Cover
Vol. 15 No. 1 (2015)

Published: June 30, 2015

Pages: 86-97

Original Article

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Cylindrical Shells

David A.M.Jawad 1
1 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Basrah
History
  • Received: March 30, 2015
  • Available Online: June 30, 2015
DOI

https://doi.org/10.33971/bjes.15.1.10

Abstract

The study investigates the behavior of reinforced concrete cylindrical shells under monotonically increasing loads. Three-dimensional models of six small-scale experimental shells with length-to-radius ratios ranging from short (0.84) to long (5.0) are implemented within the context of the finite element method, through use of the ANSYS computer code, and the nonlinear response is traced throughout the entire load range up to failure. Cracking occurs at working load levels, with subsequent reduction in shell stiffness. Increasing loads lead to failure modes varying from a beam failure in long shells, combined longitudinal and transverse cracking in intermediate length shells, and abrupt diagonal with limited transverse cracking in short shells. Ultimate load capacities range from 5.0 kPa to 60.0 kPa increasing with decreasing length-to-radius ratios.

Keywords

References

  1. Billington, D.P. 1979. Thin-shell structures. In: Gaylord, E. and Gaylord, C., Structural Engineering Handbook, Sec. 20, McGraw-Hill Inc.
  2. Mikkola, M.J., and Schnobrich, W.C. 1970. Material behaviour characteristics for reinforced concrete shells stressed beyond the elastic range. Technical Report, University of Illinois.
  3. Buyukozoturk,O. 1977. Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures. Computers and Structures, Vol.7, pp.149-156.
  4. Assan, A.E. 2002. Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete cylindrical shells. Computers and Structures, Vol.80, pp.2177-2184.
  5. Suanno, R., Ferrari, L., and Prates, C. 2003. Nonlinear analysis of concrete shells subjected to impact loads. Transactions of the 17 th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology. Prague, Paper No. J03-1.
  6. Chandrasekaran, S., Gupta, S.K., and Carannante F. 2009 . Design aids for fixed support reinforced concrete cylindrical shells under uniformly distributed loads. International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, Vol.1, No.1, pp.148-171.
  7. Sadowski, A.J., and Rotter, J.M. 2013. Solid or shell finite elements to model thick cylindrical tubes and shells under global bending. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 74, pp.143-153.
  8. Timoshenko, S., and Woinowsky-Krieger, S. 1970. Theory of plates and shells. McGraw-Hill Kogakusha.
  9. Harris, H.G., and White, R.N. 1972. Inelastic behaviour of R/C cylindrical shells. Journal of the Structural Division, ASCE, Vol.98, No.ST7, Proc. Paper 9074.
  10. ANSYS 12.0. 2009. Finite element analysis system, SAS IP, Inc.
  11. Valliapan, S., and Doolan, T.F., 1972. Nonlinear Stress Analysis of Reinforced Concrete. Journal of the Structural Division, ASCE, Vol.98, No.ST4, Proc. Paper 8845.
  12. William, K.J., and Warnke, E.P. 1974. Constitutive Model for the Triaxial Behaviour of Concrete. Proceed. IABSE Seminar on Concrete Structures subjected to Triaxial Stresses, Bergamo.
  13. Chen, W.F. 1982. Plasticity in reinforced concrete. McGraw-Hill Inc.
  14. MacGregor, J.G. 1992. Reinforced concrete mechanics and design. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ.