INFLUENCE OF OPENINGS ON THE STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE OF ONE-WAY UHPFRC SLABS: A NUMERICAL STUDY

Abstract

This study performed a nonlinear finite element analysis on an ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) one-way reinforced concrete slab with openings. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the previously unstudied behavior of one-way UHPFRC slabs with slits of varying sizes and placements; additionally, a comprehensive comparison is made between the structural behavior of conventional concrete RC slabs and UHPFRC slabs. This study constructed and validated a finite element model (FEM) using the authors' experimental data. Ten models are included in this analysis: In this experimental investigation, the aperture widths and positions of the slabs are altered to determine their effect on the results. In the initial phase of this numerical investigation, a FEM was constructed, and its accuracy was validated against five experimental data, one of which is a closed-loop reference. ABAQUS was utilized for the analyses. Behavior under a total load, maximal load, and failure modes of the validated FEM using experimental data closely match those of the experiment. Due to the use of UHPFRC to reduce the impact of openings on load capacity, the finite element analysis results were very near to the test results, with an average error of 2.232%. Five specimens of UHPFRC were analyzed with finite elements using a validated analytical model and the results of load-displacement behaviors. The finite element method is ideal for investigating the nonlinear behavior of multi-perforated slabs due to its reliability and efficiency.