A numerical method to generate optimal load paths in plain and reinforced concrete structures

A numerical method based on topology optimization is proposed to generate optimal strut-only models for structures made of plain concrete and optimal strut-and-tie models for concrete structures where fixed regions of reinforcement are prescribed. Assuming concrete as a hyper-elastic material carrying only compression, both the inherently nonlinear equilibrium equation and the energy-based topology optimization problem are solved within the same minimization procedure. Numerical simulations investigate load paths within the two-dimensional domain in case of conventional rebar cages. A stress diffusion problem is considered as well. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.