Numerical model of shear connection by concrete dowels

W. Lorenc, R. Ignatowicz, E. Kubica

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland

G. Seidl
Schmitt Stumpf Fruhaufund Partner (SSF), Germany

Keywords: concrete dowel, numerical model, shear connection, composite structures ABSTRACT: The VFT-WIB construction method represents a new technology in Europe using prefabricated composite beams with innovative type of shear force transfer mechanism. A new type of shear transmission the concrete dowel - allows composite girders without any upper steel ange and an enduring shear connection especially between high strength steel combined and high strength concrete. The concrete dowel is a coproduct from the processing of rolled beams in steel construction without any additional resource. Numerical models are necessary to investigate complex stress states in a concrete dowel, to predict the load-bearing capacity and also to develop the best dowel shape maximizing the shear force transferred in the composite connection. The nite element method is an adequate tool to satisfy this demand. A complex three-dimensional model is developed by using ABAQUS software to investigate this shear connection. Different element types and mesh types are taken into consideration. Different procedures of analysis are applied by comparing the implicit and the explicit processing method. The inuence of material nonlinearities of steel and concrete, contact interactions and embedded elements can be gured out. The results obtained from the nite element analysis is validated by experimental results obtained during push-out tests.

1 SHEAR TRANSMISSION WITH CONCRETE DOWELS The shear connection realized by concrete dowels, which appear between the cut steel web and the concrete, is applied to composite beams developed by SSF (Schmitt and Seidl 2006). As the concrete dowel (CD) is a spin-off product from the processing of rolled beams in steel construction, different cutting shapes are possible to obtain. A three-axial stress situation is generated in concrete dowels (conned concrete) which creates a high load-bearing capacity. Different shapes and dimensions are possible, which inuences the slip-behavior and load-bearing capacity of this connection. FEM is an economic and efcient method for parametrical studies to optimize the design unlike time-consuming experimental tests. However, numerical models are complex, the behavior is high-grade nonlinear and inuenced by many parameters. The aim of this paper is to present general approaches and values of variables which are necessary to dene.

2 EXPERIMENTAL STUDY Push-out models and then following tests conducted by Fink and Petraschek (2006) were the basis for the FEM study. Three fundamental concrete failure mechanisms characterize this shear connection (Zapfe2001): concrete crushing (local compression), pry-out of concrete coverage by a cone, concrete failure by shearing. The steel failure has also to be additionally considered. The proposed FE model, which is partly validated by experimental results, predicts this specic behavior of the structure. 3 NUMERICAL MODEL - GENERAL APPROACH A numerical model is generated with the objective of analyzing the structural behavior of the connection

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and determining the failure mechanisms. ABAQUS software was used (ABAQUS 2004). The numerical simulation of the connection with CD is complicated because of its complex geometry combined with a multiplicity of nonlmeanties. To establish an elementary model is complex, especially due to the concrete part of the connection which appears high-graded non-linear in whole load range. Therefore the following aspect are focused: the material nonlinearities, the contact interactions and the complex geometry. Push-out tests are an elementary method for determining the resistance and for studying the behavior of shear connector. Hence a numerical model of push-out test is created rst. Geometric and material properties of this numerical model correspond to the specimens tested by Fink and Petraschek (2006). Investigating the behavior of the model is possible by comparing it with experimental results. Some assumptions for FEM model are similar to the approach presented by Marecek et al. (2006) using ABAQUS software. Detailed descriptions of the software and the aspects of modeling abilities are omitted in this paper. 3.1 Geometrical model of push-out specimen Basically the model consisted of three parts: steel, concrete and reinforcement bars. The push-out specimen contains two symmetric planes. Symmetric boundary conditions are used and only % of specimen is modellised. This model is indicated 3P1, because three teeth of the push-out specimen are taken into consideration. Basically one element represents half of web thickness (plane 13 view) and the size of all the elements is similar. 3.2 Material models Nonlinear material laws are applied to the structural steel and to the concrete. A linear model is applied to reinforcement bars. The Mises criterion of isotropic hardening is implemented for construction steel and Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) -model (ABAQUS 2004) describes the concrete behavior. Important is, that no degradation of stiffness is applied as well as no decreasing part of tension curve appears - there is steady value of fct after cracking stress (Figure 2). It is constituted Substitute CDP model. A curve for uniaxial compression can be dened according to MC 90 (CEB-FIP, 1993). This concrete model is justied if an element is generally under compression. The decreasing part of the curve under tension results in local problems inside the concrete dowel and unreasonable post-failure behavior: The P-u curve is rapidly decreasing after the maximum load level. CDP material parameters are: - eccentricity e = 0.15 - dilation angle = 15 - Kc = 0.667
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Figure 1. Geometry of push-out (3P1) model: a) mesh, b) components.

The ratio of stresses b0 / c0 = 1.16 is assumed, fc ,fct , and Ec are then determined according to experimental results (concrete compression tests). 3.3 Interactions and boundary conditions (BCs) In the hard contact between steel and concrete is assumed a friction coefcient R = 0.3. The specimen in the model is supported at the bottom surface of concrete part (Figure 1a). The predetermined vertical displacement is applied to the upper surface of the horizontal steel plate. Therefore a rigid body is implemented. Hence displacement M2 (vertical displacement - Figure 1b) applies to a single point which denes the reference point at the intersection of the symmetry planes of push-out specimen. This displacement u2 is increasing from null to the U2 ,max which ranges from 3 [mm] to 10 [mm]. Caused by the symmetry of 1-2 and 2-3 plane appropriate symmetric boundary conditions are used. Hence load-slip relation (P-u curve) is dened by reaction force Pv2 versus displacement u2 measured in the reference point. 3.4 Finite elements In general the steel girder and the concrete part are modeled with continuum elements C3D8R because the explicit method is used in most of the ca-culations. Different element sizes are studied up to more than 106 elements for one model (3P4 model-four elements

Figure 2. Strain- stress relation (uniaxial) for concrete.

Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation 3, A. Zingoni (ed.)

along the half of web thickness). Reinforcement bars are modeled with beam elements B32 instead of truss elements because they enable dowel action according to MC 90 (CEB-FIP, 1993). This difference inuences the behavior and load capacity of the structure. Hence trusses do not seem to be the appropriate solution. The beam elements are embedded in the concrete elements and the appropriate BCs are prescribed to their end in 1-2 plane. 3.5 Analysis procedures Two different methods are common (ABAQUS 2004) for solving numerical problems: implicit method (ABAQUS/Standard) and explicit method (ABAQUS/Explicit). Both approaches are applied and compared due to the ability to solve the problem and the efciency of calculation. Finally explicit method was chosen as the favorable method to solve problem concerning concrete dowels. In ABAQUS/Explicit approach the time incrementation is controlled by the stability limit of the central difference operator. This procedure is efcient for large models and for the analysis of extremely discontinuous events or processes. If the explicit method is used smooth step curve was applied for displacement u2 of reference point and time period was set to ttot = 0,01 [sec]. Contact interactions with kinematic contact method and default weighting factor is implemented in the solution. The ttot value is very important and extensive study was conducted to set this value properly. Furthermore the implicit method is used in a comparative study. 3.6 Results and conclusions of the comparative studies Selected results are presented in Figure 3. The comparison of FEM results with experimental results conrms that the generated push-out model represents the behavior in the push-out tests quite well. The load capacity of the connection is depending on the conning effect of concrete by the reinforcement bars. Also the BCs are important as well as the concrete material law. It is stated that decreasing part of concrete law (tension) used with CDP model by default results in a local failure mechanism. On the other hand this numerical problem does not appear in the real structure. This simplication has to be investigated in an additional study, but currently this proposed model solves the problem of numerical local failure in a convenient way. The number of elements and their size dont inuence postfailure capacity. But a smaller size of the elements results in early starting failure mechanism. The model with a coarse mesh gures out a rapidly decreasing part of P-u curve and a higher load capacity is reached. On the other hand this model is more convergent with the experimental values of the push-out tests. The implementation of constant part of the curve describing the concrete law under tension
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Figure 3. Push-out model results: a) Mises stress, b) u2 displacements, c) additional plate which enables modeling of contact support, d) Mises stress (yielded steel) for 3P4 model (with high number of elements).

solves the problem of local failure mechanism. Furthermore it can be justied only if the model has to be mainly compressed in u2 direction without large tensioned blocks which overestimate capacity. So it is very important to dene appropriate BCs and sometimes additional contact interaction elements (Figure 3 c) are necessary, especially for models which have large cross-sectional area in plane 1-3 compared to height of model. It is obvious, that many parameters can inuence the behavior of the model, e.g. time period ttot , variables and coefcients in concrete CDP model, the size of elements, BCs etc. A simplied model is necessary to derive from which parameters the structural behavior is inuenced. Therefore different material laws are combined and the failure mechanisms are evaluated due to inuence of the parameters. The following combinations are investigated: NLsNLc (nonlinear steel/nonlinear concrete) NLsLc (nonlinear steel/linear concrete) LsNLc (linear steel/nonlinear concrete). 4 ONE-DOWEL MODEL The general approach to calculate the shear transmission of CD is a one-steel-tooth-model embedded in reinforced concrete. Appropriate boundary conditions and interactions are necessary to represent the behav1141

Figure 6. One-dowel models (1D1) for ttot calculations: a) puzzle-shape (mesh), b) shark-shape (parts).

Figure 4. One-dowel model (1D) - geometry and BCs.

ior of the structure. The geometry and the boundary conditions are shown in Figure 4 and interactions are dined in Figure 5. The idea is that Part 1 moves parallel to axis 1 with respect to Part 2 and bottom surface of Part 1 is xed with rigid body to reference point (RP) where appropriate boundary conditions (BC3) are prescribed: u2 = r3 = 0 and u1 is increasing up to value u1,max during analysis. Half of the structure is modeled (t = tw /2, where tw is web thickness), hence symmetry BCs in plane 1-2 are applied (BC1) to all nodes of model placed in this symmetry plane. Reinforcements (Part 4) are embedded in Part 2. Important point is to enable vertical movement of Part 2 (along axis 2) just to take uplift into consideration. Also appropriate conned concrete effect must be ensured at surface 2A, but boundary conditions u1 = u2 = u3 = 0 are not a reasonable solution, as well as BC u1 = 0 (no conned concrete effect). Hence specic solution in form of stiff plate xed with BC2 (u1 = u2 = u3 = 0) and connected

with model by means of Interaction 3 was proposed (contact, R = 0.3 is suggested). This solution ensures both uplift effect as well as conned concrete effect considered. For this model following dimensions are suggested: B = hc = 1.5 h, L = 2.5e. An important point is to establish the minimum acceptable total time, if explicit method is used. This time should be estimated corresponding to the rst eigenfrequency. Therefore a model without any contact interactions has to be used. Hence a model consisting of all parts with tie constraint (Figure 6: red color of puzzle-shape) is analyzed. Time tM = 0,01s is proposed for 1D model. Results of comparative FEM study are presented in Figure 7 to justify the value ttot = 0,01 [s]. Therefore the identical model was analyzed using explicit method with different ttat values as well as implicit method. The contact formulations are changed for the implicit model (without any inuence on the behavior). Model assumptions to simplify: - Omitting of Part 3 (BC u1 = u2 = u3 = 0 directly on surface 2A) - Omitting of Part 4 (reinforcement) For instance the puzzle shape with e = 100 mm, h = 50 mm - and tw = 20 mm was analyzed (Figure 6a). One model (serie 1) was solved with contact interaction and the others (series 2-9) were solved with tie constraint between steel and concrete in

Figure 5. One-dowel model (1D) - parts and interactions.

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Figure 7. P-u curves (1D1) for different ttot values in the reference point.
Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation 3, A. Zingoni (ed.)

Figure 8. P-u curves (1D1 shark shape) for different ttot values.

Figure 10. Energy balance (1D1 shark shape) for ttot calculations.

compressed zone as presented in Figure 6 (red color). Three different ttot values for explicit method were assumed: 0.001s, 0.01s and 0.1s and additionally problem was solved by means of standard method (that is why contact interaction was replaced by tie), also two different material congurations (NLsNLc and NLsLc) were considered. Figure 7 gures out that ttot = 0,01s is the appropriate value (ttot = 0,001s is too short). The results for this value dont diverge in a wide range in comparison to tm = 0,1s. Stress layouts resulting of the standard method are similar. This conclusion concerns NLsNLc and NLsLc congurations. The inuence of tm is definitely more important if NLc conguration is used (important if concrete determines capacity of connection). The assumption of long time ttot is always favourable (Figure 7). A one-dowel sharkn-shape model was analyzed. Complex 1D1 model (one element per half of web thickness) was considered including four parts with contact interactions and a NLsNLc material conguration. For geometry see Figure 6b, P-u curves are presented in Figure 8. Obviously a short time value increases the load capacity of the model by the same displacement. There is no convergence with increasing time values. The comparison of von Mises stress and displacements

Figure 11. Eccentricity e: P-u curves (1D1), R = 0,

= 0.

of the model of different values (tm ,2 = 0,01 s and tm ,4 = 0,08 s) is presented. Results (u1 , u2 , Mises) for tm ,2 = 0,01 s and tm ,4 = 0,08 s for the same displacement are presented in Figure 9. The stresses and the displacements are analyzed for a rst time step. Mises stress values in steel do not exceed yield point value. The results obtained with tu,t,2 = 0,01 s fulll the expectations (Figure 9: a, b, c). In contrast, the results obtained with tm,4 = 0,08 s are contrary to expectations (Figure 9: d, e, f). In that case (ttot ,4 = 0,08[s]) unexpected movement of material appears in the steel part, clearly noticeable as Mises stress concentration at the very beginning of load range and it affects the behavior of the whole model in following load steps. Energy balance shown in Figure 10 (ALLIE = internal energy; ALLKE = kinetic energy). If the kinetic energy of the deformed material does not exceed a small fraction of its internal energy (typically 5%10%) except early stages of simulation, all tests can be treated as quasistatic. Especially for the value tm ,4 = 0,08 s the results are not correspond-

Figure 9. . Results (1D1 shark shape) for different Rvalues: ttot,2 = 0,01 s (a, b, c) and ttotA = 0,08 s (d, e, f), Mises stress (a, d), u1 (b, e) and u2 (c, f).
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Figure 12. Dilation ang. : P-M curves (1D1), R = 0.3, e = 0,15.

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For other purposes, eg. P-u cur 1D1 (3P1) model is sufcient. 5 CONCLUSION The numerical models 3P and 1D are up to model the complex nonlinear behavior of concrete dowel shear connection. CDP model substitudes the concrete under certain circumstances (with constant instead of decreasing tension part for uniaxial stress-strain relationship) with values: Kc = 0.667, b0 / c0 = 1.16, = 15 and e = 0.15. Friction coefcient between steel and concrete is recommended with the value R = 0.3. For the use of the explicit method tm = 0,01s value can be assumed for 1D models. Other material models should be also considered for the concrete in region under high conning pressure. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Figure 14. Inuence of fct .

Figure 13. Friction coef. R: P-u curves (1D1),

= 15, e = 0,15,.

ing to the tests and the expected (logical) behavior of the structure. For the setting of the value tm it is necessary to work out a comparative study (eg. ABAQUS/Standard). A similar approach is to simulate the behavior of CD with different ttot values and to check the layout of stresses and displacements. Furtheremore, the value tm = 0,0 1s seems to be justied for 1D models just as well as tm = 0,01 s up to 0,1 s is reasonable for 3P models. As mentioned at item 3.6, it is desirable to check the inuence of CDP model parameters and friction coefcient R on the behavior of model. Additional 1D model is created (1D1 shark shape, tm = 0,01 s) with some simplications in order to set CDP material parameters: eccentricity e, dilation angle , inuence of fct and also friction coefcient R (Figures 11-14). The inuence of/* (Figure 14) is presented f similar model to the one presented in Figure 6a. The size/number of elements is important if c tact pressure is studied in detail and for the anal of local stress state in this contact region (mo 1D4 and 3P4).

The authors would like to thank Dr. Lubomir On-dris (TU Vienna) for valuable discussion concerning problems presented in the paper (Ondris 2006). The support of the Wroclaw Centre for Networking and Supercomputing is acknowledged. REFERENCES
Zapfe, C., 2001. Trag- und Verformungsverhalten von Verbundtragern mit Betondubeln zu Ubertra-gung der Langsschubkrafte, Doctoral thesis, Univer-sitat der Bundeswehr, Munchen, Fink, J., Petraschek, T., 2006. Push-out tests VFT-VIB statish. Neubau StraBenbriicke bei Vigaun OBB Strecke Salzburg Worgl km 23,135. Tech-nishe Universitat Wien. Schmitt V., Seidl G., Hever M. 2005. Composite bridges with the VFT-WIB construction method -robust and long lasting, Compendium Eurosteel, Maastricht, Netherlands. Marecek, J., Chromiak, P., Studnicka, J., Numerical model of perforated shear connector, Progress in Steel, Composite and Aluminium Structures. CEB-FIP Model Code 1990, Th. Telford, 1993. ABAQUS Online Documentation, Version 6.5, 2004. Ondris L., Institute of Steel Structures, TU Vienna: Private Communication 2006-2007.

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