Modeling heterogeneous materials failure: 3D meso-scale models with embedded discontinuities

We present a meso-scale heterogeneous model adapted to quasi-brittle materials such as concrete and based on spatial truss representation. In order to explicitly incorporate heterogeneities without using adapted meshes, some bar elements need to be split into two parts. To that respect both weak and strong discontinuities are embedded into those elements using the Incompatible Mode Method and a dedicated local solution procedure based on the operator split is described. Several macroscopic loading paths are then considered, showing quite complex macroscopic responses though the mesoscopic failure criterion is voluntary chosen as simple as possible.