Author(s)

A. Carpinteri, F. Ciola & N. Pugno

Abstract

In the present paper the mechanical comprcssive behaviour of quasi-brittle materials is analyzed by means of an ad hoc boundary element algorithm. The analysis is carried out by taking into account the initial crack distribution, which cannot be neglected if the experimental reality (developing over three scale levels, micro-, meso- and macro-scale) is to be modelled. The algorithm permits to follow the evolution of the crack geometry during the loading process, which is characterized, at each step, by the propagation of the most critical meso- or macro-crack. Moreover, in order to take into account the micro-crack effect causing the progressive decay of the material, a decreasing variation of the elastic modulus is assumed, depending on the strain energy density absorbed during the loading p

Keywords