Title: A New Approach to Modeling Tension Stiffening in Reinforced Concrete

Author(s): Angus Murray, Raymond Ian Gilbert, and Arnaud Castel

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 115

Issue: 1

Appears on pages(s): 127-137

Keywords: bond; disturbed regions; finite element analysis; reinforced concrete; tension stiffening

DOI: 10.14359/51700952

Date: 1/1/2018

Abstract:
A novel approach to the modeling of tension stiffening is proposed based on considerations of the highly non-uniform strain regions that occur in the concrete surrounding embedded reinforcement bars near the primary cracks. A finite element study is undertaken to determine the effect of these disturbed regions on the overall deformation of reinforced concrete tension members. Simple hand calculations are presented to determine an effective cross-sectional area of concrete, which describes the overall contribution to axial rigidity of the cracked concrete for the ideal case of perfect bond. A scalar damage parameter is then introduced to account for the additional reduction in the tension stiffening effect caused by deterioration of bond at the reinforcement-concrete interface. Experimental tension stiffening studies in the literature (including a recent study by the authors) are used to calibrate the evolution of interface damage according to factors such as applied loading and shrinkage.