Title: Parameters Influencing Finite Element Results for Concrete Structures

Author(s): Joseph M. Magallanes, Youcai Wu, Shengrui Lan, and John E. Crawford

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 306

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1.1-1.22

Keywords: Concrete; Reinforced Concrete; Finite Element Method; Constitutive Model; Parameters; Transient Loads; Blast; Shock

DOI: 10.14359/51688865

Date: 3/1/2016

Abstract:
It is widely recognized that a competent constitutive model for concrete, and a set of calibrated parameters for it, are important to producing accurate response predictions using the finite element method (FEM). What is not obvious, without having access to a large database of test data and practical experience using and validating the FEM models, is that a host of parameters for the FEM calculation can significantly influence the results. The objective of this paper is to identify these parameters and illustrate their effect by computing the response of some simple concrete structure tests subject to transient loads. Calculations for each of these structures demonstrate that in addition to some of the more nuanced material model parameters, parameters involving boundary conditions, hourglass energy suppression, interface friction, and loading-rate effects, all have a strong effect on the response predictions. The results demonstrate that any of four concrete constitutive models considered in this paper can be used to match any one set of test data, even though they differ in their assumptions and the behaviors modeled through their formulation; however, it is difficult to match the larger set of data without carefully considering each of these parameters. Guidance is provided to produce meaningful computational results using the constitutive model developed by the authors.