Abstract:
Modern architectural requirements have given birth to an increased complexity
in the shapes and configurations of building structures. The need to quantify behavior of
these complex shapes in a structure gave birth to a new analysis methodology known as
the Finite Element Analysis Method. This innovative technique involves disintegrating a
complex shape into a number of smaller elements so that with certain constraints the
overall behavior of the shape in question can be calculated based on each and every
element’s behavior.
Finite Element Method has become the foundation of various Structural
Engineering software because it gives flexibility to model and analyze almost every type
of structure. As structures consist of various members joined together to resist loading in
an efficient way, understanding member behavior is vital to calculate structural behavior.
Both theoretical and experimental procedures can be used to predict response of these
members under particular loading conditions. Although experimental techniques result
in actual response, they cannot be used for large and complex structures due to time and
cost concerns. This is where Finite Element Method based software like ANSYS,
ABAQUS, STRAND7 and SEISMOSTRUCT come in. The very thought of using these
software to theoretically calculate member and structure response is comforting knowing
that they save time and money to a great degree. This however, gives rise to a logical
question that how similar the results are between Finite Element Analysis Method and
actual field experiments.
This study includes the formulation of finite element model of reinforced concrete
beam which have been already experimented and published by (N. Jeenvan, 2018).
Results of finite element model and experiment are compared and validated. After validation, a parametric study is performed to further explore the behaviour of reinforced
concrete beam in terms of ultimate load and load deflection profile. Parametric study
involves the analyze the effect of different shear span to effective depth ratio, various
lengths of beam and various reinforcement ratios.
