A Finite Element Model for Simulation of the Structural Behaviour of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Ground Slabs

摘要

Steel fibres have been used since 1970s in concrete structures specifically in slabs resting on the ground. The previous analysis methods for the ultimate behaviour of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) ground slabs are not accurate enough for designers to avoid conservative designs due to the underestimated or overestimated results. This paper presents the newly generalised and simplified finite element analysis methods for SFRC slabs with a high agreement between experimental and numerical results. In order to validate the numerical model, a significant number of full-scale tests of fibre-reinforced concrete ground slab results have been tested. Analytical methods and design formulae have been recommended in literature, including code of practice and design guidance. Based on the observation, the agreement between the experimental and simulation results is more than 96%, which shows a 15-25% improvement in comparison with the previous suggested models. In numerical simulations, a smeared-crack model is used for reproducing the concrete cracking behaviour under loading. To study the soil-structure interaction, the non-linear soil behaviour is simulated by tension-less elastic supports. Then, the ultimate load capacity and crack propagation pattern can be obtained from finite element numerical analyses. The results show that the numerical predictions obtained from finite element analyses agree well with the full-scale experimental data available.