• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.181-192
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• 1999

The progressive failure following strain localization in concrete can be analyzed effectively using finite element modeling of fracture process zone of concrete with a finite element embedded discontinuity. In this study, a finite element with embedded discontinuous line is utilized for the analysis of progressive failure in concrete. The finite element with embedded discontinuity is a kind of discrete crack element, but the difficulties in discrete crack approach such as remeshing or adding new nodes along with crack growth can be avoided. Using a discontinuous shape function for this element, the displacement discontinuity is embedded within an element and its constitutive equation is modeled from the modeling of fracture process zone. The element stiffness matrix is derived and its dual mapping technique for numerical integration is employed. Then, a finite element analysis program with employed algorithms is developed and failure analysis results using developed finite element program are verified through the comparison with experimental data and other analysis results.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.483-496
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• 2010

This work deals with the determination of crack openings in 2D reinforced concrete structures using the Finite Element Method with a smeared rotating crack model or an embedded crack model. In the smeared crack model, the strong discontinuity associated with the crack is spread throughout the finite element. As is well known, the continuity of the displacement field assumed for these models is incompatible with the actual discontinuity. However, this type of model has been used extensively due to the relative computational simplicity it provides by treating cracks in a continuum framework, as well as the reportedly good predictions of reinforced concrete members' structural behavior. On the other hand, by enriching the displacement field within each finite element crossed by the crack path, the embedded crack model is able to describe the effects of actual discontinuities (cracks). This paper presents a comparative study of the abilities of these 2D models in predicting the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete structures. Structural responses are compared with experimental results from the literature, including crack patterns, crack openings and rebar stresses predicted by both models.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.233-238
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• 1999

Localized failure analysis of concrete structures can be carried out effectively by modeling fracture process zone of concrete during crack initiation and propagation. But, the analysis techniques are still insufficient for crack modeling because of difficulties in numerical analysis procedure which describe progressive crack. In this paper, a finite element with embedded displacement discontinuity is introduced to remove the difficulties of remeshing for crack propagation in discrete crack model during progressive failure analysis of concrete structures. The performance of this so-called embedded crack approach for concrete failure analysis is verified by several analysis examples. The analysis results show that the embedded crack approach retains mesh size objectivity and can simulate localized failure under mixed mode loading. It can be concluded that the embedded crack approach cab be an effective alternate to the smeared and discrete crack approaches.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.331-346
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• 2010

We present a quadrilateral finite element with an embedded crack that can be used to model tensile fracture in two-dimensional concrete solids and the crack growth. The element has kinematics that can represent linear jumps in both normal and tangential displacements along the crack line. The cohesive law in the crack is based on rigid-plasticity with softening. The required material data for the concrete failure analysis are the constants of isotropic elasticity and the mode I softening curve. The results of two well known tests are presented in order to illustrate very satisfying performance of the presented approach to simulate failure of concrete solids.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.450-455
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• 1998

In this paper, finite element with embedded discontinuous line is introduced in order to avoid the difficulties of adding new nodal points along with crack growth in discrete crack model. With the discontinuous element using discontinuous shape function, stiffness matrix of finite element is derived and dual mapping technique for numerical integration is employed. Using the finite element program made with employed algorithms, algorithm is verified and fracture analysis of simple concrete beam is performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.1 s.73
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

The finite element alternating method is a convenient and efficient method to analyze three-dimensional cracks embedded in an infinite or a finite body because the method has the property that the uncracked body and cracks can be modeled independently. In this paper the method was applied for fatigue crack growth simulation. A surface crack in a cylinder was considered as an initial crack and the crack configurations and stress intensity factors during the crack growth were obtained. In this paper the finite element alternating method proposed by Nikishkov, Park and Atluri was used after modification. In the method, as the required solution for a crack in an infinite body, the symmetric Galerkin boundary element method formulated by Li and Mear was used. And a crack was modeled as distribution of displacement discontinuities, and the governing equation was formulated as singularity-reduced integral equations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.261-283
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• 2013

This paper aims to contribute to the three-dimensional generalization of numerical prediction of crack propagation through the formulation of finite elements with embedded discontinuities. The analysis of crack propagation in two-dimensional problems yields lines of discontinuity that can be tracked in a relatively simple way through the sequential construction of straight line segments oriented according to the direction of failure within each finite element in the solid. In three-dimensional analysis, the construction of the discontinuity path is more complex because it requires the creation of plane surfaces within each element, which must be continuous between the elements. In the method proposed by Chaves (2003) the crack is determined by solving a problem analogous to the heat conduction problem, established from local failure orientations, based on the stress state of the mechanical problem. To minimize the computational effort, in this paper a new strategy is proposed whereby the analysis for tracking the discontinuity path is restricted to the domain formed by some elements near the crack surface that develops along the loading process. The proposed methodology is validated by performing three-dimensional analyses of basic problems of experimental fractures and comparing their results with those reported in the literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.591-604
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• 2001

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

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.206-214
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• 1998

When a crack meets bimaterial interface stress singularity depends on the elastic constants of the adjacent materials. In the present study we are going to describe the finite element formulation for problems with a crack to be embedded in the stiffer material$({\mu}_2/{\mu}_1)$. The cubic isoparametric singular element, represented by adequately shifting the mid-side nodes adjacent to the crack tip is constructed to enclose the crack tip. An alternative method to obtain the optimal position of the mid-side nodes of cubic isoparametric elements is presented. In addition, a proper definition for the stress intensity factors of a crack normal to bimaterial interface is provided. It is based upon near a tip displacement solutions. Models for numerical analysis are two dimensional elastic bodies with a through crack under plain strain. The results obtained are compared with the previous solutions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.583-586
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• 2000

In this paper, the embedded crack approach that crack is modeled by discontinuous line inside finite element is applied for localized progressive fracture analyses. The algorithm for progressive fracture analyses of concrete structure are enhanced by introducing nonlinear softening curve and unloading algorithm of tension-softening curve which can simulate localized fracture of concrete. The failure analysis results ar compared with existing test results for varification.