Simulation of large dimensional reinforced and prestressed concrete structures using a new adaptive static condensation method including automatic mesh partitioning

Ali Mezher (1, 2) , Ludovic Jason (1) , Gauthier Folzan (1) , Luc Davenne (2)

1 LM2S - Laboratoire de Mécanique Systèmes et Simulation
2 LEME - Laboratoire Energétique Mécanique Electromagnétisme

In order to evaluate the cracking process in large reinforced and pre-stressed concrete structures, a predictive simulation of concrete damage with a refined mesh and a nonlinear law is required. Because of the computational load, such modelling is not applicable directly on large-scale structures whose characteristic dimensions are over several tens of meters. To deal with this type of structure, an adaptive static condensation method (ASC), which concentrates the computational effort on the damaged area (domain of interest) only, is proposed. The ASC method is first presented. A particular attention is paid to the needed developments to extend its domain of application up to prestressed concrete structures. The method is then applied to a three point bending prestressed beam and validated by comparison to a classical finite element damage computation. The numerical efficiency of the proposed approach is evaluated with, on this application, a time saving factor of about 15. An automatic mesh partitioning method is then implemented to make the method even more efficient. Based on physical considerations, it takes into account the expected shape and the evolution of the damaged regions during the loading. It is applied to three test cases with different geometries and loading to discuss the calibration process through a sensitivity analysis. A unique set of parameters is finally proposed and the efficiency of the method is demonstrated. As a conclusion; a complete automatic method is made available for the simulation of large scale reinforced and prestressed concrete structures

Mots clés: reinforced and prestressed concrete; large structures; static condensation; damage

Domaines: Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]

Ali Mezher, Ludovic Jason, Gauthier Folzan, Luc Davenne. Simulation of large dimensional reinforced and prestressed concrete structures using a new adaptive static condensation method including automatic mesh partitioning. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 2022, 202, pp.103718. ⟨10.1016/j.finel.2021.103718⟩. ⟨hal-03510952⟩