Numerical modelling of concrete cracking based on a stochastic approach

Abstract

Concrete is a highly heterogeneous material, because of its composite structure, but also because of the physical phenomena that take place during hardening (initial stresses, drying shrinkage, heat exchanges). This heterogeneity can explain some aspects of the complex mechanical behaviour of concrete, particularly the transition from uniform to localized cracking and the important size effect. A numerical procedure taking the statistical aspects of this heterogeneity into account has been developed and implemented. It permits us to reproduce and explain the principal experimental results for the behaviour of concrete under tension.