Gradient plasticity and finite elements in the simulation of concrete fracture.


J. Pamin and R. de Borst, Proc. EURO-C 1994 Int. Conf. Computer Modelling of Concrete Structures, Eds. H. Mang, N. Bicanic and R. de Borst, p. 393-402, Pineridge Press, Swansea (1994).

Abstract

In a continuum approach to concrete fracture a gradient-dependent plasticity theory is used to preserve the well-posedness of the problem in the softening regime and to obtain finitely sized fracture process zones. The theory employs a Rankine failure surface dependent on the Laplacian of a fracture strain measure. The finite element algorithm assumes a discretization of fracture strains in order to solve the differential consistency equation. A class of C1 and C0-continuous finite elements have been developed.