FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF HPFRC PLATES SUBJECTED BY MONOTONIC LOADING USING 2-D ISOPARAMETRIC ELEMENT AND MINDLIN PLATE ELEMENT

Abstract

Finite element analysis has been widely used to describe the behavior of High-Performance Fiber ReinforcedConcrete (HPFRC) structural elements under a variety of loadings. This study deals with the finite element analysis of the monotonic flexural behavior of HPFRC plates. Following the assumptions of the development plate theory, the finite element idealization of HPFRC plates can be accomplished by 2-dimensional plane stress isoparametric element or by Mindlin plate element. The aim of this research is to develop methods of finite element modeling of flexural behavior which occurred at HPFRC plates subjected to monotonic loading using two different methods of element idealization which accordance to the laboratory testing result. The analysis is done by decreasing the stiffness of plate elements gradually in accordance with the development of maximum stress in the element due to workload. Correlation studies between analytical and experimental results are conducted with the objective to establish the validity of the proposed models and identify the significance of various effects on the response of HPFRC plates element. Flexural analysis conducted on plate specimens with 600 mm span length, 300 mm width, and 50 mm thickness. HPFRC compressive strength is 93.045 MPa, and splitting tensile strength is 6.018 MPa. Test performed with four points bending pattern at a distance of 1/3 span length. Comparison results of analysis and laboratory test can be concluded that the flexural behavior of plate HPFRC can be described more satisfactorily through finite element analysis using 2D-isoparametric plate element with minimum element size. However, if a significant number of elements is added in the calculation method of Mindlin plate, then the overall  result of the analysis will be closer to the experimental results.