Finite-Element Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Flat Plate Structures by Layered Shell Element

Abstract

A finite-element model for nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete flat plate structures is presented. A flexible layering scheme incorporating the transverse shear deformation is formulated in shell element environment. Each node of the layered shell element can be specified as either a normal node or a node with shear correction. A three-dimensional hypoelastic material model is implemented to model reinforced concrete. The cracking effects of tension softening, aggregate interlock, tension stiffening, and compression softening in multidirectionally cracked reinforced concrete are incorporated explicitly and efficiently. A flat plate, a flat slab with drop panel, and a large size flat plate with irregular column layout have been analyzed. The influence of the distribution of transverse shear strain on the punching shear failure mode has been identified in the numerical studies. The proposed finite-element model has been proved to be capable of simulating the localized punching shear behavior of slab–column connections and to be suitable for global analysis of structural performance of flat plate structures.