Optimization-based strut-and-tie model generation for reinforced concrete structures under multiple load conditions

Optimization-based strut-and-tie model generation for reinforced concrete structures under multiple load conditions

Xia, Yi (Chongqing University)
Langelaar, Matthijs (TU Delft Computational Design and Mechanics)
Hendriks, M.A.N. (TU Delft Concrete Structures; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

2022

Strut-and-Tie modelling (STM) has been widely applied to design D-regions of reinforced concrete structures. For economic and environmental reasons there is a need for optimized Strut-and-Tie models. How to optimize Strut-and-Tie models considering multiple load combinations has not been investigated extensively in the literature. In order to address this gap in this paper, we propose a method to generate multi-load optimization-based Strut-and-Tie (MOST) models to design D-regions under multiple load combinations. The proposed generation method involves the determination of basis vectors for the load combinations and generation of the corresponding optimization-based Strut-and-Tie models for each of the basis vectors by topology optimization and truss extraction. The generated model is then used to design D-regions under multiple load combinations. In order to check the effectiveness of the proposed method, three alternative approaches for multiple load combinations are investigated and discussed. These approaches comprise: (1) using manually created Strut-and-Tie models, (2) adopting multi-load topology optimization resulting in a single Strut-and-Tie model, (3) generating individual Strut-and-Tie models for each of the considered load combinations. In this paper, three 2D and one 3D D-regions are investigated to compare the effectiveness and applicability of the different methods. It is found that the proposed method results in more economical designs than the three alternative approaches.

Integrated optimization
Multiple load combinations
Nonlinear finite element analysis
Reinforced concrete structures
Strut-and-tie
Topology optimization

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ad0ad484-be78-4e34-9719-3ecea89e176b

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114501

2022-12-24

0141-0296

Engineering Structures, 266

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

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journal article

© 2022 Yi Xia, Matthijs Langelaar, M.A.N. Hendriks