A multi-scale based fracture characterization in concrete under fatigue loading using critical energy dissipation

Abstract

In this study, analytical formulations for energy dissipation rate and critical energy dissipation have been derived for concrete under cyclic loading conditions. Initially, the formulation for micro-crack growth rate has been derived adopting nano-mechanistic approach, which subsequently has been extended to express the critical energy dissipation. In order to eliminate the scale effect encountered between the micro and macro-scale stress properties, a multi-scale approach has been adopted in the present work. A new damage parameter has been proposed for the quantification of damage on the basis of critical energy dissipation.