Finite Element Analysis of Prestressed and Reinforced Concrete Structures

The paper describes a simple and powerful technique for the discrete modelling of reinforcement in reinforced or prestresed concrete stuructures. Reinforcing elements are modeled independent of the concrete mesh. Perfect or no bond as well as any bond-slip model can easily be represented. The method is successfully tested by performing linear analysis of several reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. Cracking, dowel action, and other aspects related to the nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete are not considered. The method is sufficiently generic to easily accommodate any material or geometric nonlinearity.