New Trends in Fracture Mechanics of Concrete

<p><strong>New Trends in Fracture Mechanics of Concrete</strong> contains Volume 1 of the Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures (FraMCoS-6 Catania Italy 17-22 June 2007). It is divided into four parts: (1) Theoretical and Numerical Methods in Fracture Mechanics of Concrete; (2) Experimental Methods in Fracture Mechanics of Concrete; (3) Constitutive Damage Modelling of Concrete; (4) Time Effects in the Damage and Fracture of Concrete. </p><p>Over the last twenty years many theoretical numerical and experimental methods have evolved in the field of Fracture Mechanics of Concrete. These have led to practical applications in reinforced-concrete design assessment monitoring and retrofitting as well as innovative high-performance and durable cementitious materials. Although Fracture Mechanics of Concrete is now mature as a framework for defining and solving a variety of engineering problems there is still much work to be done in improving previous theoretical and numerical models and for re-interpreting established phenomena. In particular there are new developments in the treatment of scale effects; the implementation of 3D-discretisation; and the combination of continuous and discontinuous models. Other areas of rapid progress are the development of innovative testing techniques; the proposal of non-local and anisotropic constitutive laws; the formulation of lattice and multiscale models and the development of coupled multifield theories.</p><p>The other two volumes comprising the Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures are Design Assessment and Retrofitting of RC Structures; and High-Performance Concrete Brick-Masonry and Environmental Aspects. The set presents a wealth of information and will be useful to professional civil engineers postgraduate students and researchers.</p>