Resumo A degradação mecânica de estruturas de concreto é um fenômeno dependente da heterogeneidade do material observada em mesoescala. Como a degradação mecânica é um fenômeno localizado, elementos estruturais e estruturas podem ser simulados usando a técnica de análise multiescala concorrente. Assim, apenas as regiões mais críticas são modeladas em mesoescala, reduzindo o custo computacional em comparação com a simulação de toda a estrutura nessa escala. Este trabalho apresenta duas contribuições para a estratégia de análise multiescala concorrente. A primeira contribuição apresenta uma representação alternativa da zona de transição interfacial da mesoescala (ITZ) do concreto juntamente com uma estratégia que permite modelar partículas (agregados graúdos) sem graus de liberdade. A representação da ITZ resultante permite a modelagem de fissuras discretas mais realistas na simulação de concreto. A segunda contribuição usa elementos semelhantes a agregados sem graus de liberdade como elementos de acoplamento para modelar malhas não conformes entre diferentes meios. A técnica de acoplamento proposta não adiciona graus de liberdade e não utiliza métodos de penalização ou multiplicadores de Lagrange. Resultados experimentais e numéricos são usados para validar a formulação multiescala proposta aplicada em simulações de amostras de concreto. localizado concorrente Assim escala (ITZ graúdos meios Lagrange

Abstract The mechanical degradation of concrete structures is a phenomenon dependent on the material heterogeneity observed at mesoscale. As the mechanical degradation is a localized phenomenon, structural members and structures may be simulated using the concurrent multiscale analysis technique. Thus, only the most critical regions are modeled in mesoscale, reducing the computational cost compared to the simulation of the entire structure at this scale. This work presents two contributions in concurrent multiscale analysis. The first contribution introduces an alternative representation of the mesoscale interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of the concrete together with a strategy that allows modeling particles (coarse aggregates) without degrees of freedom. The resulting ITZ representation allows the simulation of more realistic discrete cracks in concrete modeling. The second contribution uses particle-like elements without degrees of freedom as coupling elements to model non-matching meshes between different media. The proposed coupling technique does not add degrees of freedom and does not use penalty or Lagrange Multipliers methods. Experimental and numerical results are used in order to validate the proposed multiscale formulation regarding concrete specimen simulations. Thus scale (ITZ coarse aggregates particlelike particle like nonmatching non matching media methods simulations

Abstract The importance of knowing critical loads and post-critical behavior of thin-walled structures motivates the development of several scientific and practical studies. Most references are concerned with stability analysis for small displacements (first order approach), or with second order stability analyzes, a less precise geometric nonlinear strategy. However, very flexible structures or ones that present small loss of stiffness after the first critical load need more careful analysis. Here we present a shell numerical formulation capable of carrying out stability analysis of thin-walled structures developing large displacements. This formulation uses generalized unconstrained vectors as nodal parameters instead of rotations. To make possible a complete stability analysis using unconstrained vectors, we present an original strategy that imposes a Conjugate Modal Force at the vicinity of critical points, allowing an accurate choice of post-critical paths. Non-conservative forces are also considered and results are compared with literature benchmarks, demonstrating the accuracy and capacity of the proposed formulation.

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a finite element mesoscale modeling of damaged concrete structures, based on nodal positions. The mesoscale modeling consists of particle and fiber finite elements embedded in matrix finite elements. While the matrix elements represent the cement matrix, particle elements are used to simulate the coarse aggregates and fiber elements are used for reinforcement rebars. The embedded theory is used to immerse the reinforcement (both particle and fiber elements) without increasing the total number of degrees of freedom. This strategy does not require nodal coincidence, allowing randomly distribute the coarse aggregates. The materials nonlinear behavior is considered by a scalar damage model for the cement matrix and coarse aggregates, and one-dimensional elastoplastic model is used for the steel rebars. Four examples are presented, with good correlation between numerical and experimental results. It is shown that structures simulated with particulate elements could endure higher loads for the same displacement, although the maximum force is obtained in models without inclusion of particle elements.

Abstract An alternative geometrically nonlinear total Lagrangian finite element is presented and applied to solve cable, cable nets and a very long suspended bridge in both three and two-dimensional spaces from its setting-up through its response to earthquake. It includes dynamics, pseudo-dynamics regularization, elastic actuators and automatic stress calibration. Dynamics and pseudo-dynamics are used to perform transient structural analysis and the setting-up of very unstable structures. Elastic actuators allow pre-stressing structural members for the iterative structural design and cables natural length definition. Automatic stress calibration comprises continuous cables in complicated structures without sliding contact devices. The formulation is applied to model main cables of suspended bridges passing through saddle points. Inertial terms are introduced by an alternative mathematical way. Two simple examples are used to validate all aspects of the proposed formulation. Finally, a representative application is performed, i.e., the numerical design and analysis of a very long span suspension bridge by the proposed strategy.

AbstractThis paper presents a finite element formulation for the analysis of two dimensional reinforced elastic solids developing both small and large deformations without increasing the number of degrees of freedom. Fibers are spread inside the domain without the necessity of node coincidence. Contact stress analysis is carried out for both straight and curved elements via two different strategies. The first employs consistent differential relations and the second adopts a simple average calculation. The development of all equations is described along the paper. Numerical examples are employed to demonstrate the behavior of the proposed methodology and to compare the contact stress results for both calculations.