Non-linear finite-element analysis of thin shell SFRC structures

Abstract

Although thin shell concrete structures have been widely used in modern construction, buckling and cracking are still major problems for such structures. By introducing steel fibre reinforcement, such shells are of better structural behaviour due to improvement in concrete properties by steel fibres. However, there are few studies on non-linear finite-element analysis of SFRC shells. In this paper, a new constitutive model of SFRC suitable for finite-element analysis was established. A computer program taking both geometrical and material non-linearity into account was developed. Some concrete and SFRC shells were analysed with the program. An SFRC cylindrical shell was tested to make further validation of the finite-element modelling. Reasonably good correlation between the numerical and experimental results was obtained.