Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Fracture Processes in Concrete

摘要

A combined experimental and numerical approach is adopted to investigate fracture processes in concrete. The experimental program focuses on the failure of concrete subjected to mixed mode I and II loading. The influence of shear load on the nucleation and propagation of cracks in concrete is studied by means of four-point-shear tests on single and double edge notched beams. A numerical model for simulating fracture is developed in which the heterogeneous microstructure of concrete is implemented. The model is used to carry out simulations of different fracture experiments.