• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.5
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• pp.451-462
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• 2023

Lumped Damage Mechanics (LDM) is a theory proposed in the late eighties, which assumes that structural collapse may be analyzed as a two-phase phenomenon. In the first (pre-localization) stage, energy dissipation is a continuous process and it may be modelled by means of the classic versions of the theory of plasticity or Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM). The second, post-localization, phase can be modelled assuming that energy dissipation is lumped in zones of zero volume: inelastic hinges, hinge lines or localization surfaces. This paper proposes a new LDM formulation for cracking in concrete structures in tension. It also describes its numerical implementation in conventional finite element programs. The results of three numerical simulations of experimental tests reported in the literature are presented. They correspond to plain and fiber-reinforced concrete specimens. A fourth simulation describes also the experimental results of a new test using the digital image correlation technique. These numerical simulations are also compared with the ones obtained using conventional Cohesive Fracture Mechanics (CFM). It is then shown that LDM conserves the advantages of both, CDM and CFM, while overcoming their drawbacks.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2010

Theoretical models based on modern interpretations of the morphology and interactions of cement hydration products are developed for prediction of the mechanical properties of hydrated cement paste (hcp). The models are based on the emerging nanostructural vision of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) morphology, and account for the intermolecular interactions between nano-scale calcium C-S-H particles. The models also incorporate the effects of capillary porosity and microcracking within hydrated cement paste. The intrinsic modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of hydrated cement paste are determined based on intermolecular interactions between C-S-H nano-particles. Modeling of fracture toughness indicates that frictional pull-out of the micro-scale calcium hydroxide (CH) platelets makes major contributions to the fracture energy of hcp. A tensile strength model was developed for hcp based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics theories. The predicted theoretical models are in reasonable agreements with empirical models developed based on the experimental performance of hcp.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2011

Theoretical models for prediction of the mechanical properties of cement mortar are developed based on the morphology and interactions of cement hydration products, capillary pores and microcracks. The models account for intermolecular interactions involving the nano-scale calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) constituents of hydration products, and consider the effects of capillary pores as well as the microcracks within the hydrated cement paste and at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Cement mortar was modeled as a three-phase material composed of hydrated cement paste, fine aggregates and ITZ. The Hashin's bound model was used to predict the elastic modulus of mortar as a three-phase composite. Theoretical evaluation of fracture toughness indicated that the frictional pullout of fine aggregates makes major contribution to the fracture energy of cement mortar. Linear fracture mechanics principles were used to model the tensile strength of mortar. The predictions of theoretical models compared reasonably with empirical values.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.379-386
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• 2018

The present study addresses the direct and indirect methods of determining the mode-I fracture toughness of concrete using experimental tests and particle flow code. The direct method used is compaction tensile test and the indirect methods are notched Brazilian disc test, semi-circular bend specimen test, and hollow center cracked disc. The experiments were carried out to determine which indirect method yields the fracture toughness closer to the one obtained by the direct method. In the numerical analysis, the PFC model was first calibrated with respect to the data obtained from the Brazilian laboratory test. The crack paths observed in the simulated tests were in reasonable accordance with experimental results. The discrete element simulations demonstrated that the macro fractures in the models are caused by microscopic tensile breakages on large numbers of bonded particles. The mode-I fracture toughness in the direct tensile test was smaller than the indirect testing results. The fracture toughness obtained from the SCB test was closer to the direct test results. Hence, the semi-circular bend test is recommended as a proper experiment for determination of mode-I fracture toughness of concrete in the absence of direct tests.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2019

An anchorage system is essential for most reinforced concrete structures to connect building components. Therefore, the prediction of strength of the anchor is very important issue for safety of the structures themselves as well as structural components. The prediction models in existing design codes are, however, not applicable for large anchors because they are based on the small size anchors with diameters under 50 mm. In this paper, new prediction models for strength of a single anchor, especially the tensile strength of a single anchor, is developed from the experimental results with consideration of size effect. Size effect in the existing models such as ACI or CCD method is based on the linear fracture mechanics which is very conservative way to consider the size effect. Therefore, new models are developed based on the nonlinear fracture mechanics rather than the linear fracture mechanics for more reasonable prediction. New models are proposed by the regression analysis of the experimental results and it can predict the tensile strength of both small and large anchors.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.221-240
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• 2017

The modeling of the mechanical behavior of quasi-brittle materials is still a challenge task, mainly in failure processes when fracture and plasticity phenomena become important actors in dissipative processes which occur in materials like concrete, as instance. Many homogenization-based approaches have been proposed to deal with heterogeneous materials in the last years. In this context, a computational homogenization modeling for concrete is presented in this work using the concept of Representative Volume Element (RVE). The material is considered as a three-phase material consisting of interface zone (ITZ), matrix and inclusions-each constituent modeled by an independent constitutive model. The Representative Volume Element (RVE) consists of inclusions idealized as circular shapes symmetrically and nonsymmetrically placed into the specimen. The interface zone is modeled by means of cohesive contact finite elements. The inclusion is modeled as linear elastic and matrix region is considered as elastoplastic material. A set of examples is presented in order to show the potentialities and limitations of the proposed modeling. The consideration of the fracture processes in the ITZ is fundamental to capture complex macroscopic characteristics of the material using simple constitutive models at mesoscopic level.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.83-100
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• 2007

Applying a direct formulation for the enrichment of the displacement field an extended finite element (XFEM) scheme for modeling of cohesive crack growth is developed. Only elements cut by the crack is enriched and the scheme fits within the framework of standard FEM code. The scheme is implemented for the 3-node constant strain triangle (CST) and the 6-node linear strain triangle (LST). Modeling of standard concrete test cases such as fracture in the notched three point beam bending test (TPBT) and in the four point shear beam test (FPSB) illustrates the performance. The XFEM results show good agreement with results obtained by applying standard interface elements in FEM and with experimental results. In conjunction with criteria for crack growth local versus nonlocal computation of the crack growth direction is discussed.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2000

The effect of structure size on the nominal strength of unidirectional fiber-polymer composites, failing by propagation of a kink band with fiber microbuckling, is analyzed experimentally and theoretically. Tests of novel geometrically similar carbon-PEEK specimens, with notches slanted so as to lead to a pure kink band (without shear or splitting cracks), are conducted. The specimens are rectangular strips of widths 15.875, 31.75. and 63.5 mm (0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 in and gage lengths 39.7, 79.375 and 158.75 mm (1.563, 3.125 and 6.25 in.). They reveal the existence of a strong (deterministic. non-statistical) size effect. The doubly logarithmic plot of the nominal strength (load divided by size and thickness) versus the characteristic size agrees with the approximate size effect law proposed for quasibrittle failures in 1983 by Bazant This law represents a gradual transition from a horizontal asymptote, representing the case of no size effect (characteristic of plasticity or strength criteria), to an asymptote of slope -1/2 (characteristic of linear elastic fracture mechanics. LEFM) . The size effect law for notched specimens permits easy identification of the fracture energy of the kink bandand the length of the fracture process zone at the front of the band solely from the measurements of maximum loads. Optimum fits of the test results by the size effect law are obtained, and the size effect law parameters are then used to identify the material fracture characteristics, Particularly the fracture energy and the effective length of the fracture process zone. The results suggest that composite size effect must be considered in strengthening existing concrete structural members such as bridge columns and beams using a composite retrofitting technique.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2018

The possibilities of non-linear analysis of reinforced-concrete structures are under development. In particular, current research areas include structural analysis with the application of advanced computational and material models. The submitted article aims to evaluate the possibilities of the determination of material properties, involving the tensile strength of concrete, fracture energy and the modulus of elasticity. To evaluate the recommendations for concrete, volume computational models are employed on a comprehensive series of tests. The article particularly deals with the issue of the specific properties of fracture-plastic material models. This information is often unavailable. The determination of material properties is based on the recommendations of Model Code 1990, Model Code 2010 and specialized literature. For numerical modelling, the experiments with the so called "classic" concrete beams executed by Bresler and Scordelis were selected. It is also based on the series of experiments executed by Vecchio. The experiments involve a large number of reinforcement, cross-section and span variants, which subsequently enabled a wider verification and discussion of the usability of the non-linear analysis and constitutive concrete model selected.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.680-689
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• 2010

The crack-tip stress fields and fracture mechanics assessment parameters for a surface crack, such as the elastic stress intensity factor or the elastic-plastic J-integral, can be affected significantly by the adjacent cracks. Such a crack interaction effect due to multiple cracks can alter the fracture mechanics assessment parameters significantly. There are many factors to be considered, for instance the relative distance between adjacent cracks, the crack shape, and the loading condition, to quantify the crack interaction effect on the fracture mechanics assessment parameters. Thus, the current assessment codes on crack interaction effects (crack combination rules), including ASME Sec. XI, BS7910, British Energy R6 and API 579-1/ASME FFS-1, provide different rules for combining multiple surface cracks into a single surface crack. The present paper investigates crack interaction effects by evaluating the elastic stress intensity factor and the elastic-plastic J-integral of adjacent in-plane surface cracks in a plate through detailed 3-dimensional elastic and elastic-plastic finite element analyses. The effects on the fracture mechanics assessment parameters of the geometric parameters, the relative distance between two cracks, and the crack shape are investigated systematically. As for the loading condition, an axial tension is considered. Based on the finite element results, the acceptability of the crack combination rules provided in the existing guidance was investigated, and the relevant recommendations on a crack interaction for in-plane surface cracks are discussed. The present results can be used to develop more concrete guidance on crack interaction effects for crack shape characterization to evaluate the integrity of defective components.