Search results

The purpose of this paper is to present integrated methodologies based on multilevel modelling concepts for finite element analysis (FEA) of reinforced concrete (RC) shell structures, with specific reference to account for the nonlinear behaviour of cracked concrete and the other associated features.

Geometric representation of the shell is enabled through multiple concrete layers. Composite characteristic of concrete is accounted by assigning different material properties to the layers. Steel reinforcement is smeared into selected concrete layers according to its position in the RC shell. The integrated model concurrently accounts for nonlinear effects due to tensile cracking, bond slip and nonlinear stress‐strain relation of concrete in compression. Smeared crack model having crack rotation capability is used to include the influence of tensile cracking of concrete. Propagation and change in direction of crack along thickness of shell with increase in load and deformation are traced using the layered geometry model. Relative movement between reinforcing steel and adjacent concrete is modelled using a compatible bond‐slip model validated earlier by the authors. Nonlinear iterative solution technique with imposed displacement in incremental form is adopted so that structures with local instabilities or strain softening can also be analysed.

Proposed methodologies are validated by evaluating ultimate strength of two RC shell structures. Nonlinear response of McNeice slab is found to compare well with that of experiment available in literature. Then, a RC cooling tower is analysed for factored wind loads to study its behaviour near ultimate load. Numerical validation demonstrates efficacy and usefullness of the proposed methodologies for nonlinear FEA of RC shell structures.

The present paper integrates critical methodologies used for behaviour modelling of concrete and reinforcement with the physical interaction among them. The study is unique by considering interaction of tensile cracking and bond‐slip which are the main contributors to nonlinearity in the nonlinear response of RC shell structures. Further, industrial application of the proposed modelling strategy is demonstrated by analysing a RC cooling tower shell for its nonlinear response. It is observed that the proposed methodologies in the integrated manner are unique and provide stability in nonlinear analysis of RC shell structures.

This study aims to motivate the reality that experiential investigation of immiserizing growth has not been performed at large. The key objective of the study is to analyse the empirical existence of immiserizing growth in the real world.

Theory of revealed preferences has been implemented for welfare movement by using Laspeyres and Paasche quantity index and for empirical estimations, logistic regression has been applied. The study established panel data of the world’s largest trading nations, including the USA, China, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Japan, the Netherland and Canada. Annual time series data for an extensive time period covering from 1981 till 2017 have been used.

Findings of the Laspeyres and Paasche index reveal that out of nine countries immiserizing growth prevails in five nations and those are Italy, Canada, the Netherland, UK and Japan. The results of panel logistic regression verify the significance of terms of trade on immiserizing growth in all included countries. Separate logistic regression has also been performed on all the five countries from which Italy, Canada, the Netherland exhibit significant results.

This study is a pioneer attempt towards the concept of immiserizing growth. Considering the fact that immiserizing growth is viewed by the majority of the scholars as a theoretical notion, this study attempts to investigate analytically the existence of immiserizing growth with real data set. The impact of terms of trade deterioration on the welfare of the world’s largest trading nations has been focused on the research which is in compliance with the concept of Bhagwati (1958).