Reinforced concrete frame analysis with mode of failure prediction capability

This paper is concerned with the development of a numerical method that is intended not only for the analysis and design of new frame-type reinforced-concrete (RC) structures, but also for the assessment of existing frame-type RC structures. The characteristic feature of the proposed method, which was developed within an object-oriented environment using the Python programming language, is its ability to identify all types of failure that may be suffered by the elements of the structure. This is achieved by noting that the portions of the structure extending between points of maximum bending moment and points of contra-flexure or consecutive points of contra-flexure are equivalent to cantilevers or simply supported beams, respectively, for which there is ample experimental information linking their design details with modes of failure. The validity of the method is verified through a comparative study of the numerical predictions with the experimentally established behaviour of frames obtained from the literature.