  This work is a continuation of the ongoing research on deformation behavior
of reinforced concrete elements under tension. The previous studies have
revealed that deformation behaviors of elements reinforced with multiple bars
and the traditional prismatic members reinforced with a center bar are
essentially different. The latter layout, though typical of laboratory
specimens, could not represent the norm of structures in real-life. Thus, a new
test methodology to investigate the strain distribution in concrete prismatic
members reinforced with multiple bars subjected to axial tension is devised.
Prismatic concrete specimens with different reinforcement configurations were
fabricated and tested using the proposed setup. Deformation behavior of the
specimens is modeled with a tailor-designed bond modeling approach for rigorous
finite element analysis. It is revealed that the average deformations of the
concrete could be different from the prevailing approach of average
deformations of the steel, and are dependent on the reinforcement
configurations. Therefore, the efficiency of concrete in tension should be
carefully taken into account for rational design of structural elements. The
study endorses promising abilities of finite element technique as a versatile
analysis tool whose full potential is to be revealed with the advent of
computer hardware.
