Towards Finite Element Modelling of Reinforced Recycled-Coarse Aggregate Concrete Deep Beams

Considerable number of experimental and numerical studies have been carried out to investigate performance of reinforced natural-coarse aggregate concrete deep beams. In contrast, limited studies have been conducted to examine the behavior of reinforced recycled-coarse aggregate concrete deep beams. Up to this end, the main objective of this study is to develop a finite element model to accurately simulate the behavior of deep beams when recycled-coarse aggregate concrete is used with various ratio of steel fibers. In the model, appropriate structural elements and constitutive laws are employed to simulate the behavior of plain concrete, loading plates and reinforcing steel. The nonlinear load-deformation behavior of the beams is simulated under displacement-controlled conditions. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified through comparison of numerical predictions to experimental results in terms of ultimate loading capacity, load- deflection relationships and failure modes. The comparison results show that the numerical model is capable to predict the behavior of recycled-coarse aggregate concrete deep beams with high degree of convergence when compared with experimental results.