Application of Drucker-Prager plasticity model for stress-strain modeling of FRP confined concrete columns

Existing research works have identified that Drucker-Prager (DP) plasticity model is capable of modeling the stressstrain behavior of confined concrete. However, the accuracy of the model largely depends on the adequate evaluation of its parameters that determine the yield criterion, hardening/softening rule and flow rule. Up to date, most research works mainly focus on the first two criteria. The plastic dilation angle is the major parameter that governs the DP flow rule. This paper addresses the plastic dilation properties of concrete for FRP confined circular concrete columns under the theoretical framework of DP model in the commercial software ABAQUS. Through careful analyses of test results for FRP confined concrete columns, it is found that the plastic dilation angle is a function of axial plastic strain and the lateral stiffness ratio. A simple model for the plastic dilation angle is subsequently developed. With the implementation of this model, the finite element analysis results fit well with the experimental stress-strain curves for columns with both low and high confinement.