Performance Study of RC Hollow Core Slab with Cracks Based on Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM)

Reinforced concrete (RC) hollow-core slab beams work with cracks in service, but no accurate mechanical properties calculation method exists for them. Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) has advantages in the study of cracking, such as less calculation and no need to formulate crack propagation path. In this paper, XFEM of RC hollow core slab is built on ABAQUS, in which the material constitutive model and modeling method are based on relevant scholars’ achievements. We simulate initial damage of concrete by prefabricating cracks of different numbers and depths. Equivalent vehicle load is loaded at the most disadvantageous position. Effects of number, depth, and location of cracks on width, growth path, mid-span deflection, and relative depth (crack depth/beam depth) of RC hollow-core slabs are studied. Results show initial crack amount has little effect on bearing capacity, but RC hollow-core slab stiffness decreases with increase of crack amount. Judging whether RC hollow-core slabs have been subjected to steel yield load by relative depth is given through correlation calculation.