Steel reinforced concrete elastic modulus help

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the elastic modulus of steel reinforced concrete for use in a SolidWorks material profile. Participants explore the complexities of combining the properties of steel and concrete, as well as methods for calculating the composite material's elastic modulus.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about which elastic modulus value to use for steel reinforced concrete, noting the need to consider both steel and concrete properties.
  • Another participant suggests using the "Rule of Mixtures" to estimate the elastic modulus of the composite material, emphasizing that it is based on volume fractions of the materials involved.
  • A later reply introduces the concept of the 'equivalent section' to transform either steel or concrete into an equivalent section of the other, mentioning the ratio of elastic moduli and the need for simultaneous maximum allowable stress.
  • There is a question regarding the type of reinforcement being discussed, whether rods or fibers, which may influence the calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to calculate the elastic modulus of steel reinforced concrete, and multiple approaches are proposed without agreement on their applicability.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of combining material properties and the potential need for additional information about the type of reinforcement used, which may affect the calculations.

taylaron
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I'm inputing data into a SolidWorks material profile, but I'm having difficulty determining the value of the elastic modulus (psi) of steel reinforced concrete

i'm looking at the following source for material properties:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pccp/pubs/05081/chapt3.cfm [for elastic modulus of concrete and steel rebar]
Here it gives young's modulus of concrete and the value for the rebar.

"Young's modulus of concrete at 28 d, Ec,28 (GPa (x 106 lbf/in2)) 33.10 (4.80)1 and 34.48 (5.0)2

Young's modulus of steel rebar (GPa (x 106 lbf/in2)) 200.00 (29.00)"

I'm confused because steel reinforced concrete combines both steel and concrete, which value or at what proportions do I use? Of course the whole point of adding steel is to make the concrete less elastic, so obviously I can't use concrete, but I obviously can't use just steel either. See my dilemma?

Also I don't understand how to obtain psi from "(GPa (x 106 lbf/in2)) 33.10 (4.80)1 and 34.48 (5.0)2" either.

Thanks for your help,

-Tay
 
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Thoughts anybody?
 
One way to calculate mechanical properties, such as young modulus, of reinforced materials is to use the "Rule of Mixtures":

"Rule of Mixtures is a method of approach to approximate estimation of composite material properties, based on an assumption that a composite property is the volume weighed average of the phases (matrix and dispersed phase) properties."

http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=estimations_of_composite_materials_properties

For longitudinal direction:

E_{\mbox{composite}} = E_{\mbox{mat1}}*V_{\mbox{mat1}}<br /> + E_{\mbox{mat2}}*V_{\mbox{mat2}}

where V_{\mbox{mat1}} and V_{\mbox{mat2}} are the volume fractions of the materials on the composite.

however I am not sure if it can be used on reinforced concrete problems.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TWM-4CS4S6P-4&_user=10&_coverDate=11/30/2004&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1260370583&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=849c74eae802eee3b22e8ff930c063be
 
Edit just noticed the date of the original post.


If you are going to do it that way you need the 'equivalent section' concept.

You transform either the steel or the concrete to an equivalent section of the other, using the ratio of elastic moduli as 15:1 and the fact that you want both to reach maximum allowable stress simultaneously.

The actual calculation proceedure depends upon the structural nature of the problem, and the materials.

What sort of reinforcement do you mean, rods or fibres?
 
Last edited:

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