This article presents a finite element analysis of reinforced concrete deep beams using nonlinear fracture mechanics. The article describes the development of a numerical model that includes several nonlinear processes such as compres sion and tension softening of concrete, bond slip between concrete and reinforcement, and the yielding of the longitu dinal steel reinforcement. The development also incorporates the Delaunay refinement algorithm to create a triangular topology that is then transformed into a quadrilateral mesh by the quad-morphing algorithm. These two techniques al l ow automatic remeshing using the discrete crack approach. Nonlinear fracture mechanics is incorporated using the fic titious crack model and the principal tensile strength for crack initiation and propagation. The model has been success ful in reproducing the load deflections, cracking patterns and size effects observed in experiments of normal and high-strength concrete deep beams with and without stirrup reinforcement.
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