Rigid‐body‐spring network model for failure simulation of reinforced‐concrete members under various loading rates

Abstract

A method was developed to simulate the failure of reinforced concrete (RC) subjected to high‐loading rates using a three‐dimensional (3D) rigid‐body‐spring network (RBSN) model. The viscoplastic damage (VPD) and viscoelastic damage (VED) models were used to consider the rate dependence of the concrete. The rate dependence of the reinforcing bars was expressed using an empirical formula. The reinforcing bars were represented by a computationally efficient, semi‐discrete method within the 3D RBSN that allowed for bar positioning, irrespective of the background mesh used to represent the concrete. The residual deformation of the RC structure was expressed based on considerations of the plastic strains of the reinforcing bars. Various simulations were conducted to verify the developed model, including four‐point bending test simulations of RC beams subjected to high loading rates. A comparison of the result to those of experiments and previous simulations demonstrated the importance of the rate dependence of the reinforcing bar behavior within the simulation framework. Furthermore, RC slabs subjected to high loading rates were simulated to verify that the crack patterns and residual deformation of the RC slabs, as well as the rate dependence of the reinforcing bars, were suitably expressed in comparison with experimental results.