_gross  36709 in  lbs
 hc 
 
2
Mcr_gross
Pcr_gross   1554 lbs Loading to crack initiation
ab

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 Analysis of RC Beams using Nonlinear Finite Element Techniques 9 March 2013

To calculate stress in the rebar then Transformed section properties are needed.

Compute modular ratio, n, to be used for transformed inertia

6
Ec  5.149  10 psi Concrete Es  29877774 psi Steel

Es
n   5.803 Where "n" is modular ratio of Esteel/Econcete
Ec
Transform area of Steel to equivalent or effective area of concrete, As_eff

As_rebar  0.307 in2 for each #5 rebar nrebar  2 number of rebar

As_eff  n  nrebar  As_rebar  3.563 in2 drebar  7.874 in

 hc 
Aconc  hc bc  55.806 in2 yc_ref     4.724 in
2
The location of the centroid of area for the effective composite section, concrete & steel rebar

ybar 
 Aconc yc_ref  As_eff  drebar  4.914 inches measured from the upper surface
 Aconc  As_eff 
The transformed composite area moment of inertia is computed using parallel axis theorem

Itr  Ic_gross  Aconc   yc_ref  ybar   As_eff   drebar  ybar   448

2 2
inches4

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 Analysis of RC Beams using Nonlinear Finite Element Techniques 9 March 2013

Compute the equivalent loading, P lbs, to just exceed the maximum allowable concrete tension
stress to initiate first cracking.
Recall: σcon_elastic  fr  418 psi
Using bending equation σcr_tr = (Mcr_tr *yc)/Itr, where Mcr_tr = Pcr_tr*23.662 in-lbs

Mcr_tr 
 fr Itr  41299 in  lbs
 hc  ybar
Mcr_tr
Pcr_tr   1745 lbs Loading to crack initiation using transformed section properties
23.662
The corresponding stress in the steel rebar at this loading is σrebar = n(Mcr_tr*yrbar)/Itr

n  Mcr_tr   drebar  ybar

σs_elastic   1582 psi
Itr

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 Analysis of RC Beams using Nonlinear Finite Element Techniques 9 March 2013

Stage 2: Elastic Moment of Inertia Calculations for Cracked Section

When the maximum tensile stress in the concrete exceeds modulus of rupture, fr, the cross section
is assumed to be "cracked" and all the tensile stress is assumed to be carried by the steel
reinforcement. The compressive stress in the remaining concrete is assumed to remain elastic.

Calculate the location of the neutral axis for the cracked section from the top of the beam, "ccrack".

  bc  
As_eff   As_eff  2  4 2   As_eff   drebar
ccrack       2.537 in
 bc 
2  
2

The moment of inertia of this transformed area w.r.t. the neutral axis for "cracked" section is
calculated using the following for single reinforcement RC section:

bc  ccrack 3
Icrack    A  d
s_eff  rebar  ccrack  134
2
inches4
3

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 Analysis of RC Beams using Nonlinear Finite Element Techniques 9 March 2013

Stage 3: Ultimate Strength Calculations for Cracked Section

For ultimate load carrying strength capability tension stress in the concrete is assumed nonexistent
and maximum compressive strain is assumed to equal εc = 0.003. The magnitude of compressive
strain is representative of concrete with compressive strength from 2,000 < f'c < 6,000 psi. The
balancing tensile loading is assumed fully carried by the steel reinforcement with the steel material
at yielding at fs_ty. Calculate the location of the neutral axis for the cracked section from the top of
the beam, "ccrack".
Equivalent Whitney Stress Block definitions

Moment Reduction factor ϕu neglected, set equal to 1.0 to compute Ultimate momentϕu  1
Uniform distribution rectangular stress block, stress intensity factor β1.
 fc 
β1  1.05  .05   0.856 fs_ty  57430 psi, rebar steel yield stress
 1000 
 nrebar As_rebar  fs_ty
au    1.814 inches
 .85 fc bc
au
cu   2.118 inches
β1

 au 
ϕMu  ϕu  nrebar As_rebar  fs_ty  drebar    245673 in  lbs
 2

ϕMu
The maximum loading,Pu   10400 lbs (2 Plcs)
ab

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 Analysis of RC Beams using Nonlinear Finite Element Techniques 9 March 2013

Calculate Deflections from Elastic Moment of Inertia Calculations

for Cracked Section
At the estimated Ultimate Moment capacity, effective inertia is calculated using ACI 318 9.5.2.3.
To be conservative, the gross section properties, Ic_gross, and concrete modulus, Ec, are used.
4
Recall Ic_gross  415 in Recall Mcr_gross  36709 in  lbs

 Mcr_gross 
3   Mcr_gross  3 4
Ieff     Ic_gross  1      Icrack  135 in
 ϕMu    ϕMu  

ab  23.622 in Lb  70.866 in
Recall ultimate loading Pu  10400 lbs

yu 
 Pu ab  4 ab2  3  Lb 2  0.19 inches Cracked Section
 24Ec Ieff 
Note: When the "cracked" section properties are used in place of "effective" properties deflections
at ultimate loading equal -0.191".

Compute Linear Elastic Deflection at Mid-Span using gross section properties =

ycr_gross 
 Pcr_gross ab   4 ab2  3 Lb2  0.00918 inches Linear Elastic Gross Section
 24Ec Ic_gross
Recall Linear Elastic Deflection at Mid-Span using transposed section properties =

ycr_tr 
 Pcr_tr ab   4 ab2  3 Lb2  0.00955 inches Linear Elastic Transposed Section
 24Ec Itr

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