Strain-Softening Calculations for Concrete in Dynamic Uniaxial Tension

• Published in: Journal of engineering mechanics 1988-11, Vol.114 (11), p.1911-1928
• Main Authors: Gran, James K, Seaman, Lynn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Concretes. Mortars. Grouts; Exact sciences and technology; Materials; Properties and performance tests of mortar and hardened concrete; TECHNICAL PAPERS
• ISSN: 0733-9399; 1943-7889
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(1988)114:11(1911)

A one-dimensional strain-softening model was used in wave-propagation calculations to interpret dynamic unconfined tension experiments on concrete rods. The model is based on the assumption that the stress-strain relation is not a property of a material point, but is an average property of a finite volume of material containing a developing crack or failure plane. The stress-strain relation has associated with it a finite dimension, namely an effective crack separation distance. Two experiments were simulated, and with suitable choice of the material parameters good agreement with the measured axial strain histories was obtained in both cases. In addition to providing an estimate of the dynamic tensile properties of the concrete, these calculations suggest that tensile damage in the concrete was distributed over several centimeters surrounding the location of fracture. The strain history measured a few centimeters from the fracture appears to be primarily a function of inelastic wave propagation from the fracture to the strain gage, and is only weakly dependent on the behavior of the material at the location of complete fracture.