Scale Bridging in Computational Modelling of Quasi-Brittle Fracture of Cementitious Composites

Abstract

Computational prediction damage in cementitious composites, as steel fibre reinforced ones, under mechanical, thermal, etc. loads, manifested as creation of micro-fractured zones, followed by potential initiation and evolution of macroscopic cracks, is a rather delicate matter, due to the necessity of bridging between micro-and macro-scales. This short paper presents a relatively simple approach, based on the nonlocal viscoelasticity model, coupled with cohesive crack analysis, using extended finite element techniques. Such model admits proper verification of its existence and convergence results, from the physical and mathematical formulation up to software implementation of relevant algorithms. Its practical applicability is documented on a sequence of representative computational examples.