Date of Award

Spring 2004

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Advisor

Foley, Christopher M.

Second Advisor

Heinrich, Stephen M.

Third Advisor

Wan, Baolin

Abstract

Several methods have been utilized to study the response of concrete structural components. Experimental based testing has been widely used as a means to analyze individual elements and the effects of concrete strength under loading. The use of finite element analysis to study these components has also been used. This thesis is a study of reinforced and prestressed concrete beams using finite element analysis to understand their load-deflection response. A reinforced concrete beam model is studied and compared to experimental data. The parameters for the reinforced concrete model were then used to model a prestressed concrete beam. Characteristic points on the load-deformation response curve predicted using finite element analysis were compared to theoretical (hand-calculated) results. Conclusions were then made as to the accuracy of using finite element modeling for analysis of concrete. The results compared well to experimental and hand calculated.

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