Elasto-plastic dynamic response analysis of prototype RC girder under falling-weight impact loading considering mesh size effect

This paper focuses on an applicability of the proposed numerical analysis method to the large scale RC girder under falling-weight impact loading using effective finite element mesh size distribution by comparing with experimental results. The results obtained from this study are: (1) displacement wave can be accurately estimated with seven-division of stirrup interval. (2) The maximum impact force and reaction force can be roughly estimated by using the mesh geometry with one-division for the each interval. (3) Damping constant should be used as 1.5%. (4) Drucker-Prager yield criterion should be applied. (5) The crack patterns can be roughly estimated with seven divisions between intervals of stirrup.