Features of bond-slip relations: 3D finite element analysis based on tests of short RC ties

The interaction between concrete and reinforcement is highly complex and is of fundamental importance for predicting the behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. While the interaction of the two materials is often characterised by a bond – slip law, there are currently no such laws capable of accurately predicting serviceability characteristics, such as deflection, crack spacing, and width. This paper examines the effect of various parameters on the shape of bond – slip relation at loads before yielding of reinforcement. The study is based on a mesoscopic numerical analysis, utilizing the finite element method along with a friction cohesive zone model to explore the bond-slip phenomena in short RC ties. The numerical model is combined with an experimental campaign involving six short concrete ties reinforced with 20 mm bars. Steel strain profiles were monitored within the reinforcement using electrical strain gauges. These experimental steel strain profiles served as a robust tool for controlling and calibrating numerical models. The numerical models employed solid finite elements to simulate both reinforcement and concrete, with special zero-thickness plain elements applied to simulate the friction cohesive contact at the steel-concrete interface. Bond-slip relations were obtained from the numerically modelled reinforcement strain profiles. It was shown that concrete strains can be ignored when assessing slip. The effect of the embedded length of reinforcement under the fully confined conditions was demonstrated to have little effect on bond-slip relations. It was also shown that the maximum bond stress is strongly related to the thickness of the concrete cover. The effect of load intensity on the bond – slip behaviour was investigated. It was shown that under full confinement, the initial bond stiffness was not affected by load intensity. However, degradation of bond stiffness with increasing load due to internal cracking took place in the RC ties with a small cover/diameter ratio.