Computers & Structures Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 925-930, 1991 0045.7949/91 s3.00 + 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain. 0 1991 Pergamon Pm.3 plc

EMBEDDING OF REINFORCEMENTS IN REINFORCED

CONCRETE ELEMENTS IMPLEMENTED IN DENA
A. RANJBARAN
Department of Civil Engineering, UMIST, P.O. Box 88, Manchester M60 lQD, U.K.

(Received 11 June 1990)

Abstract-A model for embedding reinforcements in concrete elements for analysis of reinforced concrete
structures is presented. The mathematical formulations and implementation procedure is explained. The
model is implemented using the software DENA. A numerical example is used to verify the validity of
the model.

1. INTRODUCIION the concrete with respect to the global coordinate

X-Y is shown as
The reinforced concrete element is modelled by
simply embedding reinforcements in concrete el-
ements. Full bound conditions are assumed between
concrete and reinforcements. This model is similar to
that of Philipps and Zienkiewicz [l], but modified to
account for inclined bars. The model is concerned Since the strain is a second-order tensor, so its
with structures which are either planar or axially component along the x,-y’ (coordinates along and
symmetric. The present model is simple in implemen- perpendicular to reinforcement at each point) may be
tation and efficient in computations. In the case of obtained from the following equation [3,4]
curved reinforcements in distorted elements two op-
tions are considered. Firstly, it is assumed that the
coordinates of more than two points (end points) on
the reinforcement in parent element are given, then a
similar approach to that of straight reinforcement is where, R is the matrix of direction cosines and is
used, but with higher-order interpolation functions. denoted by
In the second option a technique similar to [2] is

1
followed, i.e. by assuming that coordinates of nodes
R=
1, 4
(3)
on reinforcements in master elements are available [4 m2 ’
and the use of inverse mapping to obtain correspond-
ing coordinates in parent elements. Expansion of right-hand side of (2) yields
-

1’
l~~,+21,m,~,+m~~yy l,12~,+(l,m2+12m,)~,+m,m2~~~
(4)
= [ l112L + (ltm2 + 12w kxy + m, m2cyy I& + 21,m2cyy+ m:cyy

These options give the software a flexibility that Only longitudinal strain in reinforcement is con-
can be used very efficiently depending on specific sidered, i.e.
problem under consideration.
& Lx= li6, + 21,m,c_ + m:Eyy. (3
2. GEOMETRIC FORMULATION

Full bound conditions are assumed between the In the case of elastostatics with infinitesimal strain,
reinforcements and the concrete; slip of reinforce- the strain-displacement relationship may be pre-
ments relative to concrete is ignored. Compatibility of sented as follows [5]:
reinforcements and concrete deformations necessi-
tates that the strain of concrete and reinforcements at
common points to be the same. At a typical point P
along the reinforcement layer (Fig. 1b) the strain in

925
926 A. RAW.WUN

Fig. 1. Embedding reinforcement in reinforced concrete element. (a) Parent element. (b) Master element.

Having the stain matrix (B') of the reinforcement,

the stiffness contribution of it to the element stiffness
and that of equivalent nodal forces may be evaluated
as
(6)
K:,= BiTEBjdfl
s nf
in which N’ is the shape function of concrete element
at node i, n, is the number of nodes of the concrete

I
B':EB',dCl B;EB',di
element, and the comma in the subscript means In,
= (8)
differentiation.
Substitution of (6) into (5) yields B"EBj
Y rJ dfl B;EB$dfl

and
c:= &B;B',) {;}=;,(Bi){;} (7)
i-1
F;= BiTa,dfl. (9)
in which
In evaluation of the above quantities, the element of
B',= 1:N;, + l,m,N~, volume (element of length in this case) must be
expressed as a function of dimensionless coordinates
of the parent element r, q.

Loop over reinforcements in each element I

t
LOOP OV~F Gauss points in each reinforcemsnt I
t
Select Gauss point coordinate r. and retrlve corresponding
values of E.9, (d(/dr) and (dr)/dr) and calculate (dx/dr),
(dy/dr), and J from (13) and (14) (or (21) and (22)).
Calculate (8’) from (II) and d,r from (IS).

II I Calculate K:, from (8) and F’ from (9) I

IL Assemble
t
for Gauss oolnts in each reinforcement I

Assemble for reinforcements In each element

1 Return 1
Fig. 2. Block diagram of the implementation steps.
 Reinforced concrete elements implemented in DENA 921

Substitution of (10) into (7) yields

Material properties
Concrete Steel
Bi=(C, N~,+C,N~,)/C*
E,= 24 kN/mm2 Es= 210 kN/mm2
B',=(C,N;,+C,N;,)/C*, (11)
v,=o.2 v,=o.2
where
f;= 26.5 N/mm2 a,,= 450 kN/mm2
(= 2.1 N/mm2 A,,= 28.27 mm2
L, = 0.004 A,, 8 = 6.16 mm2

c,,= 0.001

Loading
generic load P = 2 x 50 = 100 kN
active load P= ,IP
1= Load factor So the Jacobian of transformation may be evaluated
as
Fig. 3. Material properties and loadings

A dimensionless coordinate r is defined along the

noting that
reinforcement in parent element (- 1 c r < 1). Since
x’ coincide with r except for a coefficient, then

I=ax_ax ar_lax
’ ax'-ar'ax' car ay ayat ayatl
_=__+C--__=J,,;+J*2~ (13)
ar agar aqar
ay ay ar 1 ay
m,=ax,-.7’car
ax
dr

1620

Al (r=lSmm)

Cover on stirrups : 5 mm

Fig. 4. Dimensions of the portal frame.

928 A. RWJBARAN

where J1,, JL2, etc. are elements of Jacobian of So for a straight reinforcement eqn (16) may be
transformation defined by written as

t = $G - 5,) + %b + 63
J= (18)
and

It is assumed that the reinforcements are dis- f = $e, - 5,)

tributed through the thickness of the element. So
the element of the volume may be calculated as
follows: (19)

&,=A dl=$IJ’[dr,
I nates of reinforcement in parent element (Fig. la).
where A, is the cross-sectional area of the reinforce-
ment, t is the thickness of the concrete element,
and S, is the spacing of reinforcements through the
thickness.
As observed, all equations were arranged to be
evaluated in terms of concrete (master) element coor-
dinates. The relation between C, r~, and r must be
defined. These are expressed as follows:
(19 where (&,, 9.) and (&,, tfb) are the endpoint coordi-
Similar relations may be obtained for curved
reinforcements.
The technique is efficient in computations and
easy to implement. It must be noted that in the case
of distorted elements, obtaining the nodal coordi-
nates in parent elements are not so easy. In order
to remedy this shortcoming a second technique
similar to that of [2] is considered. In this case
the coordinates of reinforcement nodes in master
element are assumed to be known, then an inverse
mapping is used to obtain the corresponding coordi-
nate in parent element. For this option (16) is
replaced by

[I [ 1
where {5 *} and {n *} are coordinates of nodes on X = W) 0 Ix*)
reinforcement in parent element, and (M) are single (20)
Y 0 W). [ {y*>
variable interpolation function defined, by Lagrange
polynomial, as and consequently

M,= (r -r,)...(r -rj-])(r -ri+l)*“(r -r,)

’ (ri-rl)...(ri-ri_,)(ri-ri+,)..*(r-rn)’

(17)

1 OENA

Fig. 5. Finite element model with rebar positions. Analysis of portal frame specimen A7 [6].
 Reinforced concrete elements implemented in DENA 929

OENA
- PRECISlON

Fig. 6. Deformed shape of the system (--- undeformed). Analysis of portal frame specimen A7 [6].

and
(22)
where {x*} and {y *} are vectors of coordinates of
reinforcement nodes in master elements. The explicit
calculation of d{ ldr and dq /dr are not needed here.
In the following section the general steps used in
implementation of the model are summarized.
3. SUMMARY OF IMPLEMENTATION STEPS
The process of implementation of the model may
be summarized as follows:
eqn (16). Note that for all of the prescribed gauss
points along the reinforcements, the above values are
evaluated once in the pre-processing stage and stored
for later use,
2. For current values of I&.,qs calculate:
J, a+, ay/ar from (13) and (14) [or (21) and (22)]
and (B’) from (1 l), IJ’I from (14) and dR’ from (15).
3. Calculate K:,, F, from (8) and (9), respectively.
4. Add the values of characteristics function for all
the gauss points along the reinforcement.
5. Add these to that of the concrete element. Fig-
ure 2 shows the block diagram of implementation steps.
4. NUMERICAL EXAMPLE

1. Select the Gauss point coordinate rg, and calcu- In order to show the validity of the proposed
late corresponding values of <, q, dt /dr, dq /dr from model, it is implemented in the software DENA. A

Fig. 7. Post-failure pattern (crack, crush and yielding). Analysis of portal frame specimen A7 [6].
930 A. RAWBARAN

om , ,- 6-Ippo

TM 0 0.P.P

- OENA Result

0 Experiment

Vert. dlspl. at centre of the beam (mm)

Fig. 8. Force-displacement curve. Comparison of DENA result with that of Kolpa and Stroband
specimen A7 [6].

reinforced concrete portal frame is selected for analy-
sis. This frame is specimen A7 of the series of frames
tested by Stroband and Kolpa [6]. The material prop-
erties and loading are defined in Fig. 3. Because of
symmetry only half of the frame is modelled with
eight-noded quadrilateral elements. Figure 4 shows
the dimensions of the problem.
An incremental procedure with control of vertical
displacement of central point of the beam is applied.
Figures S-7 show some of the results. In Fig. 8 the
load-displacement curve of the central point is com-
pared with that of the experiment. Very good agree-
ment of the results shows the validity of the proposed
model.
5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
In this paper a model for embedding reinforcement
in concrete element was presented. The appropriate
formulations were performed, and a summary of
implementation process of the model was discussed.
The model is implemented in the softwar& DENA
for smeared crack modelling of reinforced concrete
structures.
Acknowledgemenrs-Financial support from the Islamic
Republic of Iran to the author is acknowledged. The author
would like to express his sincere thanks to Dr M. E. Phipps
for his kind advice and encouragement.
REFERENCES
1. D. V. Philipps and 0. C. Zienkiewicz, Finite element
nonlinear analysis of concrete structures. Proc. Inst.
Civil Engng 61, 59-88 (1976).
2. A. E. Elwi and T. M. Hurdy, Finite element model for
curved embedded reinforcement. J. Engng Mech. Proc.
ASCE 115, 740-754 (1989).
3. T. J. Chang, Continuum Mechanics. Prentice-Hall
(1989).
4. J. Chakrabarty, Theory of Plasiicity. McGraw-Hill (1987).
5. 0. C. Zienkiewicz and R. L. Taylor, The Finite Element
Method, 4th edn, Vol. 1: Basic Formulations and Linear
Problems. McGraw-Hill (1989).
6. J. Stroband and J. J. Kolpa, The behaviour of
reinforced concrete beam-column joints. Part 1: Comer
joints subjected to negative moments. Report No. 5-83-
9, Delft University of Technology (1983).