AN EVALUATION OF CONSTITUTIVE MODELS OF CONCRETE IN LS-DYNA FINITE ELEMENT CODE

Abstract eng:
Dynamic non-linear finite element methods are extensively used to analyze vehicle-to-barrier crashes. The underlying challenge in this analysis is the capability of the constitutive models of concrete to represent a realistic response of the barrier under impact loading. LS-DYNA, a commercial FE code for crashworthiness analysis offers four major constitutive models for concrete. The performance of each of these models is assessed by making a comparison between numerical simulations and some benchmark stress-strain data, obtained from triaxial experiments conducted on plain concrete. Two of the constitutive models failed to produce realistic simulations beyond the elastic range. The smooth transition to non-linear regime and the observed post-peak response of concrete were well captured by Material Model 16 and 72, which relies heavily on a set of empirically obtained curves. Using the calibrated material models, a vehicular impact/crash scenario is then simulated to investigate the prediction of these constitutive models for the concrete barriers subjected to vehicular impact. The findings of the triaxial compression and vehicle-to-barrier crash test simulations are discussed along with the shortcomings of the constitutive models for concrete in LS-DYNA code.

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