Nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced and prestressed concrete slabs with reinforcement (inclusive of prestressing steel) modelled as discrete integral components

A four-noded isoparametric quadrilateral plate-shell element with reinforcement as a discrete integral part of the element is presented to analyse reinforced and prestressed concrete plates. Prestressing is considered as an internal force on the element. The position and the orientation of the reinforcement bar within an element is arbitrary in plan and parallel to the reference surface. To evaluate concrete stiffness and internal loads equivalent to stresses in concrete, Gaussian integration is also used in the thickness direction. The contribution of each individual reinforcement bar to the stiffness of the element is evaluated as a line integral by using Gaussian integration. Concrete compression is modelled by a plasticity model and smeared cracking approach is used for tensile cracking. Both material and geometric nonlinearities are considered in the analysis. Validation of the analytical model is done by carrying out a set of experiments and comparing theoretical results with experimental values, and also using the results in published literature. © 1992.