Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete beam elements subject to cyclical combined actions of torsion, biaxial flexure and axial forces

This paper presents a method for the nonlinear analysis of beam elements subjected to the cyclical combined actions of torsion, biaxial flexure and axial forces based on an extension of the disturbed compression field (DSFM). The theoretical model is based on a hybrid formulation between the full rotation of the cracks model and the fixed direction of the cracking model. The described formulation, which treats cracked concrete as an orthotropic material, includes a new approach for the evaluation of the re-orientation of both the compression field and the deformation field by removing the restriction of their coincidence. A new equation of congruence permits evaluating the deformation of the middle line. The problem consists in the solution of coupled nonlinear simultaneous equations expressing equilibrium, congruence and the constitutive laws. The proposed method makes it possible to determine the deformations of the beam element according to the external stresses applied.