Tripartite Cohesive Crack Model

Abstract

A new multicomponent cohesive crack model for concrete is presented. The model, which is directly applicable to interface finite elements, has three main components termed undamaged, bridging, and fully debonded. The relative sizes of these components, each of which simulates a proportion of a representative material volume, change according to evolution functions that are developed from data from uniaxial cyclic tests on notched concrete specimens. The undamaged component is treated as elastic damaging, the bridging component has two subcomponents, which are elastoplastic and elastic with contact, and the fully debonded component is elastoplastic with contact. The relationships governing the normal-shear interactions are developed from experimental data on combined shear-tension tests on cracked concrete specimens. Comparisons with experimental data illustrate that the model is able to represent the cyclic behavior of cracked concrete in tension, full crack closure, the interaction between shear and normal behavior, and aggregate interlock behavior.