Deformation Capacity of the Concrete

Compression Zone Stress-Strain Curves

for Nonlinear Calculation
Julian Meyer1

Summary
The correct determination of deformation capacity of a structural member will
become more important in the future since nonlinear design methods will be used
more often. This report deals with the examination of deformation capacity of the
concrete compression zone. The influence of size and the effect of transversal
reinforcement of prisms under eccentric compression on their deformation
capacity was studied in a test series. Three different sizes of eccentrically loaded
prisms which should represent the compression zone of a beam under 4-pointbending, three different concrete strengths and two different ratios of transversal
reinforcement were tested. The Biegedruckzonen (BDZ) - Model was developed to
describe the behavior of the test specimens under flexural compression among
others taking into account localization of failure in a damage zone and the effect
of transversal reinforcement on ductility. Stress-strain curves to carry out
nonlinear calculations related to concrete strength, dimension of compression
zone and transversal reinforcement ratio were derived from this model.

Dipl.-Ing., Institut fr Massivbau und Baustofftechnologie, Universitt Leipzig

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1

INTRODUCTION

An important requirement for the safety of a structure is to take advantage of

redistribution of inner forces while using nonlinear calculations. The correct
determination of deformation capacity is prerequisite for this. As it is supposed
that beams with constant concrete strength, reinforcement ratio and slenderness
behave more brittle with increasing depth, the values for the ultimate strain of
concrete, given by the design codes without a relation to size, have to be checked
especially for very large cross-sectional sizes. The question arises if a definition
of a stress-strain law that is related to the depth of the compression zone or at
least a regulation of the ultimate concrete strain related to depth will be necessary
to carry out nonlinear calculations. This is due to the accurate utilization of
deformation capacity, which becomes more relevant for safety when using
nonlinear design methods.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM AND TEST RESULTS

An experimental program was carried out on concrete prisms under eccentric

compressive loading. The prism should represent the concrete compression zone
of a beam under 4-point-bending. Tests on eccentrically loaded test specimens to
examine the strength of the concrete compression zone were carried out already
by Rsch et al. [1] in the 50s in order to avoid expensive tests on over reinforced
full-scale beams.
A detailed description of the first part of the series of tests performed with
concrete specimens without transversal reinforcement is given in [2].
The dimensions of the specimens were varied in the ratio 1:2:3 for the height and
the depth. The width was kept constant over all dimensions. Three different
concrete strengths were tested without reinforcement. The indication of the
concrete strength is related to the average strength determined with cylinders
150/300. Specimens with concrete strength C40 were tested with transversal
reinforcement. Reinforcement ratio =0,5% corresponds to stirrups 10mm,
sb=20cm and reinforcement ratio =1.0% corresponds to stirrups 10mm,
sb=10cm. At least three specimens of a certain type were tested to obtain reliable
results.
The specimens were loaded between two steel traverses in order to apply a strain
gradient. The eccentricity of the load was kept constant over all dimensions with
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Stress-Strain Curves for Nonlinear Calculation
e=0,1*d. The load was applied under controlled deformation using two LVDTs in
the level with the most compressed fiber of the specimen. The strain rate
(d/dt=0.001/10min) was unchanged for all dimensions.

d/h

without transversal reinforcement

C25
C40
C60

C40, with transv. reinf.

=0.5%
=1.0%

[cm/cm]
16/40

32/80

48/120

Table 1: List of executed experiments

The next two pictures show typical crack patterns of the test specimens after the
deformation controlled test. The relation of the size of the damage zone to the
dimension of the test specimen decreases with increasing depth of the concrete
compression zone. It was observed for the small test specimens that nearly the
full height is involved into the damage (Fig. 1) whereas the length of the damage
zone of the larger specimen is about half as long as its height (Fig. 2). This is a
sign for a size dependence since the deformation localizes in a certain damage
zone which length in relation to depth of the concrete compression zone is
becoming smaller.
For both unconfined specimens of different concrete strength and specimens with
confinement reinforcement of concrete strength C40 a decrease of strain with
increasing depth of the concrete compression zone was determined. According to
the definition of EC 2, Part 1 the ultimate strain of the concrete cu is reached for
the maximum load bearing capacity of the concrete compression zone. In so far
the determination of the ultimate strain cu of the test specimens was carried out
according to this idea. Also the experimental results of the specimens with
confinement reinforcement show a decrease of strain with increasing depth of the
concrete compression zone. Due to small lateral strains the stirrups became
activated not before passing maximum load.

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Fig. 1: Specimen made of C40 without transversal reinforcement, d=16cm; south and east view

Fig. 2: Specimen made of C40 without transversal reinforcement, d=48cm; south and east view

In the descending branch of the load-deformation curve the stirrups become

activated because the progressing damage leads to larger lateral deformation.
Thus the size dependence is reduced due to an enhanced ductility of the large test
specimens.
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Stress-Strain Curves for Nonlinear Calculation

strain cu [E-03]

-6,0

-4,0

C 25
C 40-0
C 60
Linear (C 25)
Linear (C 40-0)
Linear (C 60)

-2,0

0,0
0

20

40

60

depth of compression zone x [cm]

Fig. 3: Ultimate concrete strain cu over depth of the compression zone x, determined for max. v,
specimens without transversal reinforcement
-6,0

strain cu [E-03]

-4,0
C 40-0
C40-0.5
C 40-1.0
Linear (C 40-0)
Linear (C40-0.5)
Linear (C 40-1.0)

-2,0

0,0
0

20
40
60
depth of compression zone x [cm]

Fig. 4: Ultimate concrete strain cu over depth of the compression zone x, determined for max. v,
specimens of concrete strength C40 with transversal reinforcement

The next figure shows the effect of transversal reinforcement on the strainloading degree relationship in the descending branch. Immediately after the
maximum load the deformation capacity of the specimens with stirrups increases
compared to the specimens without transversal reinforcement. In other words

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regarding a certain strain in the most compressed fiber specimens with transversal
reinforcement show a higher load-bearing capacity in the post-peak region.

strain c [E-03]

-6,0

-4,0

C 40-0

-2,0

C 40-0.5
C 40-1.0

0,0
1,05

0,95
0,9
Fc / max Fc [-]

0,85

0,8

Fig. 5: Strain in the level with the most compressed fiber of the specimens d=48cm related to the
degree of loading in the post peak region; mean values out of three specimens each

Regarding the experimental results, it is obvious that the ultimate strain cu of the
compression zone is related to the strain gradient and thus to the depth of the
compression zone x. So the deformation capacity of the concrete compression
zone of a structural member under flexure is size-dependent. But the size
dependence isnt as strong as supposed in the past. The idea that the ultimate
strain of concrete for large depth of concrete compression zone equals the
ultimate strain of a concentrically loaded specimen would have led to a small
cu=-0,0022.
A low ratio of transversal reinforcement helps to increase the ductility in the post
peak region. But a small distance between the single stirrups is the prerequisite
for improved ductility.

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Deformation Capacity of the Concrete Compression Zone

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3

MODELING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CONCRETE COMPRESSION ZONE

As mentioned before localization of deformation was observed in a certain

damage zone. Outside this damage zone the concrete seemed to be still
mechanically intact after execution of the experiment.
So, the overall deformation is composed of two parts, one part for the damage
zone and the second part for the area outside.
In the damage zone the material behavior of the specimens without transversal
reinforcement can be described with the Compression Damage Zone Model [3].
This model is based on fracture mechanics taking into account the two failure
modes of concrete under compression. In the descending branch the stress-strain
curve of concrete is determined from a tensile mode of failure and a shearing
mode of failure. While the first failure mode is caused by the development of
tensile splitting cracks in the direction of the applied load the second is due to the
development of an inclined shear band.
As seen from the tests a transversal reinforcement helps to increase ductility in
the post-peak region after passing the maximum load in a deformation controlled
test. Regarding the energy consumed in the transversal reinforcement due to
lateral deformation of the test specimen its effect on the descending branch of the
stress-strain curve can be taken into account. With respect to the two
aforementioned failure modes transversal reinforcement only prevent from free
longitudinal tensile cracking in a certain core, confined effectively by the
transversal reinforcement.
Concerning the overall deformation of a structure the behavior of the material
outside the damage zone mustnt be disregarded. Beyond maximum load damage
localizes in the aforementioned damage zone whereas the material outside this
zone remains undestroyed. In these areas both stress and strain decrease in the
descending branch of the load-deformation curve.
So the proposed Biegedruckzonen (BDZ) - Model [4] is composed of four
modules. The stress-strain curve given in the EC 2 [5] for executing nonlinear
calculations is applied for the description of the behavior of the ascending branch
up to the maximum compressive stress. The behavior in the damage zone of the
concrete without transversal reinforcement is described by the CDZ-Model. The
behavior of a concrete compression zone with transversal reinforcement is
described by both an approach for the part of the confined cross-section and the
behavior of the pure concrete outside. After passing maximum load deformation
increases only in the damage zone due to progressive loading. Outside this
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damage zone release of stress starts linear elastically from a certain stress
distribution at maximum load.

Fig. 6: Modules of the Biegedruckzonen-Modell

For example the brittle behavior with sudden failure of the large specimens made
of concrete C60 can be explained using the model. In contrast to the large
specimens small and medium sized specimens of concrete strength C60 were
tested in a stable deformation controlled test.

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Deformation Capacity of the Concrete Compression Zone

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The deformation in the damage zone still increases beyond the maximum load.
But in the part of concrete outside the damage zone the strain is reduced due to
relaxation. This can be explained especially for the large specimens as the
relation of length of the damage zone to the total length of the specimen
decreases. Thus, the total deformation of the specimen becomes too small in order
to execute a stable deformation controlled test.

load-strain curves S1-48-C60-0

L1 und L5
4,5

L1-1
L5-1
L1-2
L5-2
L1-3
L5-3
BDZ
BDZ

load [MN]

3,6
2,7
1,8
0,9
0,0
4,0

2,0

0,0

-2,0
strain [E-03]

-4,0

-6,0

-8,0

Fig. 7: Sudden failure of a large test specimen d=48cm made of C60 recorded with a video camera;
calculation with the BDZ-Modell and load-strain curves of the test specimens

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4

STRESS-STRAIN CURVES FOR NONLINEAR CALCULATION

Stress-strain curves to describe the behavior of the concrete compression zone in

the damage zone were derived from the model presented before. Just when the
maximum load bearing capacity is reached for the concrete compression zone it
has to be distinguished between behavior inside and outside the damage zone.
The course of the proposed stress-strain curve is composed of two parts. Up to
compressive strength the material behavior in the ascending branch is described
by the stress-strain curve given in the EC 2, Part 1. The descending branch is
given by a straight line between the compressive strength fc and the stress c*.

Fig. 8: Course of the proposed stress-strain curve

1,0
normalized stress
0,8

0,6
ka

0,4
capacity

0,2
0,0
0

3
strain [E-03]

Fig. 9: Characteristic parameters of the stress-strain curve

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Deformation Capacity of the Concrete Compression Zone

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As a rule c* LV GHILQHG DV c*=0,75fc. This value enables the realization of the
maximum load bearing capacity for all regarded combinations of concrete
strength, depth of concrete compression zone, etc. For higher ratios of transversal
reinforcement c* may be larger than 0,75fc. In this case the final point of the
SURSRVHG VWUHVVVWUDLQ FXUYH LV GHWHUPLQHG IRU c=0 in the level with the most
compressed fiber.
The stress-strain curves are given for four different concrete strengths. The
parameters for the ascending branch are shown in the table below. The concrete
strain at compressive strength is calculated according to a formula, proposed by
Popovic [6].
0

Ec

fc
2

[MN/m ]
20
40
60
80

[MN/m ]
25787
32489
37191
40934

[-]
-0,00198
-0,00235
-0,00261
-0,00280

Table 2: Parameters of the ascending branch

-0.0020

strain c* [-]

-0.0016
-0.0012

fcm=20
fcm=40
fcm=60

-0.0008

fcm=80

-0.0004
0.0000
0

0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
depth of the concrete compression zone x [m]

Fig. 10: Course of strain c* in the descending branch of a compression zone without lateral
reinforcement, c*=0,75fc

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-0,004

strain c* [-]

-0,003
fcm=20
fcm=40

-0,002

fcm=60
fcm=80

-0,001

0,000
0

0,2

0,4
0,6
0,8
1
depth of compression zone x [m]

1,2

Fig. 11: Course of strain c* in the descending branch of a compression zone with lateral
reinforcement with c*=0,75fc, =0,05%, ub=0,04m

-0,004

strain c* [-]

-0,003
fcm=20

-0,002

fcm=40
fcm=60
fcm=80

-0,001

0,000
0

0,2

0,4
0,6
0,8
1
depth of compression zone x [m]

1,2

Fig. 12: Course of strain c* in the descending branch of a compression zone with lateral
reinforcement with c*=0,75fc, =0,05%, ub=0,08m

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Deformation Capacity of the Concrete Compression Zone

Stress-Strain Curves for Nonlinear Calculation
-0,004

strain c* [-]

-0,003
fcm=20

-0,002

fcm=40
fcm=60
fcm=80

-0,001

0,000
0

0,2

0,4
0,6
0,8
1
depth of compression zone x [m]

1,2

stress c* [MN/m ]

80

60
fcm=20

40

fcm=40
fcm=60
fcm=80

20

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

depth of compression zone x [m]

Fig. 13: Course of strain c* in the descending branch of a compression zone with lateral
reinforcement with c*, =0,3%, ub=0,04m

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-0.004

strain c* [-]

-0.003
fcm=20

-0.002

fcm=40
fcm=60
fcm=80

-0.001

0.000
0

0.2

0.4
0.6
0.8
1
depth of compression zone x [m]

1.2

stress c* [MN/m ]

80

60
fcm=20

40

fcm=40
fcm=60
fcm=80

20

0
0

0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
depth of compression zone x [m]

1.2

Fig. 14: Course of strain c* in the descending branch of a compression zone with lateral
reinforcement with c*, =0,3%, ub=0,08m

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Stress-Strain Curves for Nonlinear Calculation
The stress-strain curves as presented here are suitable for compression zones with
rectangular cross-sections and low transversal reinforcement ratios which do not
lead to a three-dimensional stress state due to strong confinement. In the model it
was assumed that the lateral reinforcement starts to yield for the realization of
concrete strength in an effective fiber of the compression zone.

CONCLUSION

By means of the BDZ-Modell stress-strain curves were determined taking into

account the strength of the concrete, the depth of the concrete compression zone
and the effect of a transversal reinforcement on the deformation capacity of the
concrete compression zone.
Regarding the introduced stress-strain curves the following main conclusions can
be drawn:
The deformation capacity of the concrete compression zone decreases with
increasing concrete strength.
The deformation capacity of the concrete compression zone decreases with its
depth.
By means of transversal reinforcement the deformation capacity can be
improved. But a small spacing between the stirrups in the concrete
compression zone is the prerequisite for this.
Due to activation of transversal reinforcement the size dependence of the
deformation capacity decreases.
The higher the concrete strength the less effective is a certain amount of
transversal reinforcement. Regarding structural members made of highstrength concrete the spacing of the stirrups has to be very narrow. Otherwise
the transversal reinforcement doesnt become activated and failure proceeds
suddenly.
By means of the given stress-strain curves the behavior of a structural member
can be anticipated. So stress-strain curves determined with the BDZ-Model can
serve as input parameters for nonlinear calculations.

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6

REFERENCES

[1]

Rsch, H.: Versuche zur Festigkeit der Biegedruckzone. Deutscher

Ausschu fr Stahlbeton, Heft 120, Berlin, 1955.

[2]

Meyer, J.: Deformation capacity of the concrete compression zone.

LACER, No. 1, Leipzig, 1996.

[3]

Markeset, G.: Failure of concrete under compressive strain gradients.

NTH Universitetet i Trondheim, 1993.

[4]

Meyer, J.: Ein Beitrag zur Untersuchung der Verformungsfhigkeit von

Bauteilen aus Beton unter Biegedruckbeanspruchung. Eingereichte
Dissertation, Universitt Leipzig, 1997.

[5]

EC 2, Teil 1: Design of concrete structures, general rules and rules for

buildings. ENV 1992-1-1:1991

[6]

Popovic, S.: A numerical approach to the complete stress-strain curve of

concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 3, pp. 583-599,
Pergamon Press, Inc., 1973.

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