Numerical Analysis of Concrete Fracture

Abstract

Fracture in concrete is determined by excessive cracking. Numerical analysis of concrete fracture is either based on smeared crack method or discrete crack method. Smeared crack method is easier to implement than the discrete crack method but is therefore less accurate and applicable only for specific problems. We study fracture of concrete by a simplified meshless discrete crack method. The method exploit the advantages of smeared crack method and maintains the accuracy of discrete crack method. The discrete crack is modeled by set of crack segments that can be arbitrarily placed in the meshless discretization. Neo-Hooke material is used in the bulk material and cohesive zone model once the discrete crack occurs. We demonstrate for mode-I and mixed mode failure the accuracy of the meshless discrete crack method.