Finite element simulation for bending behavior of steel-ECC composite slab considering shrinkage, creep and cracking

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, the negative bending behavior of a steel-ECC composite slab is simulated by a finite element model considering cracking behavior of ECC layer under the coupling effect of shrinkage and creep. Firstly, the creep property of the ECC material is obtained by steel ring restraint test, combining with the corresponding shrinkage data in authors’ previous study. The crack characteristics of the ECC materials are analyzed by monitoring the crack development under uniaxial tensile test. Then, a finite element model is established, in which the shrinkage stress of the ECC layer is calculated by applying negative temperature loads, basing on the shrinkage test data and the determined creep coefficient. Discrete crack model with preset crack paths is used to simulate the cracking behavior of ECC layer, and spring elements are added to simulate the bridging effect between the crack plane. Finally, the bending behavior of the composite slab is simulated, and the reliability of the finite element model is verified by the corresponding test data from authors’ previous research.