ON LOCALIZATION IN DUCTILE-BRITTLE MATERIALS UNDER COMPRESSIVE LOADINGS

This paper focuses on the onset of strain localization for pure compre ssion in concrete like materials. An elastoplastic damage model allowi ng for different types of coupling between damage and elasticity and d ifferent forms of permanent strain is formulated. The consequences of the several different factors on the strain localization predictions a re investigated: alternative couplings, form of the yield function and form of the inelastic potential. The analytical results for the onset of localization predicted with this class of model are compared with the experimental results obtained during compression tests on concrete specimens. The critical hardening modulus and orientation of the loca lized band at localization are discussed in detail.