Microcrack Propagation Study of Concrete under Compression
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 117, Issue 3
Abstract
The propagation of microcracks in concrete under compression is studied by the finite element method. To this end, concrete is modeled as a two‐phase composite, consisting of a mortar matrix and aggregate inclusions. Two distinct types of microcrack (mortar crack and bond crack) are considered. To reflect the current stage of development, the principle of nonlinear fracture mechanics and the joint finite elements coupled with the generalized plasticity concept are incorporated into the present analyses. The numerical results thus obtained indicate that the stress state has a very significant influence on the development of mortar cracks; much less influence on the propagation of bond cracks is seen. Combined with well‐known experimental results then, the present study concludes that the deformation of a concrete specimen before peak load should be more uniform than its postpeak deformation and that the hardening behavior of a concrete specimen should be less influenced by loading conditions than the softening behavior. These conclusions provide an explanation of the cause of the characteristic observed behavior of concrete.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bažant, Z. P. (1976). “Instability, ductility and size effect in strain‐softening concrete.” J. Engrg. Mech. Div., ASCE, 102(2), 331–344.
2.
Bažant, Z. P., and Kim, S. (1979). “Plastic‐fracturing theory for concrete.” J. Engrg. Mech. Div., ASCE, 105(3), 407–428.
3.
Buyukozturk, O., Nilson, A. H., and Slate, F. O. (1971). “Stress‐strain response and fracture of a concrete model in biaxial loading.” Am. Concr. Inst. J., 68(8), 590–599.
4.
Buyukozturk, O., Nilson, A. H., and Slate, F. O. (1972). “Deformation of fracture of particulate composite.” J. Engrg. Mech. Div., ASCE, 98(3), 581–593.
5.
Goodman, R. E., Taylor, R. L., and Brekke, T. L. (1968). “A model for the mechanics of jointed rock.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div., ASCE, 94(3), 637–659.
6.
Han, D. J., and Chen, W. F. (1986). “Strain‐space plasticity formulation for hardening‐softening materials with elastoplastic coupling.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 22(8), 935–950.
7.
Hillerborg, A. (1985). “The theoretical basis of a method to determine the fracture energy of concrete.” Mater. Struct., (RILEM), 18(106), 291–296.
8.
Hillerborg, A., Modeer, M., and Peterson, P.‐E. (1976). “Analysis of crack formation and crack growth in concrete by means of fracture mechanics and finite elements.” Cem. Concr. Res., 6(6), 773–782.
9.
Hsu, T. T. C. (1963). “Mathematical analysis of shrinkage stresses in a model of hardened concrete.” Am. Concr. Inst. J., 60(3), 371–390.
10.
Hsu, T. T. C., Slate, F. O., Sturman, G. M., and Winter, G. (1963a). “Microcracking of plain concrete and the shape of the stress‐strain curve.” Am. Concr. Inst. J., 60(2), 209–223.
11.
Hsu, T. T. C., et al. (1963b). Closure to “discussion by J. Bellier and B. Schneider,” by T. T. C. Hsu, Am. Concr. Inst. J., 60(12), 1817–1819.
12.
Jamet, P., Millard, A., and Nahas, G. (1984). “Triaxial behavior of a microconcrete complete stress‐strain curves for confining pressures ranging from 0 to 100 MPa.” Proc. Int. Conf. on Concrete under Multiaxial Conditions, RILEM‐CEB, 1, Toulouse, France, 133–140.
13.
Kotsovos, M. D. (1983). “Effect of testing techniques on the post‐ultimate behavior of concrete in compression.” Mater. Struct., 16(91), 3–12.
14.
Krishnaswamy, K. T. (1968). “Strength and microcracking of plain concrete under triaxial compression.” Am. Concr. Inst. J., 65(10), 856–862.
15.
Kupfer, H., Hilsdorf, H. K., and Rusch, H. (1969). “Behavior of concrete under biaxial stresses.” Am. Concr. Inst. J., 66(8), 656–666.
16.
Qu, S. N., and Yin, Y. Q. (1981). “Drucker's and Ilyushin's postulate of plasticity.” J. Mech., Beijing, China, 465–473 (in Chinese).
17.
Shah, S. P., and Chandra, S. (1968). “Critical stress, volume change, and microcracking of concrete.” Am. Concr. Inst. J., 65(9), 770–781.
18.
Taylor, M. A., and Broms, B. B. (1964). “Shear bond strength between coarse aggregate and cement paste or mortar.” Am. Concr. Inst. J., 61(8), 939–958.
19.
Van Mier, J. G. M. (1984). “Strain‐softening of concrete under multiaxial loading conditions,” thesis presented to the Eindhoven University of Technology, at Eindhoven, The Netherlands, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
20.
Yamaguchi, E., and Chen, W. F. (1990). “Cracking model for finite element analysis of concrete materials.” J. Engrg. Mech., ASCE, 116(6), 1242–1260.
21.
Yamaguchi, E., and Chen, W. F. (1991). “Post‐failure behavior of concrete materials in compression.” J. Engrg. Fract. Mech., 37(1).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 117 • Issue 3 • March 1991
Pages: 653 - 673
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 ASCE.
History
Published online: Mar 1, 1991
Published in print: Mar 1991
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.