Abstract
The object-oriented programming method is a potential technique in developing software for structural engineering application. This paper develops an integrated finite element system for reinforced concrete structures with object-oriented programming. The developed program in object-oriented perspective not only creates node class, element class, load class and other classes according to the fundamental concepts but also concrete class and steel bar class for reinforced concrete nonlinear analysis. Besides, this paper proposed a new adaptive cracking model, combining the advantages of smeared cracking model and discrete cracking model with unique properties of its own, which employs adaptive finite element analysis method in cracking analysis of reinforced concrete structures. The examples show the computational efficiency of the presented adaptive cracking model in the emulate analysis for reinforced concrete structures. The system developed in this paper is found to enhance the expansibility of programs, simplify the design and maintenance of programs, improve the accuracy and reduce the computational effort of the reinforced concrete finite element nonlinear analysis.