Disturbed Stress Field Model for Reinforced Concrete: Validation

Abstract

The results of analytical investigations are presented supporting the disturbed stress field model as a viable conceptual model for describing the behavior of cracked reinforced concrete elements. The theory is shown to be phenomenologically more correct, relative to typical fixed-crack or rotating-crack models, in its representation of the rotation of stress and strain fields in cracked concrete. The inclusion of rigid slip along crack surfaces allows for a divergence between principal stress and principal strain directions in the concrete, with the rotation of stresses and crack directions shown to typically lag behind that of strains. This behavior is found to be consistent with experimentally observed response. Corroboration with data from beam, panel, and shear wall test specimens shows the theory to accurately model response over a wide range of conditions. In general, results are improved relative to those obtained from the modified compression field theory. Current deficiencies in the theory are identified, and possible future work is discussed.