Progressive fracture analysis of concrete using finite elements with embedded displacement discontinuity

In this paper, a finite element with embedded displacement discontinuity which eliminates the<br />need for remeshing of elements in the discrete crack approach is applied for the progressive fracture<br />analysis of concrete structures. A finite element formulation is implemented with the extension of the<br />principle of virtual work to a continuum which contains internal displacement discontinuity. By introducing a<br />discontinuous displacement shape function into the finite element formulation, the displacement discontinuity<br />is obtained within an element. By applying either a nonlinear or an idealized linear softening curve<br />representing the fracture process zone (FPZ) of concrete as a constitutive equation to the displacement<br />discontinuity, progressive fracture analysis of concrete structures is performed. In this analysis, localized<br />progressive fracture simultaneous with crack closure in concrete structures under mixed mode loading is<br />simulated by adopting the unloading path in the softening curve. Several examples demonstrate the<br />capability of the analytical technique for the progressive fracture analysis of concrete structures.