Theoretical analysis of stress-strain behavior of multi-layer RC beams under flexure

In this study, obtaining theoretical stress-strain curves and determining the parameters defining the equivalent rectangular stress block were aimed for 3 and 4-layered rectangular Reinforced Concrete (RC) cross-sections subjected to flexure. For these aims, the analytical stress-strain model proposed by Hognestad was chosen for the concrete grades (20 MPa ≤ fck≤60 MPa) used in this study. The tensile strength of the concrete was neglected and the thickness of the concrete layers in the compression zone of the concrete cross-section was taken as equal. In addition, while concrete strength was kept constant within each layer, concrete strengths belonging to separate layers were increased from the neutral axis towards the outer face of the compression zone of the concrete cross-section. After the equivalent rectangular stress block parameters were determined by numerical iterations, variations of these parameters depending on concrete strength in layers and layer numbers were obtained. Finally, some analytical equations have been proposed to predict the equivalent stress block parameters for the 3 and 4-layered RC cross-sections and validities of these proposed equations were shown by different metrics in this study.