For the proposed system of construction and using the looped bar arrangement, the use of T20 bars is not practical and hence T16 bars have been adopted throughout all of the test specimens. Finite Element Modelling A series of 2D and 3D elastic and non-linear, finite element models are being used to investigate the stresses and crack patterns within the concrete joints. All of the modelling is being done using Lusas Version 13 and the multi-crack concrete model within the program. The finite element models range from simple 2D representations of straight reinforcing bars within concrete units to 3D representations of the proposed joint arrangement. The 3D models use 20-noded brick elements to represent the concrete and 3D bar elements connected to the concrete elements along their edges.
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