A two-yield-criteria limit analysis approach for steel-reinforced concrete slabs

A FE-based limit analysis methodology is presented for the peak load evaluation of steel reinforced concrete slabs. The numerical methodology, already applied to reinforced concrete elements, is here presented in an enhanced form to better take into account the post-elastic behaviour of concrete and steel reinforcement. The modification implies a two-yield-criteria formulation which enables the prediction of possible steel bars yielding at incipient collapse. The effectiveness of the methodology is shown through a few applications on large-scale reinforced concrete slabs.