Open Access

ARTICLE

Fracture Analysis of Concrete Structural Components Accounting for Tension Softening Effect

by A. Rama Ch,ra Murthy¹, G.S. Palani¹, Nagesh R. Iyer¹, M Srinivasa Pavan¹, Smitha Gopinath¹

1 CSIR, Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India, 600 113
2 murthyarc@sercm.org, archandum@yahoo.com, Fax: 91-44-22541508
3 Civil Engg. Dept., Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Computers, Materials & Continua 2010, 19(2), 135-154. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmc.2010.019.135

Abstract

This paper presents methodologies for fracture analysis of concrete structural components with and without considering tension softening effect. Stress intensity factor (SIF) is computed by using analytical approach and finite element analysis. In the analytical approach, SIF accounting for tension softening effect has been obtained as the difference of SIF obtained using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) principles and SIF due to closing pressure. Superposition principle has been used by accounting for non-linearity in incremental form. SIF due to crack closing force applied on the effective crack face inside the process zone has been computed using Green's function approach. In finite element analysis, the domain integral method has been used for computation of SIF. The domain integral method is used to calculate the strain energy release rate and SIF when a crack grows. Numerical studies have been conducted on notched 3-point bending concrete specimen with and without considering the cohesive stresses. It is observed from the studies that SIF obtained from the finite element analysis with and without considering the cohesive stresses is in good agreement with the corresponding analytical value. The effect of cohesive stress on SIF decreases with increase of crack length. Further, studies have been conducted on geometrically similar structures and observed that (i) the effect of cohesive stress on SIF is significant with increase of load for a particular crack length and (iii) SIF values decreases with increase of tensile strength for a particular crack length and load.

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Keywords

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