Generating embedded rebar elements for large-scale RC models

Abstract

Modeling of reinforced concrete structures through the use of 3D detailed models derives significant numerical issues especially when dealing with large-scale meshes that incorporate large numbers of reinforcement bars embedded in the hexahedral mesh. In 3D detailed reinforced concrete simulations, mapping the reinforcement grid inside the concrete hexahedral finite elements is performed by using the end-point coordinates of the rebar macro- elements. This procedure is computationally demanding when dealing with large-scale models, where the required computational time for the reinforcement mesh generation can be excessive. This research work investigates the numerical robustness and computational efficiency of the embedded rebar mesh generation method proposed by Markou [14] that was an extension of the Markou and Papadrakakis [8] research work. The under study embedded rebar mesh generation method foresees the automatic allocation and generation of embedded steel reinforcement inside hexahedral finite elements for 32-bit and 64-bit windows based applications. In order to investigate the numerical and computational performance of the embedded rebar mesh generation method, a full-scale model of the RC frame of the Alhosn University Campus in Abu Dhabi and a RC bridge are constructed and used so as to allocate and generate the embedded rebar finite elements. The numerical results that derived from the ReConAn FEA solver for the at hand numerical implementations are briefly presented.