Discrete Limit Analysis of Thin-Walled Reinforced Concrete Structures

Abstract

This paper concerns with the collapse analysis of reinforced concrete shells using the Rigid BodiesSpring Model (RBSM). Reinforced concrete shells are expected to be widely applicable in offshore engineering structures, but it is thought fairly difficult to estimate the ultimate strength of the structures due to their complicated material behaviours in crack formations, plastic deformations and crushing of concrete. The RBSM method, which deals with yield lines and crack lines explicitly, is suitable to the collapse analysis of reinforced concrete shells. The flat rigid plate element developed by Toi and Kawai for the general thin-walled shells is extended to the collapse analysis of reinforced concrete shells. Numerical studies on simply supported square plates, cylindrical tanks and cylindrical shell roofs are conducted in order to examine the validity of the algorithm of the present method.