Recent developments in production of micro-computers allow to use the finite element method by local Engineer Consultant for design and construction of high reinforced concrete structures. Much of the content of this paper comes from work carried out by the "Bureau d'Etudes TEXEREAU" (Poitiers-France), in connexion with the University of Poitiers. To illustrate the capability of this approach, two examples are presented: multibin grain-silo configurations and an unusual concrete structure. Figures 3 and 4 below show the design of the silos of Vernantes and Loudéac; the main consideration which led t o the choice of reinforced concrete silos was the cost. In fact, concrete silos often are competitive with metallic silos, if an optimal study is performed. But it is necessary t o utilize a rapid and convenient method in order t o optimize the number, the diameter and height of bins. For this purpose a program is implemented on a micro-computer; the main segment consists of C.O.S.M.O.S., a finite element subroutine which analyses stresses and strains in the bins for different loadings. So suitable but simple structure computing is a powerful tool in order t o obtain preference when silos must be constructed; actually this is the case for the "Bureau d'Etudes TEXEREAU". The International Innovation Institute (I.I.I.) is a new reinforced concrete edifice, built in the Futuroscope park of JAUNAY-CLAN (France); its unusual shape is shown in figs. 5 and 6. The geometry of the structure and of the loads allows to study half-building only. The structure is analysed using finite element method (C.O.S.M.O.S.): fig. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of finite mesh. The analysis of stresses requires both beam and shell elements in order t o give a correct description of the structure; the difficulty lies in the need t o put together beam and shell elements. In this second example, we give some results concerning the top ring displacements and analyse comparisons with an another finite element code.

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