Dynamic bending behaviours of RC beams under monotonic loading with variable rates

Dynamic behaviours of reinforced concrete (RC) bending beams subjected to monotonic loading with different loading rates were studied. A dynamic experiment was carried out with the electro-hydraulic servo system manufactured by MTS (Mechanical Testing and Simulation) Systems Corporation to study the effect of loading rates on the mechanical behaviours of RC beams. The monotonic displacement control loading, with loading rates of 0.1 mm/s, 0.5 mm/s, 1 mm/s, 5 mm/s and 10 mm/s, was imposed. According to the test results, the effects of loading rates on the failure model and load-displacement curve of RC beams were investigated. The influences of loading rates on the cracking, ultimate, yield and failure strengths and displacements, ductility and dissipated energy capability of RC beams were studied. Then, the three-dimensional finite element models of RC beams, with the rate-dependent DP (Drucker-Prager) model of concrete and three rate-dependent model of steel reinforcement, were described and verified using the experimental results. Finally, the dynamic mechanical behaviours and deformation behaviours of the numerical results were compared with those of the experimental results.