MODELING THE FRACTURE OF CONCRETE - THE COHESIVE CRACK

This paper shows the ability of the cohesive crack model to predict re asonably well the behaviour of concrete specimens. To demonstrate this two very different examples are considered. The first is an engineeri ng problem related to the breakage of precase concrete piles; it is sh own that the cohesive crack model points to the relevant parameters an d suggests ways to improve the behaviour of the concrete. The second e xample analyses the well known effect of size on the modulus of ruptur e when measured during the three point bending of beams. The predictio ns using a simple cohesive model with bilinear softening are very good . The present work shows how this model not only predicts accurately t he maximum loads for different geometries and sizes but also is able t o make reasonably good predictions of load and displacement at any ins tant throughout the test.