Simulation of Random Crack Generation in Concrete Members with Uniform Stress Fields

Abstract

Abstract The randomness of strength and deformation of concrete material is serious and should be considered both in theoretical analyses such as Finite Element Methods and engineering practice, specially for those structural members with a uniform stress field, where stresses or strains are approximately the same under loading. A mathematical approach of producing a series of random variables of the ultimate tensile strain in concrete is proposed to describe the randomness ofconcrete deformation. With reinforced concrete finite elements a real model calculation method is found for the randomness of initial cracks determined by a minimum tension strain within the uniform stress fields of concrete members. The proposed methods in our paper have as aim to improve the existing method used by FEM and other relative approaches, which normally pay less attention to randomness with consequences that may possibly differ from testing or practice. The method and sample computation as indicated is meaningful and comply with testing and engineering practice.