Constitutive Model for Concrete in Cyclic Compression

Abstract

A rate‐independent constitutive model is proposed for the behavior of concrete in multiaxial cyclic compression. The material composite is assumed to experience a continuous damage process under load histories. The model adopts a damage‐dependent bounding surface in stress space to predict the strength and deformation characteristics of the gross material under general loading paths. Reduction in size of the bounding surface as damage accumulates, and the adopted functional dependence of the material moduli on stress and damage permit a realistic modeling of the concrete behavior. Satisfactory prediction is obtained of the generally nonlinear stress‐strain response, degradation in stiffness during load cycles, shear compaction‐dilatancy phenomena, and post‐failure strain softening behavior. Finite element implementation of the proposed model is feasible and computationally efficient.