Finite Element Modeling of Cyclic Behavior of a Reinforced Concrete Chimney Section

In this study, a numerical model was presented to simulate the experimental behavior obtained for a reinforced concrete chimney section. The purpose of the previous experimental investigation conducted for the chimney section was to evaluate the effect of large openings on the cyclic response in order to reveal the performance of such structures under seismic loads. A detailed finite element model of the chimney section was constructed and all of the reinforcements of the chimney were directly taken into account by line element representations. The volume of the concrete chimney shell was modeled with hexahedral elements. A bi-linear material model was used for the reinforcements. A crucial step in the finite element approach was to employ a constitutive material model that took the multi-axial state of stress and confinement effects in concrete into account. The Winfrith concrete material model of the commercial LS-Dyna structural code was chosen for the shell of the chimney section. Comparisons of the results of the finite element study with the experimental measurements showed a good agreement for the base moment-displacement response and crack formations around the opening regions of the chimney section.