Short-term deflections of RC members: codes versus FE modeling

Abstract

The paper statistically investigates accuracy of predictions of short-term deflections/curvatures. The comparative study was based on the predictions made by design codes (Eurocode 2, ACI318 and SP 52-101) and numerical technique (FEpackage ATENA). Two analyses, i.e. including and excluding shrinkage occurring prior to loading, have been performed using ATENA software. Accuracy of deflection/curvature predictions varied significantly with change in load intensity and reinforcement ratio, i.e. it was improving with increasing of latter parameters. Therefore, separate analyses were performed for members divided into three reinforcement ratio intervals: p ≤ 0.4; 0.4 <p≤0.8 andp > 0.8. Strikingly different results were obtained for the members with minimal reinforcement ratio. Another point of sharp contrast was significantly larger prediction scatter at early cracking stages.