Open-slip coupled model for simulating three-dimensional bond behavior of reinforcing bars in concrete

The bond mechanism for reinforcing bars in concrete is equivalent to the normal contact and friction between the inclined ribs and the surrounding concrete. Based on the contact density model for the computation of shear transfer across cracks, an open-slip coupled model was developed for simulating three-dimensional bond behavior for reinforcing bars in concrete. A parameter study was performed and verified by simulating pull-out experiments of extremely different boundary conditions: short bar embedment with a huge concrete cover, extremely long bar embedment with a huge concrete cover, embedded aluminum bar and short bar embedded length with an insufficient concrete cover. The bar strain effect and splitting of the concrete cover on a local bond can be explained by finite element (FE) analysis. The analysis shows that the strain effect results from a large local slip and the splitting effect of a large opening of the interface. Finally, the sensitivity of rebar geometry was also checked by FE analysis and implies that the open-slip coupled model can be extended to the case of plain bar.