Nonlinear local analysis of reinforced concrete plates

A nonlinear method for the analysis of reinforced concrete plate elements subjected to general combined loads is proposed. The behaviour of the composite material “reinforced concrete” is described by means of a nonlinear model, which is based on equivalent uniaxial stress-strain curves in the uncracked stage, and on a recently proposed “physical approach” in the cracked stage (so-called PARC which means Physical Approach for Reinforced Concrete). This approach includes a set of realistic constitutive and interaction laws for the materials (steel and concrete). For a given plate element a relationship between generalized forces and global deformations of the cross-section is developed in terms of stiffness matrix. The solution of the nonlinear problem is carried out numerically through an incremental-iterative procedure based on a thickness subdivision into layers. The reliability and the effectiveness of the proposed model is shown performing comparisons with well-documented experimental tests reported in scientific literature.