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Discrete vs smeared crack models for concrete fracture: bridging the gap
Author(s) -
Borst René de,
Remmers Joris J. C.,
Needleman Alan,
Abellan MarieAngèle
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1096-9853
pISSN - 0363-9061
DOI - 10.1002/nag.374
Subject(s) - bridging (networking) , cracking , exploit , finite element method , partition of unity , structural engineering , partition (number theory) , fracture mechanics , property (philosophy) , computer science , engineering , materials science , mathematics , composite material , computer network , computer security , combinatorics , philosophy , epistemology
Discrete and smeared crack models for concrete fracture are discussed in a historical perspective. It is argued that these two computational approaches, originally conceived as very different, can be brought together by exploiting the partition‐of‐unity property of finite element shape functions. The cohesive segments method, which exploits this partition‐of‐unity property, exhibits advantages of both the discrete and smeared crack approaches, and is capable of describing the transition from distributed micro‐cracking to a dominant crack. The versatility of the cohesive methodology is shown by incorporating water diffusion and ion transport into the formulation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.