Finite element approach to simulate performance of multiple-opening reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison designed to manipulate performance characteristics of ten reinforced concrete beams with and without openings under a single monotonic maximum stress at mid-span, depending on the configuration and size of the openings, using the ABAQUS/CAE finite element approach package. The cross-section, arrangement, and opening sizes of all the beams were identical to those of the test beams. The goal of the experimental comparison was to check that all simulation processes were proper and adequate. The numerical analysis results showed that in terms of the failure load, there was a 94 percent agreement between experimentally tested and numerical analysis results. In addition, it was shown that concentrated shear stresses at the corners of the openings causing the failure of the posts between the openings. The numerical study revealed that the influence of increasing main longitudinal steel reinforcement by 28% and 44% more efficient to enhance the ultimate load capacity by rates of 7.61% and 9.61%, respectively, compared to increasing the compressive strength of the beams by 24 %, which led to increasing the ultimate load capacity by 3.72%. Therefore, from the standpoint of difficulty and timesaving, the finite element approach is a very dependable technique for investigating the nonlinear behavior of beams with many apertures.