Cracking Model for Finite Element Analysis of Concrete Materials

Abstract

A nonlinear fracture‐mechanics‐based cracking model for the finite element analysis of crack propagation in concrete materials is proposed. Since the method of evaluating macroscopic mechanical properties of composites, specifically the modified Voigt‐Reuss model, is utilized in its development, the proposed model is more general than the existing ones. In fact, the well‐known models such as the crack band model and the composite damage model are shown to be the special cases of the proposed model. By solving a benchmark problem, the validity of the proposed model is verified. It is also found through the present numerical studies that, while the realistic behavior of a notched concrete beam is obtained only by the nonlinear fracture‐mechanics concept, the influence of lateral stress on compression‐induced crack growth in a brittle solid predicted by nonlinear fracture mechanics is in good agreement with that due to linear‐elastic fracture mechanics.