On the influence of the steel-concrete bond model for the simulation of reinforced concrete structures using damage mechanics

Abstract : When dealing with the simulation of reinforced concrete structures, the bond model between steel and concrete can become a key point if crack properties are studied. The interface between both materials is indeed partly responsible for stress transfer and consequently for the crack spacing and openings. In the context of finite element simulations using damage mechanics for concrete, the influence of the relation between steel and concrete is evaluated by comparing two solutions a perfect relation (same displacement at the interface) and a recently developed bond model (sliding allowed). The approaches are compared on a reinforced concrete tie, a bending beam and a shearing wall. The interest of including a fine description of the steel-concrete bond rather than a simple perfect relation between materials, regarding the simulation of local properties (crack openings especially) depends on the type of applications (loadings) and on the expected crack pattern (and/or distribution of steel).