Finite Element Analysis of Concrete Failure in Shear

Abstract : The main purpose of this study is to assess the current computational methods for predicting the failure behavior of concrete and geomaterials in the form of tensile cracking and frictional slip. The paper concentrates on the peak and post-peak response of plain concrete in shear which is modeled by the smeared finite element approach in which localized failure zones are distributed over a finite material region with softening material properties. The computational results are compared with experimental observations of plain concrete specimens which are tested in the large capacity servo-controlled direct shear apparatus described by S. Sture in the companion paper. (Author)