PREDICTION OF THE FAILURE AND SIZE EFFECT IN CONCRETE VIA A BI‐SCALE DAMAGE APPROACH

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Abstract
Simple but also accurate models are needed to predict the failure response of concrete structures. Simplicity involves modelling assumptions while accuracy involves objectivity of both the experimentally identified model parameters and the numerica results. For concrete‐like heterogeneous and brittle materials, the modelling assumptions idealizing the material as a homogeneous continuum with classical linear or non‐linear behaviour, leads to some problems at the identification stage, namely the size effect phenomena. A continuum damage model, representing the non‐linear behaviour due to microcracking, is proposed here for predictive computations of structural responses. A Weibull based theory is used to determine, in a statistical sense, the value of the initial damage threshold. The essential influence of material heterogeneity on the damage evolution, is accounted for with a bi‐scale approach which is based on the idea of the non‐local continuum with local strain. It has already established that the non‐local approaches yield realistic failure predictions and the numerical results are convergent for subsequent mesh refinements. The applications presented here show the ability of the approach to predict the failure response of concrete structures without being obscured by size effect problems.

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