Numerical simulation of the high strain-rate behavior of quenched and self-tempered reinforcing steel in tension

•Numerical study on the tension behavior of Tempcore rebar at high strain rate.•Numerical model of the Split Hopkinson Tension Bar.•Analysis of the upper yield stress at high strain rate.•Reconstruction of a virtual test over a B450C rebar of 32 mm diameter.

This paper presents the numerical analysis of the high strain-rate behavior of quenched and self-tempered reinforcing steel in tension. The investigation has been performed properly simulating the experimental facility (SHTB-Split Hopkinson Tension Bar), highlighting criticism in the simulation and interpretation of the experimental results. Finite element simulation has allowed a robust model validation of the B450C reinforcing steel. Parametrical finite element model has been used to rebuild the input and output signals of the SHTB. Physical influence of damping in input wave and modeling strategies have been discussed. The elastic and damping dispersion fonts have been introduced into the model to explain the real case variability in SHTB signals. Strain-rate dependent plasticity model has been used by LsDyna code features. Time dependent plasticity has been developed to explain upper and lower yield values of the material resulting into a loading rate sensitivity. Finally, the material model has been used to reconstruct a virtual test over a rebar of 32 mm diameter, as an example of general procedure to calculate the global material response.