The paper proposes an original approach for simply modeling the complex cracking processes of cementitious composites structures. The basic idea of the model is to take into account the heterogeneous nature of concrete and the presence of initial defects as…
The paper proposes an original approach for simply modeling the complex cracking processes of cementitious composites structures. The basic idea of the model is to take into account the heterogeneous nature of concrete and the presence of initial defects as the main factors influencing cracking processes for a given stressed material volume. In this sense, the model considers volume effects, random distributions of mechanical properties and crack localization in its formulation. Therefore, the model is able to bridge the gap between the local description of the mechanisms at the material level and the global response at the structural level. 2D and first 3D simulations and validation tests are presented.