Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols.

438-439 (2013) pp 663-666 Online: 2013-10-15

© (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.438-439.663

Nonlinear Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beam by ANSYS

Xingzhong Zhang a, Leilei Liu b and Kedong Tang c
North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
a
xinzhong.z@163.com, b439043040@qq.com, ctangkd@ncwu.edu.cn

Keywords: reinforced concrete beam; nonlinear; ANSYS; finite element analysis.

Abstract: This paper mainly uses ANSYS, the finite element analysis software, to make nonlinear
analysis of reinforced concrete beam. The model simulating the test process was established, the
calculation results of ANSYS are compared with the experimental results. The comparison shows
that ANSYS analysis results are similar to experimental results, which indicates ANSYS analysis
software can be used to simulate the mechanical property of reinforced concrete structures.

Introduction
Reinforced concrete structure is currently the most commonly used types of structure in
construction. Its mechanical behavior and deformation depend greatly on the performance of two
kinds of materials. As the structure contains two different materials together, when it is analyzed by
the finite element analysis software-ANSY, many factors such as the nonlinear characteristics,
constitutive relation, strength guidelines of concrete and steel should be considered. Despite the
analyzing progress is complex, ANSYS software can save a lot of manpower, material and financial
resources compared to the tests to determine the mechanical properties. With the constant
improvement of the finite element theory, ANSYS’ function is more and more powerful which can
simulate the whole process since the beginning of loading until the destruction of the structure,
while it can get the stress states at different stages. From the results got by ANSYS, the yield
moment of steel and the occurrence of cracks can be determined.

General Situation of Reinforced Concrete Beam

Reinforced concrete beam was made of concrete in C30 strength grade, two HRB335 steel bars of
12mm diameter as longitudinal tensile reinforcement and HPB235 steel bars as erect ribs and
stirrups. As shown in Fig. 1, The section of beam was 150mm×250mm, the length was 1.8m. The
concentrated loads were exerted on the rigid plate of 150mm×100mm×250mm at the loading points.
The erect ribs diameter was 2φ10, the stirrups were arranged is φ8@100. The thickness of concrete
cover was 20mm.

Fig. 1 Schematic of beam sizes, load and reinforcement

Modeling Process
As shown in Fig. 2, solid65 unit can be used in 3D solid model with or without reinforcement. The
entity model has cracks and crushing performance. Solid65 unit has eight nodes, each node has
three degrees of freedom, i.e. linear displacements along x, y, z directions, while every direction can

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664 Civil Engineering, Architecture and Sustainable Infrastructure II

be defined the case containing reinforcement. The most important aspect of this unit is handling the
nonlinearity of materials, it can simulate the cracking, crushing, plastic deformation and creep of
concrete. In addition, it can simulate the tensile, compression, plastic deformation and creep of steel
bars [1].
In this paper, space bar element Link8 is used to simulate reinforcement, as shown in Fig. 3,
which can withstand moment. The stress in the Link8 is uniformly distributed.[1]

Fig. 2 Solid65 unit Fig. 3 Link8 unit

Selection of Constitutive. In addition to providing linear elastic and nonlinear elastic material
models, ANSYS also provides a variety of shaping materials. In this paper, the concrete is
simulated by a multi-linear stress-strain curve kinematic hardening effect (i.e. MKIN), considering
the Bauschinger effect, applicable to obey Mises small strain plasticity analysis [2].
As can be seen from Fig. 4, the model selects five stress-strain relationship data to define five
different temperature curve. The Coordinate of the first point is (4.92E-4, 15.43E6), the Coordinate
of the second point is (8.2E-4, 22.61E6), the coordinates of third point is (13.12E-4, 28.83E6), the
coordinates of fourth point is (16.40E-4, 30.00E6), the coordinates of fifth point is (24.60E-4,
24.46E6), the abscissa axis of above points represents the strain value, and the vertical axis
represents the stress value.

Fig. 4 Stress-strain curve of concrete

Reinforcement is generally elongate member, after ignoring the transverse shear force, not exist
complex stress situation. In plastic zone, concrete ultimate compressive strain is generally not more
than 0.006. The bonding between reinforcement and concrete has been destroyed before
reinforcement strengthening deformation. So the steel stress-strain relationship can be simulated by
bilinear isotropic hardening model BISO [3].
Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 respectively show the stress-strain relation curve of HRB335 steel bar and
HPB235 steel bar. it can be seen that, in the ideal assumptions, HPB235 steel bar begin to yield at
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 438-439 665

210MPa, while HRB335 steel bar begin to yield at 300MPa. Besides, we can also read out from
ANSYS that the tensile steel yield at the eighth substep in the eleventh load before the concrete is
crushed, and this result is consistent with our usual theory.

Fig.5 Stress-strain curve of HPB235 Fig.6 Stress-strain curve of HRB335

Modeling and Solution Control. This reinforced concrete beam for nonlinear analysis uses a
separate model that considering good bonding between concrete and steel bars, without using spring
element to simulate the bond and slip. Geometric modeling uses body segmentation method, which
uses the work plane, according to the position of constantly reinforcement, to split the body to get a
complex body and tendons cord, then respectively divide element.
In this experiment, the applied loads are uniformly distributed surface load and loaded into ten
grades. Every load step set 20 sub-steps. The displacement convergence criterion is used and the
convergence error of 5%. The convergence is easier when choosing the concrete crushing closed
option. Support of one side’s boundary condition is limited for the freedoms of three directions, but
the other sider’s allow the beam’s Z direction moving. The influence of the acceleration is
considered in the model [4].

Fig. 7 RC beam geometric model

Results Comparison between ANSYS and Test. Deflection contrast curve is shown in Fig. 8 at
all levels of load. The red curve represents the span deflection values of beam by ANSYS, and the
green one represents the span deflection measured values of beam by test.

Conclusions
As can be seen from the above comparison, deflection curve of the beam measured in the test is
similar with the one got by ANSYS. But inevitably there must be detection of human error in the
testing process. Though we still consider that the model is consistent with theory and practical
situation, using ANSYS finite element program as a supplementary means of research to simulate
the testing process is feasible and reliable.
666 Civil Engineering, Architecture and Sustainable Infrastructure II

Fig. 8 Mid-span deflection values of RC beam

References
[1] X. Wang, ANSYS numerical analysis of engineering structure, China Communications Press,
Beijing, 2007.
[2] Y. Ye, C. Liu, et al, ANSYS Engineering Applications, China WaterPower Press, Beijing, 2007.
[3] S. Zhao, C. Xu, X. Zhou, Design Principles of Concrete Structures, Tongji University Press,
Shanghai, 2004.
[4] P. Zeng, Q. Liu, J. Ye, Countermeasures to convergence problems of simulation reinforced
concrete by ANSYS, Sichuan Building, 3 (2008) 113-115, 117.
Civil Engineering, Architecture and Sustainable Infrastructure II
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Nonlinear Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beam by ANSYS

10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.438-439.663