On the crack evolution and failure form of concrete specimens based on minimum energy principle

By subjecting concrete specimens to pressure and tension under different loading conditions, this paper studies the relationships of stress state with crack opening and development and failure forms of specimens. Based on the principle of conservation of energy, it explores the relationship between failure area, failure energy and strength. The numerical calculation and CT test results show that the stress state of concrete determines the failure form, that the failure form determines the failure area, that failure area determines the energy consumed by the failure and that the failure energy determines the strength of the specimen, regardless of how the specimen is loaded.