Bending Test on a Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Notched Beam

Outline

1 Description
1.1 Experimental Test
1.2 Steel Fiber Material Characterization
1.2.1 Material Parameters
1.3 Finite Element Model
2 Finite Element Model
2.1 Units
2.2 Geometry Definition
2.3 Properties
2.4 Boundary Conditions
2.5 Loads
2.6 Meshing
3 Nonlinear Analysis
3.1 Analysis Commands
3.2 Results
3.2.1 Displacements
3.2.2 Force-Displacement Plot
3.2.3 Crack Widths
3.2.4 SFRC Tensile Stress vs. CMOD Curve
3.2.5 Comparison with FIB Constitutive Tensile Stress–CMOD Curve
Appendix A Additional Information

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1 Description

This tutorial describes how to model Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) elements with DIANA. The example involves the simulation of a three-point bending test of a concrete prism
based on the typical set-up for the characterization of SFRC materials according to the European Standard EN 14651 (2005)1 .
The three-point bending test of a notched beam (Figure 1) is used for the determination of the material parameters. For a SFRC material, the tensile behaviour is described in terms of
residual flexural tensile strength determined from the load vs. crack mouth opening displacement curve or load vs. deflection curve provided by the bending test.

Figure 1: Notched beam for SFRC bending test

1
”Test method for metallic fibered concrete – Measuring the flexural tensile strength (limit of proportionality (LOP), residual)”, 2005, European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

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1.1 Experimental Test

The geometry of the SFRC specimen is shown in Figure 2. The beam has a span of 500 mm, with an extension of 25 mm on both sides of the supports, with a total lenght of 550 mm. The
beam has a cross-section of 150 mm x 150 mm. A notch is produced in the lower center area of the specimen for a depth of 5 mm.

Figure 2: Beam layout and dimensions

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1.2 Steel Fiber Material Characterization
The mechanical parameters to be used as input of the SFRC material model in DIANA can be determined through the results of laboratory tests. The three-point bending test provides the
load-deflection curve, which can be used to obtain the corresponding stress-crack width curve.
From the test, the diagram of the applied force (F) versus the deformation can be produced, in which the deformation is expressed in terms of crack mouth opening (CMOD), as shown in
Figure 3.

Figure 3: Typical F–CMOD curve Figure 4: Constitutive stress–strain curve for FRC material

The strength parameters are described by the residual flexural tensile strength, fR,j , which is determined from the F–CMOD relationship as follows:
3Fj l
fR,j = 2bh2sp
,
where fR,j and Fj are, respectively, the residual flexural tensile strength and the load corresponding to a given CMOD value, l is the span length, b is the specimen width, hsp is the distance
between the notch tip and the top of the specimen.

The SFRC concrete can be classified based on the values of the residual flexural tensile strength significant for serviceability, fR1k , and ultimate, fR3k , conditions.
The SFRC class (for example 3c) is defined by a number representing the strength interval for fR1k , and a letter (a, b, c, d or e), representing the fR3k /fR1k ratio. Based on the class,
the stress–strain curve (or the stress-CMOD curve), characterizing the uniaxial tensile behaviour of the SFRC material, can be defined according to the FIB Model Code 20102 for steel
fiber-reinforced concrete (see Figure 4).

2
”fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010”, 2013, fédération internationale du béton/International Federation for Structural Concrete

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1.2.1 Material Parameters
In this example we will assume a SFRC class 3c, with a reference concrete class C30 for plain concrete. The class 3c indicates a fR1k strength interval between 3.0 and 4.0 MPa, and a residual
strength ratio of 0.9 ≤ fR3k /fR1k < 1.1.
The point B (see Figure 4) corresponds to the peak value of the tensile stress of the SFRC material, before the stress reduction, and it is assumed based on the characteristic value of the
tensile stress, fct , of the plain concrete. For the point A, a tensile stress value equal to 0.9 · fct is considered.
The post-peak behaviour of the constitutive law is defined based on a linear model, as shown in Figure 5, where fF ts represents the serviceability residual strength and fF tu represents the
ultimate residual strength. These values define the portion of the constitutive diagram between points D and E (Figure 4).

Figure 5: Definition of linear post-cracking constitutive relationship

Point C, defining the drop of the tensile stress after the peak value, is determined from the intersection between the softening branch of the plain concrete curve (namely the Hordijk curve
defined by the value of tensile fracture energy, Gf ) and the extrapolated branch of the SFRC model defined by the points D and E.
The values of the characteristic points defining the tensile constitutive law for the SFRC material are summarized in Table 1. The corresponding curve, compared to the plain concrete one, is
presented in Figure 6.

Point (Figure 4) Tensile stress (MPa) CMOD (mm)

A 1.82 0.00082
B 2.03 0.00225
C 1.49 0.025
D 1.35 0.5
E 0.75 2.5
F 0 8
Table 1: Tensile stress and CMOD values at characteristic points Figure 6: Consitutive law in tension for SFRC material

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1.3 Finite Element Model
A bi-dimensional finite element model, representing the middle plane of the concrete beam, is built. The beam’s supporting blocks and the load-transfer block are modelled as surfaces with
linear-elastic material properties. Interfaces are placed between these blocks and the concrete beam.

The following aspects will be considered in the model:

• The concrete beam is modelled as bi-dimensional;

• Quadratic mesh order is assumed;
• The linear-elastic material properties for concrete, steel and interfaces are reported in Table 7;
• For the SFRC material, the fib fiber reinforced concrete model is used for the input of the tensile curve;
• A nonlinear static analysis is performed in order to describe the full load–deflection curve;
• The analysis is carried out based on displacement control;
• Displacements and crack-width are shown after the analysis;
• The tensile stress vs. CMOD curve provided by DIANA is compared with the FIB Model Code curve;

Concrete Steel Interface

Young’s modulus E (N/mm2 ) 33550.6 200000 –
Poisson’s ratio ν (−) 0.15 0 –
Mass density ρ (T /mm3 ) 2.4E+9 0 –
Normal stiffness kn (N/mm3 ) – – 1000
Shear stiffness ks (N/mm3 ) – – 10

Figure 7: Elastic material properties

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2 Finite Element Model
For the modeling session we start a new project [Fig. 8]. We chose to work on a 2D model and we set the dimensions of the domain equal to 10 m. Quadratic quadrilateral finite elements will
be predominantly used in the analysis.
DianaIE

Main menu File New [Fig. 8]

Figure 8: New project dialog

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2.1 Units
We will use millimeter and newton for length and force units, respectively.
DianaIE

Geometry browser Reference system Units [Fig. 9]

Property Panel [Fig. 10]

Figure 9: Geometry browser Figure 10: Property panel - Units

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2.2 Geometry Definition
To model the geometry of the beam in DianaIE, we start by creating a sheet and we name it concrete [Fig. 12]. We specify the coordinates of the points from 1 to 4 as shown in Figure 11. The
two-dimensional model is situated in the XY plane, i.e., the Z coordinates are zero.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Create Add polygon sheet [Fig. 11]

Main menu Viewer Viewpoints Top view
Main menu Viewer Fit all

Figure 11: Add sheet – concrete Figure 12: View of the model – concrete

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We add now two sheets in the middle part of the concrete specimen [Fig. 15]. We call the first one crack with the coordinates shown in Figure 13. We use the second one to create the notched
area of the specimen with the coordinates shown in Figure 14 and we name it notch.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Create Add polygon sheet [Fig. 13] [Fig. 14] (2x)

Figure 13: Add sheet – crack Figure 14: Add sheet – notch Figure 15: View of the model – crack, notch

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We subtract now the sheets crack and notch from the main sheet concrete. In this operation we will not keep the tools [Fig. 16]. Afterwards, we can remove the shape notch [Fig. 17].

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Modify Subtract shapes [Fig. 16]

Geometry browser Geometry Shapes notch Remove [Fig. 17]

Figure 16: Subtract shapes Figure 17: View of the model

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We rename the right and left parts of the specimen as concreteR and concreteL, respectively [Fig. 18][Fig. 19].
DianaIE

Geometry browser Geometry Shapes concrete Rename concreteR [Fig. 18] [Fig. 19]
Geometry browser Geometry Shapes concrete 1 Rename concreteL [Fig. 18] [Fig. 19]

Figure 18: Geometry browser Figure 19: Geometry browser

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We add a sheet for the loading block which will be used to transfer the load to the specimen. We name the sheet as block and we input the coordinate shown in Figure 20.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Create Add polygon sheet [Fig. 20]

Figure 20: Add sheet – block Figure 21: View of the model – block

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We crate two sheets for the left and right support with the coordinates presented in Figure 22 and in Figure 23, respectively.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Create Add polygon sheet [Fig. 22] [Fig. 23] (2x)

Figure 22: Add sheet – supL Figure 23: Add sheet – supR Figure 24: View of the model – supL, supR

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Finally, for each supporting block, we create a point in the center of the lower edge of the respective sheet [Fig. 25]–[Fig. 27] and imprint it [Fig. 26]–[Fig. 28] .

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Create Add point [Fig. 25]–[Fig. 27]

Main menu Geometry Modify Shape projection [Fig. 25]–[Fig. 27]

Figure 25: Add point – pointL Figure 26: Imprint projection Figure 27: Add point – pointR Figure 28: Imprint projection

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2.3 Properties

We will assign the material and geometry properties to the concrete beam [Fig. 29].
We use SFRC class 3c and we define the mechanical parameters according to the FIB Model Code 2010 for steel fiber-reinforced material. The reference concrete class for plain concrete is
assumed as C30. We create a total strain based crack material and we name it Concrete FRC [Fig. 30]. The linear material parameters are E = 33550.6 N/mm2 and ν = 0.15 and [Fig. 31].

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Properties [Fig. 29]

Properties Material Add material [Fig. 30] Edit material [Fig. 31] [Fig. 32] [Fig. 33] [Fig. 34]

Figure 29: Property assignments Figure 30: Add new material – Concrete FRC Figure 31: Edit new material – Concrete FRC

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We choose the rotating option for the total strain crack model [Fig. 32].
For the tensile behaviour, we choose the fib fiber reinforced concrete tensile curve based on the crack mouth opening (CMOD) value. The curve is defined in Section 1.2.1.
For the compressive behaviour, we assume a parabolic curve [Fig. 34].

Figure 32: Edit material – Concrete FRC Figure 33: Tensile behaviour – Concrete FRC Figure 34: Compressive behaviour – Concrete FRC

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We create a new element geometry and we name it thick [Fig. 35]. We explicitly define the orientation of the local x axis [Fig. 36].

DianaIE

Properties Geometry Add new geometry [Fig. 35] [Fig. 36]

Figure 35: Add new geometry – thick Figure 36: Edit geometry – thick

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We also define a linear elastic material for the steel supports and loading blocks [Fig. 38]. The Young’s modulus is E = 200000 N/mm2 [Fig. 39]. We will assign the same geometry property
used for the concrete specimen.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Properties [Fig. 37]

Properties Material Add material [Fig. 38] Edit material [Fig. 39]

Figure 37: Property assignments Figure 38: Add new material – steel Figure 39: Edit new material – steel

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We create now an interface between the supporting blocks and the concrete beam, and we name it int sup [Fig. 40]. We define a new linear elastic material for the interface as shown in Figure 41
and Figure 42.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Connection properties [Fig. 40]

Connection properties Material Add material [Fig. 41] Edit material [Fig. 42]

Figure 40: Connection property assignments Figure 41: Add new material – interface Figure 42: Edit new material – interface

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We create a new element geometry property for the interfaces and we name it interface [Fig. 43]. We explicitly define the orientation of the local z axis of the interface elements [Fig. 44].

DianaIE

Connection properties Geometry Add new geometry [Fig. 43] [Fig. 44]

Figure 43: Add new geometry – interface Figure 44: Edit geometry – interface

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We create also an interface between the loading block and the concrete beam, and we name it int block [Fig. 45]. We will assign the same material and geometry property already employed
for the interfaces at the supports.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Connection properties [Fig. 45]

Figure 45: Connection property assignments Figure 46: View of the model – int sup, int block

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2.4 Boundary Conditions
The translation of the lower edge’s mid-point of the left support is supported in the Y direction [Fig. 47] [Fig. 48].
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 47]

Figure 47: Attach support – supL Figure 48: Translational supports

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The translation of the lower edge’s mid-point of the left support is supported in the X and Y directions [Fig. 49] [Fig. 50].

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 49]

Figure 49: Attach support – supR Figure 50: Translational supports

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Since the vertical load is applied through a prescribed deformation, we attach a support in the Y direction in one of the vertexes of the top loading block [Fig. 51]. In order to obtain a uniform
displacement distribution over the loading block’s top edge, we define also a tying in the Y direction [Fig. 52].

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 51]

Main menu Geometry Assign Tyings [Fig. 52]

Figure 51: Attach support – sup block Figure 52: Attach tying – ty block Figure 53: Translational supports

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2.5 Loads
We create a new load case including a prescribed deformation and we name it Vertical. The displacement acts in the Y direction [Fig. 54] [Fig. 55].
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Loads [Fig. 54]

Figure 54: Attach load – Vertical Figure 55: Prescribed deformation

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2.6 Meshing
We assign the mesh properties to the model by defining fist an element size of 15 mm to the left and right part of the concrete specimen [Fig. 56]. The selected sheets and the mesh seeding
preview can be seen in Figure 57.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Mesh properties [Fig. 56]

Mesh properties Preview [Fig. 57]

Figure 56: Set mesh properties Figure 57: Mesh properties preview

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We assign an element size of 4 mm to the central part of the concrete specimen [Fig. 58]. The selected sheets and the mesh seeding preview can be seen in Figure 59.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Mesh properties [Fig. 58]

Mesh properties Preview [Fig. 59]

Figure 58: Set mesh properties Figure 59: Mesh properties preview

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Finally, we assign an element size of 2 mm to the two supporting blocks [Fig. 60] [Fig. 61].

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Mesh properties [Fig. 60]

Mesh properties Preview [Fig. 61]

Figure 60: Set mesh properties Figure 61: Mesh properties preview

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Now, we can generate the finite element mesh [Fig. 62].
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Generate mesh [Fig. 62]

Figure 62: Finite element mesh

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3 Nonlinear Analysis
3.1 Analysis Commands
We start by adding a new analysis (that we call Bending Test) [Fig. 63]. We add to it a Structural nonlinear command to perform a nonlinear analysis [Fig. 64] [Fig. 65].

DianaIE

Main menu Analysis Add analysis

Analysis browser Analysis1 Rename Bending Test [Fig. 63]
Analysis browser Bending Test Add command Structural nonlinear [Fig. 64] [Fig. 65]

Figure 63: Analysis browser Figure 64: Command menu Figure 65: Analysis browser

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We choose the load set and define the step sizes: [ 0.01(5) 0.001(150) 0.005(200) 0.01(300) ] [Fig. 67].

DianaIE

Analysis browser Bending Test Structural nonlinear new execute block Load steps Edit properties [Fig. 66] [Fig. 67]

Figure 66: Analysis browser Figure 67: Load steps

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We assume a maximum number of 20 iterations and ask to satisfy both the energy and force convergence norms [Fig. 68]. We choose to continue the analysis if convergence is not achieved [Fig. 69]
[Fig. 70].

DianaIE

Analysis browser Bending Test Structural nonlinear new execute block Equilibrium iteration Edit properties [Fig. 68]

Figure 68: Equilibrium iteration - Edit properties Figure 69: Energy convergence norm Figure 70: Force convergence norm

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For the Bending Test analysis we chose a User selection output [Fig. 71] and we add the results listed in Table 2. Finally, we run the analysis.
DianaIE

Analysis browser Bending Test Structural nonlinear Output Edit properties [Fig. 71] [Fig. 72]
Main menu Analysis Run selected analysis

Total displacements DISPLA TOTAL TRANSL GLOBAL –

Reaction forces FORCE REACTI TRANS GLOBAL –

External forces FORCE EXTERN TRANS GLOBAL –

Total stresses STRESS TOTAL CAUCHY GLOBAL Nodes

STRESS TOTAL TRACTI LOCAL Nodes

STRESS TOTAL CAUCHY PRINCI Integration points

STRESS TOTAL CAUCHY LOCAL Integration points

Total strains STRAIN TOTAL GREEN GLOBAL Nodes

STRAIN TOTAL TRACTI LOCAL Nodes

STRAIN TOTAL GREEN PRINCI Integration points

STRAIN TOTAL GREEN LOCAL Integration points

Crack strains STRAIN CRACK GREEN Integration points

Crack status STATUS CRACK Integration points

Table 2: Required output data Figure 71: Output - Edit properties Figure 72: Results selection

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3.2 Results

3.2.1 Displacements

We select the last step to assess the results at the end of the nonlinear analysis. We show the contour plot of the vertical displacements TDtY.

DianaIE

Results browser Case Load-step 655, Load-factor 4.2000, Vertical [Fig. 73]
Results browser Bending Test Output Nodal results Displacements TDtY [Fig. 73] [Fig. 74]

Figure 73: Results browser Figure 74: Displacements

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3.2.2 Force-Displacement Plot

We select the supported node of the loading block [Fig. 75] and we ask to display the vertical reaction force value FBY for each load step.
DianaIE

Results browser Bending Test Output Nodal results Reaction Forces FBY Show table [Fig. 76]

Figure 75: Node selection Figure 76: Reaction force vs. displacement diagram

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3.2.3 Crack Widths

We show the contour plot of the crack widths Ecw1 for the last step of the analysis.

DianaIE

Results browser Bending Test Output Element results Crack-widths Ecw1 [Fig. 77] [Fig. 78]

Figure 77: Results browser Figure 78: Crack widths

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3.2.4 SFRC Tensile Stress vs. CMOD Curve

In order to plot the curve of the tensile stress vs. the CMOD representative of the SFRC specimen, we first select a node and an element in the notched area [Fig. 79] and we ask to display
the crack-width value Ecw1 for each load step [Fig. 80].
DianaIE

Results browser Bending Test Output Element results Crack-widths Ecw1 Show table [Fig. 80]

Figure 79: Node and element selection Figure 80: Crack-width diagram

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We then ask to display the local stress value Sxx for each load step [Fig. 82].
DianaIE

Results browser Bending Test Output Element results Cauchy Total Stresses Sxx - mappedintpnt Show table [Fig. 82]

Figure 81: Node and element selection Figure 82: Local stress diagram

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3.2.5 Comparison with FIB Constitutive Tensile Stress–CMOD Curve

We can copy the stress Sxx and crack-width Ecw1 values to an Excel spreadsheet and plot the tensile stress–CMOD curve provided by the DIANA calculation. In the following graph a
comparison with the tensile stress–CMOD curve provided by the FIB Model Code 2010 for SFRC material is presented [Fig. 83].

Figure 83: Comparison between DIANA and FIB Model Code ft–CMOD curves

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Appendix A Additional Information

Folder: Tutorials/NotchedBeam

Number of elements ≈ 1950

Keywords:
analys: nonlin physic static.
constr: suppor tying.
elemen: cql6m ct12m pstres cl12i interf.
load: edge elemen force.
materi: crack elasti isotro nonlin smear.
option: direct loadin modifi newmar newton regula size units.
post: binary ndiana.
pre: dianai.
result: cauchy crack displa extern force green reacti strain stress total.

References:

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