modes of cement mortar ........ A.'-''-A using the scanning propagation was monitored pre-existing notch, it was found or tortuous manner. A continuum damage mechanics. of coarse aggregate analysis of a specimen similar features of crack ,,.,.,,..,.~,,.,.,.,.,,..,".,,, ..... load-displacement such as…
modes of cement mortar ........ A.'-''-A using the scanning propagation was monitored pre-existing notch, it was found or tortuous manner. A continuum damage mechanics. of coarse aggregate analysis of a specimen similar features of crack ,,.,.,,..,.~,,.,.,.,.,,..,".,,, ..... load-displacement such as cement ~,r ....... ,,., .. ,... displays a gradual descending peak load. known as strain softening accompanied by non-homogeneous localized deformations of the specjmen (van Mier, 1986; et 1991; Read and Hegemier, 1984; Gopalaratnam and Shah, 1985). ._, .... ,,,u ... , ...... it is not completely known. Micromechanical models are simulating the mechanical behavior of concrete modelled as a material using finite element analysis. These models allow a more detailed view of actual material behavior (Bazant etal., 1990; Vonk et al., 1991; Wang et al., 1995) An understanding of the phenomenological behavior concerning the microfracture process is important as a starting point as well as a guide developing constitutive relations for quasi-brittle materials. A of the mechanism of microcracking can only be observation of crack propagation at the microstructural 1..-vJd . .liJU."-''--'-'"'' .. UuJLVA" tests were conducted in the SEM chamber to of crack propagation at the microstructural was found that the crack propagation was branching of the crack existed. This work is observation of Tait et al. ( 1990). concrete, is an extremely complex system water, with a high degree of heterogeneity.