Crack propagation analysis of reinforced concrete wall under cyclic loading using RBSM

Abstract

This paper presents the numerical simulations of the reinforced concrete (RC) panels and the RC shear walls under monotonic and cyclic loading in order to validate the ability of the proposed model which is based on the Rigid-Body-Spring Model (RBSM) to predict the crack propagation behaviours. The authors have already developed constitutive models for the three-dimensional RBSM with random geometry in order to quantitatively evaluate the mechanical responses including softening and localization fractures, and have shown that the model can well simulate the cracking and failure behaviours of RC members. In this study, the constitutive models were extended to include cyclic effects and the model was validated through the simulations of the RC panel tests under cyclic loadings, which were reported in the literatures. Furthermore, the simulations of the RC shear wall tests, which were tested in the context of the international benchmark ConCrack (http://www.concrack.org/) were carried out, and the capability of the model to predict the detailed cracking information, such as crack width, spacing and direction of propagation is discussed.

Keywords:

• rigid-body-spring model
• crack propagation
• shear wall
• cyclic loading

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by JSPS, Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), No. 24760373.