A 3-D RBSM for simulating the failure process of RC structures

Rigid body spring method (RBSM) is an effective tool to simulate the cracking process of structures, and has been successfully applied to investigate the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) members. However, the theoretical researches and engineering applications of this method mainly focus on two-dimensional problems as yet, which greatly limits its applications in actual engineering projects. In this study, a three-dimensional (3-D) RBSM for RC structures is proposed. In the proposed model, concrete, reinforcing steels, and their interfaces are represented as discrete entities. Concrete is partitioned into a collection of rigid blocks and a uniform distribution of normal and tangential springs is defined along their boundaries to reflect its material properties. Reinforcement is modeled as a series of bar elements which can be freely positioned in the structural domain and irrespective of the mesh geometry of concrete. The bond-slip characteristics between reinforcing steel and concrete are also considered by introducing special linkage elements. The applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method is firstly confirmed by an elastic T-shape beam, and then it is applied to analyze the failure processes of a Z-type component under direct shear loading and a RC beam under two-point loading.