Fracture Processes of Concrete

Despite tremendous advances made in fracture mechanics of concrete in recent years, very little information has been available on the nature of fracture processes and on reliable test methods for determining parameters for the different models. Moreover, most texts on this topic discuss numerical modeling but fail to consider experimentation. This book fills these gaps and synthesizes progress in the field in a simple, straightforward manner geared to practical applications. Introduction: Setting the Stage. Structure and Mechanical Behaviour: Structure of Cement and Concrete. Mechanical Behavior of Concrete. Experimental and Modelling Tools: Experimental Tools. Modelling as a Tool for Test Interpretation. Synthesis: Validation of Model Parameters. Numerical Simulation of Plain Concrete Fracture Experiments. Fracture Mechanics for Structural Analysis. Appendix: Principal Stresses and Invariants. References. Index.