Reinforced concrete membrane elements subjected to reversed cyclic in-plane shear stress

A macroscopic model has become noticeable instead of a microscopic model by FEM analysis for concrete structures. Among them the model proposed by Vecchio and Collins is considered to be one of the powerful tools because of its rationalility and simplicity. The essential point of this model is a modified compression theory of cracked concrete and the stress-strain relationship for cracked concrete.This paper follows basically Collins' theory but is revised so as to be able to predict the response of reinforced concrete elements subjected to alternate reversed cyclic in-plane shear simulating earthquake forces. The overall characteristics of the new model exist in the tensile residual strains accumulated by cycles in cracked concrete, which is different from the monotonic loading.