Stress Controlled Smeared Cracking in R/C Beams

Abstract

The influence of grid refinement, load increment size, and concrete tensile strength on the nonlinear response of reinforced concrete finite element models is examined. Nonlinearity is limited to cracking of the concrete and yielding of the reinforcement. A stress controlled smeared cracking model is used. Emphasis is placed on cracking patterns and convergence of load‐deflection curves. Analyses are performed for flexural members with span‐to‐depth ratios of 12:1 and 2:1. Load‐deflection curves exhibit convergence with grid refinement. Below a certain magnitude, load increment size does not affect the stiffness or the response in stable regions of the load‐deflection curve. Concrete tensile strength has a negligible influence on response for the members studied.