Concrete Crack Propagation Study with Experiment and Extended Finite Element Modeling

Abstract

In this work, both experiment and the extended finite element method are employed to investigate the failure procedure of concrete which is treated as heterogeneous material. The extended finite element model represents effects of aggregate particle size and prosperity on trajectory of crack propagation in concrete. Crack faces of commonly observed in many concrete specimens are rough and rugged instead of plane surfaces in homogeneous modeling. The extended finite element model reproduces roughening transitions of the crack surfaces of concrete. The model successfully explains the trajectory of crack propagation, roughening transitions of the crack surfaces investigated in the experiment.