Fracture mechanics and concrete behaviour

Synopsis A fracture mechanism for concrete valid under any state of stress and which can be used to predict observed deformational behaviour is postulated on the basis of theoretical considerations regarding the extension of a crack within a brittle elastic medium. This fracture mechanism forms the basis of an analysis of experimental data on the deformational response of concrete under various states of triaxial stress, and has led to a comprehensive description of the fracture processes of the material under generalized loading conditions.