DESIGN MODEL FOR STRUCTURAL CONCRETE BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF THE COMPRESSIVE FORCE PATH

This paper presents a model providing a simplified yet realistic representation of the ultimate limit state of simply supported reinforced concrete beams subjected to transverse in-plane loading. The model has been developed in compliance with the concept of the compressive force path and is used as the basis for the formulation of a simple design procedure shown to yield design solutions that are both safer and significantly more economical than those obtained by using any of the currently available methods. The proposed model and the design method can be extended easily to apply to any type of skeletal structural concrete configuration where the model represents the structural elements between consecutive points of inflection with the interaction between the elements in the region of such points being modeled as an 'internal hinged support' affected by the provision of transverse reinforcement.