Crack mechanisms in concrete – from micro to macro scale

Marta Słowik


Department of Structural Engineering; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Lublin University of Technology; Nadbystrzycka 40, 20-618 Lublin, Poland (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9627-3625

Piet Stroeven


Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences; Delft University of Technology; Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands (Netherlands)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1283-112X

Amanda Akram

a.akram@pollub.pl
Department of Structural Engineering; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Lublin University of Technology; Nadbystrzycka 40, 20-618 Lublin; (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5619-2927

Abstract

The paper discusses a fictitious crack model of concrete in tension proposed by Hillerborg. This model presents a concept that illustrates the mechanism of crack initiation and its propagation in concrete on meso-level. It has proven to be a very useful tool for practical use, for both numerical and experimental research. The model was derived from findings on crack mechanisms on more advanced micro- and macro-scale, as presented in this paper. One of the paramount issues regarding crack analysis is the influence of aggregate size on mechanical and fracture parameters of concrete, and also on micro-crack development and associated macro-crack formation. Although significant progress in recognizing crack mechanisms in concrete has been achieved, there are still some aspects that should be studied in depth, for example the role of aggregate particles on crack development. This problem is analysed in the paper as well.


Keywords:

concrete, crack mechanisms, fictitious crack model

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Published
2020-11-02

Cited by

Słowik, M., Stroeven, P. and Akram, A. (2020) “Crack mechanisms in concrete – from micro to macro scale”, Budownictwo i Architektura, 19(4), pp. 055–065. doi: 10.35784/bud-arch.2147.

Authors

Marta Słowik 

Department of Structural Engineering; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Lublin University of Technology; Nadbystrzycka 40, 20-618 Lublin, Poland Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9627-3625

Authors

Piet Stroeven 

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences; Delft University of Technology; Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands Netherlands
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1283-112X

Authors

Amanda Akram 
a.akram@pollub.pl
Department of Structural Engineering; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Lublin University of Technology; Nadbystrzycka 40, 20-618 Lublin; Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5619-2927

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