The fragility and ductility of composite engineering materials and structures: a few remarks

Abstract

In the field of civil engineering, composite structures are in principle designed with a view to stable behaviour in the non-linear domain. Their design involves optimizing the choice of the materials used in these composite structures (the concrete and steel) and the choice of their spatial distribution (percentages and locations). A rigorous physical and mechanical analysis and clear definitions of what is meant by the ductility of the material and of the structure are necessary for the attainment of this objective. It is shown that such an approach leads in some cases to results at odds with the ideas generally accepted in the literature.