Numerical Modeling and Analysis of Concrete Slabs in Interaction with Subsoil

Abstract

This article focuses on the analysis and numerical modeling of a concrete slab interacting with subsoil. This is a complex task for which a number of factors enter into the calculation, including the scope or dimension of the model, the non-linear solution approach, the choice of input parameters, and so forth. The aim of this article is to present one possible approach, which is based on a non-linear analysis and a three-dimensional computational model. Five slabs were chosen for modeling and analysis. The experiments involved slabs of 2000 × 2000 mm and a thickness of 150 mm, which were tested using specialized equipment. The slabs included a reinforced concrete slab, a standard concrete slab, and three fiber-reinforced concrete slabs. The fiber-reinforced slabs had fiber volume fractions of 0.32%, 0.64%, and 0.96%, which corresponded to fiber dosages of 25, 50, and 75 kg/m3. A reinforced concrete slab was chosen for the calibration model and the initial parametric study. The numerical modeling itself was based on a detailed evaluation of experiments, tests, and recommendations. The finite element method was used to solve the three-dimensional numerical model, where the fracture-plastic material of the model was used for concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete. In this paper, the performed numerical analyses are compared and evaluated, and recommendations are made for solving this problem.