Comparative study of finite element methods of calculation of ribbed reinforced concrete floors

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a comparative study of several finite element models of ribbed reinforced concrete solid floors. Using the example of a solid slab with infrequent ribs arranged along a grid of columns, three models frequently used in computational practice are analyzed. Those models include both rods and thin-walled elements. In the first model, the plate and its ribs are considered separately, within the framework of the decomposition scheme of the structure. The second model contains plate finite elements and the rod finite elements of the ribs connected to each other. The third model consists entirely of thin-walled finite elements that model both the plate and the floor ribs. The ribbed floor is also considered in the formulation of the problem within the framework of the theory of elasticity. The floor is represented in the form of rigidly connected solid bodies of ribs and plates. Reinforcement rods inside the concrete massive are included in the model as separate solid bodies. This model serves as a benchmark for assessing the accuracy of the obtained results. Its calculation is performed in the FEM application Ansys. The paper compares the results of calculations performed using various models. A conclusion is made about the accuracy of the obtained results. A significant difference between the proposed work and similar studies devoted to the selection of the best design schemes of ribbed slab of floor is the consideration of the influence of reinforcement on the behavior of the structure.

Keywords

• reinforced concrete structures
• ribbed floor
• ribbed slab
• finite element method
• design models