Concrete is commonly strengthened with steel rebar to enhance its structural strength. However, the differing mechanical properties of concrete and steel pose challenges in accurately modeling the failure of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Numerical modeling plays a crucial role in preventing failures during the design phase. This study extends our previous mesh-less structural solver, which utilizes the lattice particle method (LPM) combined with a local isotropic damage model, to simulate crack propagation in RC structures. The initiation of damage in concrete is modeled using the Drucker-Prager yield surface, while the steel reinforcement is modeled using J2 plasticity with isotropic hardening. The aim of this study is to validate the solver by comparing its results with experimental data, particularly in terms of crack patterns and load-displacement behavior. The developed solver is applied to simulate the Stuttgart shear test, where an RC beam undergoes 4-point bending. The crack patterns and load-displacement curves obtained from the simulation closely match experimental and other numerical findings. Additionally, the structural model is integrated with a fluid model based on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) to simulate the fracturing of concrete structures under floodwater force. This study demonstrates the promising potential of LPM in predicting failures in RC structures.
 

Lattice Particle Method,mesh-less modelling,reinforced concrete,smoothed particle hydrodynamics,crack propagation