Author(s)

J. Alfaiate, E.B. Pires & J.A.C. Martins

Abstract

Non-prescribed discrete crack evolution in concrete: algorithm and numerical tests J. Alfaiate, E.B. Pires, J.A.C. Martins Department of Civil Engineering, and CMEST, Institute Superior Tecnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal ABSTRACT In this paper the finite element method is used to obtain approximate solutions for the propagation of cracks in concrete. Hillerborg's fictitious crack model is adopted to characterize the constitutive behaviour along the surfaces of discontinuity. In the proposed numerical algorithm the real crack path is approximated by a discrete non-prescribed path that evolves along existing interelement boundaries on which the properties of the real crack path are projected; no special remeshing procedures are required and the algorithm is fully automatic. Special attention is given to the approximate crack evolution and crack opening criteria. The numerical tests consist of 1) a plain concrete beam subjected to shear and 2) the pu

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