• Computers and Concrete
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.345-366
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• 2005

This work presents an assessment of the computational performance of a vector-parallel implementation of probabilistic model for concrete cracking in 3D. This paper shows the continuing efforts towards code optimization as reported in earlier works Paz, et al. (2002a,b and 2003). The probabilistic crack approach is based on the direct Monte Carlo method. Cracking is accounted by means of 3D interface elements. This approach considers that all nonlinearities are restricted to interface elements modeling cracks. The heterogeneity governs the overall cracking behavior and related size effects on concrete fracture. Computational kernels in the implementation are the inexact Newton iterative driver to solve the non-linear problem and a preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) driver to solve linearized equations, using an element by element (EBE) strategy to compute matrix-vector products. In particular the paper analyzes code behavior using OpenMP directives in parallel vector processors (PVP), such as the CRAY SV1 and CRAY T94. The impact of the memory architecture on code performance, and also some strategies devised to circumvent this issue are addressed by numerical experiment.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2019

Nowadays, the characterization of Ultra-High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) tensile behavior still remains a challenge for researchers. For this purpose, a simplified closed-form non-linear hinge model based on the Third Point Bending Test (ThirdPBT) was developed by the authors. This model has been used as the basis of a simplified inverse analysis methodology to derive the tensile material properties from load-deflection response obtained from ThirdPBT experimental tests. In this paper, a non-linear finite element model (FEM) is presented with the objective of validate the closed-form non-linear hinge model. The state determination of the closed-form model is straightforward, which facilitates further inverse analysis methodologies to derive the tensile properties of UHPFRC. The accuracy of the closed-form non-linear hinge model is validated by a robust non-linear FEM analysis and a set of 15 Third-Point Bending tests with variable depths and a constant slenderness ratio of 4.5. The numerical validation shows excellent results in terms of load-deflection response, bending curvatures and average longitudinal strains when resorting to the discrete crack approach.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.67-82
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• 2007

The discrete crack-concept is applied to study the 3D propagation of tensile-dominated failure in plain concrete. To this end the Partition of Unity Finite Element Method (PUFEM) is utilized and the strong discontinuity approach is followed. A consistent linearized implementation of the PUFEM is combined with a predictor-corrector algorithm to track the crack path, which leads to a robust numerical description of concrete cracking. The proposed concept is applied to study concrete failure during the PCT3D test and the predicted numerical results are compared to experimental data. The proposed numerical concept provides a clear interface for constitutive models and allows an investigation of their impact on concrete cracking under 3D conditions, which is of significant scientific interests to interpret results from 3D experiments.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.145-153
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• 1996

The fracture process zone in concrete is a region ahead of a traction-free crack, in which two major mechanisms, microcracking and bridging, play important roles. The toughness due to bridging is dominant compared to toughness induced by microcracking, so that the bridging is dominani: mechanism governing the fracture process of concrete. Fracture mechanics does work for concrete provided that the fracture process zone is being considered, so that the development of model for the fracture process zone is most important to describe fracture phenomena in concrete. In this paper the bridging zone, which is a part of extended rnacrocrack with stresses transmitted by aggregates in concrete, is modelled by a Dugdale-Barenblatt type model with linear tension-softening curve. Two finite element techniques are shown for the analysis of progressive cracking in concrete based on the discrete crack approach: one with crack element, the other without crack element. The advantage of the technique with crack element is that it dees not need to update the mesh topology to follow the progressive cracking. Numerical results by the techniques are demonstrated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.365-386
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• 2010

This paper presents the physical formulation of a 1D material model suitable for seismic applications. It is written within the framework of thermodynamics with internal variables that is, especially, very efficient for the phenomenological representation of material behaviors at macroscale: those of the representative elementary volume. The model can reproduce the main characteristics observed for concrete, that is nonsymetric loading rate-dependent (viscoelasticity) behavior with appearance of permanent deformations and local hysteresis (continuum plasticity), stiffness degradation (continuum damage), cracking due to displacement localization (discrete plasticity or damage). The parameters have a clear physical meaning and can thus be easily identified. Although this point is not detailed in the paper, this material model is developed to be implemented in a finite element computer program. Therefore, for the benefit of the robustness of the numerical implementation, (i) linear state equations (no local iteration required) are defined whenever possible and (ii) the conditions in which the presented model can enter the generalized standard materials class - whose elements benefit from good global and local stability properties - are clearly established. To illustrate the capabilities of this model - among them for Earthquake Engineering applications - results of some numerical applications are presented.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.149-156
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• 1995

The fracture process zone in concrete is a region ahead of a traction-free crack, in which two major mechanisms, microcracking and bridging, play important roles. The toughness due to bridging is dominant compared to toughness induced by microcracking, so that the bridging is dominani: mechanism governing the fracture process of concrete. Fracture mechanics does work for concrete provided that the fracture process zone is being considered, so that the development of model for the fracture process zone is most important to describe fracture phenomena in concrete. In this paper the bridging zone, which is a part of extended rnacrocrack with stresses transmitted by aggregates in concrete, is modelled by a Dugdale-Barenblatt type model with linear tension-softening curve. Two finite element techniques are shown for the analysis of progressive cracking in concrete based on the discrete crack approach: one with crack element, the other without crack element. The advantage of the technique with crack element is that it dees not need to update the mesh topology to follow the progressive cracking. Numerical results by the techniques are demonstrated.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.201-214
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• 1994

The fracture process zone in concrete is a region ahead of a traction-free crack, in which two major mechanisms, microcracking and bridging, play important roles. The toughness due to bridging is dominant compared to toughness induced by microcracking, so that the bridging is dominani: mechanism governing the fracture process of concrete. Fracture mechanics does work for concrete provided that the fracture process zone is being considered, so that the development of model for the fracture process zone is most important to describe fracture phenomena in concrete. In this paper the bridging zone, which is a part of extended rnacrocrack with stresses transmitted by aggregates in concrete, is modelled by a Dugdale-Barenblatt type model with linear tension-softening curve. Two finite element techniques are shown for the analysis of progressive cracking in concrete based on the discrete crack approach: one with crack element, the other without crack element. The advantage of the technique with crack element is that it dees not need to update the mesh topology to follow the progressive cracking. Numerical results by the techniques are demonstrated.