Numerical analysis of reinforced concrete structures considering coarse aggregates

Resumo

Reinforced concrete is the most used material in the civil construction sector, providing high resistance
to mechanical stresses and contributing to the durability of structural systems. Its application allows the design of
structural components with the various formats, motivating its use in the bold and functional architectural designs
required by contemporary society. In order to predict the behavior of reinforced concrete structures according
to the project stresses, the development of numerical tools is essential. The main objective of this study is to
present a numerical approach for modeling reinforced concrete structures considering the presence of particulate
inclusions (coarse aggregate). Geometric non-linearity is considered naturally by the positional formulation of the
Finite Element Method (Positional FEM), while the physical non-linearity of concrete is considered using Mazar’s
damage criterion and of steel using an elastoplastic model. Two-dimensional triangular finite elements were used
to model the cement matrix and coarse aggregates (particles), while one-dimensional finite elements were used for
steel bars (fibers). The kinematic coupling between the domains is performed by the embedded technique, which
allows the generation of independent meshes for the matrix and reinforcement. The computational formulation
and implementation are validated using experimental and numerical results available in the literature. The results
obtained demonstrate the robustness and applicability of the model developed.