Nonlinear optimal design model of a concrete reinforcement truss plank

The reinforced concrete truss plank is one kind of specially-shaped reinforcement concrete composite slab that has been used in bridge structures, building structures, etc. in Hong Kong, Japan, America and European countries. Because of its complicated reinforcement distribution, this truss plank is analysed and designed by simplified methods that neglect the contributions from a combined reinforcement truss mechanism and the design is over-conservative. This paper describes a non-linear optimal design model for this plank, considering reinforcement truss action by a strain compatible method from a refined finite element model and experiment analysis.