Analysis of large reinforced concrete elements. A practical application of the strut-and-tie method

Abstract

The design of massive three dimensional reinforced concrete structures is not possible by conventional methods. The strut-and-tie approach is very usedul for the analysis of this type of elements. With this emethod some of the practical problems which arise when using a Finite Element program are avoided (such as fictitiously large values of stresses due to a bad modelling of the begaviour of concrete and seel when using linear analysis or the imposibility of placing the reinforcement in the direction of the principal stresses). By contrast, the strut-and-tie method results in a secure, clear and fast criterium for determining an easy to build reinforcement layout. In this paper, a practical application is described, concerning two large counterweights of a suspended bridge.