Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling and Experimental Evaluation of Reinforced Foamed Concrete T-Beams

Wahage Ibrahim; Nagham Tariq; Zainab Mohammed Ali

doi:10.61268/03fv6m15

PDF

Published: 22-06-2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61268/03fv6m15

Keywords:

Foamed Concrete , T-beams , Finite Element , ABAQUS , Numerical Results

Wahage Ibrahim Abdul-Kareem

Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Mustansiriyah , Baghdad, Iraq

Nagham Tariq Al-shafi'i

Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

Zainab Mohammed Ali

Highway and Transportation Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract

This study focuses on the structural behavior of reinforced foamed concrete T-beams, based on both experimental and theoretical/numerical comparisons by using ABAQUS. The Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model in ABAQUS was employed to model the nonlinear behavior of foamed concrete T-beams, and the steel reinforcement was represented as an embedded truss element. The experimental results were used to validate the numerical results for ultimate load capacity, mid-span deflection, load-deflection response, and crack pattern. A good agreement between the experimental and numerical results was obtained. The average experimental ultimate load was 129.08 kN, and the average numerical ultimate load was 131.78 kN. A parametric study was conducted to simulate the response of foamed concrete T-beams subjected to a uniformly distributed load. Findings showed that distributed loading was successful at increasing load-carrying capacity and minimizing deflection, thereby improving structural performance. Thus, the developed numerical model can be considered well validated for predicting the behavior of fibered-foam reinforced concrete T-beams and for performing parametric studies.

Issue

Al-Rafidain Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol.4 Issue 2 (2026)

Section

Civil Engineering

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Licensed under a CC-BY license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Author Biographies

Nagham Tariq Al-shafi'i, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering.

Prof. Dr.

Zainab Mohammed Ali, Highway and Transportation Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Highway and Transportation Engineering Department, College of Engineering

How to Cite

[1]

W. Ibrahim, N. Tariq, and Z. Mohammed Ali, “Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling and Experimental Evaluation of Reinforced Foamed Concrete T-Beams”, Rafidain J. Eng. Sci., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 121–135, Jun. 2026, doi: 10.61268/03fv6m15.

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