The partial financial support, provided by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia under the projects Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Engineering Structures Behaviour, Grant No. 083‐0831541‐1547 and Non‐linear Dynamic Analysis of Three‐dimensional Reinforced Concrete Structures, Grant No. 083‐0831541‐1532, is gratefully acknowledged.

One of today's most-used glass products is a composite made of at least two glass panels connected with a soft polymeric interlayer-laminated glass. The mechanical properties of such elements are influenced by interlayer properties and the type of glass used. In this work, experimental and numerical analyses of laminated glass panels exposed to four-point bending are performed to observe and compare the stresses and displacements caused by different parameters, such as temperature, load duration, the thickness and type of the interlayers, as well as the symmetrical and nonsymmetrical disposition of the glass plates’ thickness. The numerical analysis was verified by four-point bending experimental tests. After validation, a parametric study on these influences was performed. To obtain the relationship between the load duration, temperature, and thickness of the interlayer compared to the maximal displacement (as a measure of flexural stiffness) and tension stress in the bottom glass plate, an analytical polynomial of a sixth total order is proposed. Isosurfaces are created, showing the dependence of stresses and displacements on the specified parameters as well as clearly showing differences in the behavior of laminated glass panels for the same conditions but with different interlayers. Based on the findings of the parametric study, conclusions are derived about the flexural stiffness and stress distribution in two-plate laminated glass with PVB and ionoplast interlayers.

This paper discusses the pullout capacity of spatial anchors in soil under applied vertical force. In field tests, the pullout forces were gradually increased and the ground surface displacements measured in two profiles perpendicular to each other. The laboratory and field tests were performed for several embedment depths and anchor diameter ratios in the same sand and under the same conditions. The anchor pulling was also laboratory‐tested so that the vertical anchor displacements were given and the corresponding force intensity measured. The finite element method was used for the pullout force computation in test cases. The relations between displacements and pullout forces obtained by the laboratory tests, field tests and numerical computations were statistically analysed. Owing to gradual convergence of pullout forces towards the limit value, the exponential function was adopted as an approximation curve. The two obtained constants of the function represent the significant mechanical characteristics. The first is limit pullout force and the second gives the total stiffness of the soil mechanical system.

Purpose – To provide an insight in one relatively simple and efficient numerical model for analysing reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, and to raise a discussion leading to the creation of one universal and robust 3D algorithm. Design/methodology/approach – A new numerical model for analysing reinforced and prestressed concrete structures is developed and main theoretical details are described to aid the understandings. The approach is clear, easily readable and the body of the text is divided into logical sections starting from theoretical explanations ending in the large number of different practical examples. Findings – Provides information about developing new and relatively simple numerical model for analysing reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, indicating what can be improved. Recognises the lack of knowing real behaviour of 3D concrete and starts a discussion on it. Research limitations/implications – The knowledge of the 2D and especially 3D concrete behaviour is still poor and the concrete model developers use many simplifications. So, many new experiments should be performed and better numerical models should be developed. There is large area for researchers but having in mind that experiments are very expensive. Practical implications – Obtained results of the 3D analysis of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures can stand as a benchmark for future researches in this field especially to the young researchers and concrete model developers. Originality/value – This paper presents new and very simple numerical model for analysing reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. Paper could be very valuable to the researchers in this field as a benchmark for their analyses.