This study introduces a statistical mechanics framework for modeling fracture and damage processes in concrete materials, leveraging the semi-grand canonical ensemble. By conceptualizing fracture as a monolayer adsorption process and damage as a multi-layer adsorption phenomenon, the approach extends classical…
This study introduces a statistical mechanics framework for modeling fracture and damage processes in concrete materials, leveraging the semi-grand canonical ensemble. By conceptualizing fracture as a monolayer adsorption process and damage as a multi-layer adsorption phenomenon, the approach extends classical fracture mechanics through statistical observables and ensemble-based formulations. Through simulations on notched beams, the framework demonstrates key insights into the energy dissipation mechanisms underpinning fracture. Statistical observables, such as isosteric heats of adsorption, provide a robust method to predict fracture behavior without the need for exper- imental size-effect studies, while damage isotherms are highlighting the influence of configurational pressure on material degradation. The results emphasize the potential of this framework to enhance the predictive modeling of quasi-brittle materials, paving the way for applications in material design and structural engineering.