SHEAR ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED-CONCRETE SHELLS USING DEGENERATE ELEMENTS

The paper presents a formulation of degenerate shell finite elements w hich take into account three-dimensional states of stress and strain t hroughout the element. The formulation was developed with the aim of m odelling reinforced concrete shell structures subjected to high transv erse shear stresses. It requires implementation of a three-dimensional constitutive model for concrete and it allows to use out-of-plane rei nforcement in the elements. Through the consideration of three-dimensi onal stress states, the elements can model the influence of;in;plane s tresses on transverse shear deformations and the influence of transver se shear stresses on the capacity of shell structures. The formulation was verified against experimental results. The specimens analyzed wer e shell panels subjected to out-of-plane (transverse) and in-plane she ar and reinforced concrete shells subjected to punching shear. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ltd and Civil-Comp Ltd. All rights reserved.