FINITE ELEMENT MODELING OF THE CRACK PROPAGATION IN RC BEAMS BY USING ENERGY APPROACH

Abstract

In present study, an interface element with nonlinear spring is used to simulate cohesive zone model (CZM) in reinforced concrete (RC) beam for Mode I fracture. The virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) is implemented to model the propagation of the fracture process zone (FPZ). This model can be calculated the energy release rate by using new method from energy approach. Energy dissipation rate by steel bars is obtained to affect on the crack propagation criterion to implement in finite element method. The numerical results are compared with references result available in the literature. It is observed that the FPZ is increased linearly and then stay constant. It may be due to effect of steel bars or inherent behavior of FPZ. The results show that the proposed model does not depend on mesh size.