Title: Stress analysis of a singly reinforced concrete beam with uncertain structural parameters

Authors: M.V. Rama Rao, Andrzej Pownuk, Iwona Skalna

Addresses: Department of Computer Science, Katholike Universiteit Leuven, 200 A, Celestijnenlaan, Leuven, Belgium. ' Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue El Paso, TX 79968, USA. ' Department of Applied Computer Science, University of Science and Technology AGH, ul. Gramatyka 10, Cracow, Poland

Abstract: This paper presents the effect of interval uncertainty of input parameters in the stress analysis of reinforced concrete flexural members. A singly reinforced concrete beam with interval values of steel reinforcement and corresponding Young|s modulus and subjected to an interval bending moment is taken up for analysis. The internal moment of resistance of the beam is expressed as a function of interval values of stresses in concrete and steel. The internal moment of resistance is equated to the external bending moment due to interval loads acting on the beam. The stresses in concrete and steel are obtained as interval values for various combinations of interval values of structural parameters. The interval stresses and strains in concrete and steel obtained using combinatorial solution, search-based algorithm, sensitivity analysis and interval global optimisation are found to be in excellent agreement.

Keywords: interval uncertainty; strains; stresses; stress distribution; stress analysis; combinatorial solution; sensitivity analysis; search-based algorithm; global optimisation; singly reinforced concrete beams; steel reinforcement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2009.026848

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2009 Vol.3 No.1/2/3, pp.307 - 329

Published online: 27 Jun 2009 *

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