STATIC CRACKING MODELING IN PLAIN CONCRETE BY DYNAMIC RELAXATION

摘要

In this work, the static multi-cracking fracture processes in plain concrete is analyzed. A methodology consisting of combining cohesive theories of fracture together with a novel fragmentation algorithm to model the fracture process is used. The formation of cohesive surface within the solid is simulated by inserting cohesive elements at the interface between existing elements when the opening condition is attained. Such process generates high geometrical and material nonlinearities which are difficult to handle by direct solvers. As an alternative, an explicit dynamic relaxation method is chosen to get the static solution. The code is validated against experimental data from concrete beams loaded at three points. The model closely follows the experimental trends. Particularly, it accurately predicts the load peak for several sizes, thus reproducing the experimentally observed size effect.