Objectivity and Consistency of the Cracking Response of RC Beams with Conventional Models

This study addresses model objectivity and consistency in the finite element analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) beams, with a particular focus on bond-slip effects.Classical beam finite element models often assume a perfect bond between concrete and steel reinforcement, leading to inaccuracies in simulating crack initiation and propagation.The behaviors of both displacement-based (DB) and force-based (FB) beam models are explored.Fracture energy-based regularization techniques are used to address mesh dependency and the limitations of the plane section assumption.The paper presents a detailed analysis of perfect-bond and bond-slip models within the DB and FB frameworks, highlighting their effectiveness in capturing the complex interactions in RC structures.Through practical applications and test cases, the performances of the above models are investigated, emphasizing the importance of upgrading existing models and their capability to predict structural behavior in presence of cracking 1