INVESTIGATION OF OBJECTIVITY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE FEM TO RC STRUCTURES .2.

The achievement of stability in the FE analysis of RC structures by th e use of a numerical technique is described in a companion paper (see part 1). Here, the objectivity of analysis is investigated. To do so, it is necessary to compare the experimental results of a wide range of structural members with their analytical results while considering un ique assumptions at the material level, Therefore, in this investigati on in addition to the Ottosen models, failure criterion and stress-str ain relationships, unique formulations have been utilized to present p ost-crack behaviour for crack opening and crack closing. Three separat e structural forms are investigated: shear walls, shear panels and var ious types of deep and shallow beams. Analytical results can be truste d if, and only if, objectivity is not violated. In the evaluation of t he objectivity of analysis, the variables by which the analytical resu lts are compared include the mesh definition, tolerance of convergence , load step size, boundary conditions and so forth. The limitations of the mesh system with regard to the compatibility of the smeared crack ing proposal with the reality of crack separation is also discussed.