The softening behavior of early age concrete is studied with the aid of a gradient plasticity model where mode-I crack generation of a simple tension specimen is simulated by a smeared cracked zone. this regard a new and simple softening…
The softening behavior of early age concrete is studied with the aid of a gradient plasticity model where mode-I crack generation of a simple tension specimen is simulated by a smeared cracked zone. this regard a new and simple softening function is proposed which complies with other available softening rules but versatile enough to be applicable for early ages as well as for matured concrete. The use of separate gradient influence functions are demonstrated which increases the scope of gradient plasticity theory. In this context a semi-empirical formula for estimation of fracture energy of concrete is proposed. It has been shown that with the aid of the proposed model we can thoroughly investigate the strain softening behavior of early age concrete.