Title:
Stress Hybrid Embedded Crack Element Analysis for Concrete Fracture
Author(s):
B. Spencer and P. B. Shing
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
205
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
323-346
Keywords:
discrete crack; embedded crack: finite element; stress
hybrid
DOI:
10.14359/11646
Date:
1/1/2002
Abstract:
A stress hybrid element that incorporates an internal displacement dis-continuity is presented for the modeling of concrete fracture. This stress hybrid formulation is superior to similar stiffness-based embedded crack formulations in that it explicitly accounts for boundary tractions so that the equilibrium of the traction fields at the element boundary and the internal crack interface can be enforced in a consistent manner. As a consequence, it also allows for the modeling of crack initiation in an accurate and consistent manner. Numerical examples are provided to compare the performance of the new element to that of a smeared crack model and to demonstrate its superiority in capturing the sliding shear behavior of fractured concrete. The element achieves the realism of the discrete crack approach without the need for remeshing or knowing the location and orientation of a crack a priori.