Generation of Strut-and-Tie Models and Stress Fields for Structural Concrete

Abstract

Strut-and-tie models are principally the discretized stress fields, which simplify the dimensioning and detailing of reinforced concrete members. The computational generation of stress fields currently relies on finite element analysis or optimization methods. This research addresses the limitations of optimization algorithms in producing reasonable strut-and-tie configurations. The computational procedure of this paper utilizes layout optimization and graphic statics cooperatively to create strut-andtie models and stress fields for two-dimensional cases. The presented examples demonstrate the capabilities of the mentioned methods to produce some desired results for two-dimensional scenarios and suggest a similar approach to solve the strut-and-tie problem for three-dimensional cases.