FEM Crack Simulation of Concrete Considering Spacious Heterogeneity of Strength Characteristics

Abstract

This paper shows that the tension softening can be simulated by mean of finite element method with the proposed equivalent smeared crack model and random material strength. Various FEM numerical simulations demonstrate the influence of fracture energy, the scatter of concrete tensile strength, effect of boundary conditions of members on tension softening behaivor of concrete. The size effect of concrete tensile strength is given by mean of parametric numerical simulations.