CONSTRUCTION OF STRUT-AND-TIE MODEL FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS BY OPTIMAL METHOD

Strut-and-tie model method is one of the standard methods for the design of a complex reinforced structure,but it seldom extends to shallow beams. There are many ways for reinforced concrete deep beams to construct a strut-and-tie model,but the strut-and-tie models achieved are not deem to reflect the most essential mechanical state of the beams. One powerful topology optimization named genetic evolutionary structural optimization (GESO) is used to build a strut-and-tie model for reinforced concrete beams in the paper. In order to ensure the results to be optimums,the classical Michell criterion and experiments are used to judge and explain the GESO results. The examples include a series of simply supported beams with span-to-height from 7 to 1,which cover deep beams and shallow beams and two span continuous deep beams with concentrated loads and uniform loads. The examples cited prove the validity of GESO algorithm in building strut-and-tie models for reinforced concrete beams. The laws of strut-and-tie models of the examples are concluded to help the design of similar beams.