Software for Finite Element Analysis of Prestressed Concrete Structures

Rajeev Goel, Scientist, Bridges and Structures, CRRI, New Delhi, Ram Kumar, Advisor and HOD, Bridges and Structures, D. K. Paul, Professor, Department of Earthquake Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

Behavior of prestressed concrete structures mainly depends on the performance of the prestressing force over a design period of these structures. A generalized three-dimensional failure criterion for concrete and constitutive relationships of reinforcing steel and prestressing tendons are implemented into the finite element codes. Subsequently, computer software DAPCAS has been developed for the finite element analysis of prestressed concrete structures.

Introduction

Prestressed concrete sections are economical compared to reinforced concrete and hence, have a wide use in bridges, buildings and other structures. Reliability of these structures mainly depends on the performance of the prestressing force over a design period of these structures. Prediction of the response of prestressed concrete structures requires three-dimensional structural idealization and true modelling of nonlinear behavior of concrete, reinforcing steel and prestressing tendons.

All these effects have been considered for the analysis of the prestressed concrete structures. Based on the above, computer software has been developed for the three-dimensional finite element analysis of prestressed concrete structures. Validation of the software has been done by analyzing experimental as well as analytical studies, reported in the literature. The results of these validation studies have been compared with the reported results in the literature and found to be in a good agreement.

Finite Element Method

Finite element method is accepted as the most powerful technique for the numerical solution of a variety of engineering problems and hence, the same has been used to model and analyze the nonlinear behavior of prestressed concrete structures.