Author(s)

M. Petrangeli & J. Ozbolt

Abstract

When using a smeared model in the nonlinear finite element analysis of concrete structure, an internal length scale must be incorporated to cor- rectly simulate the fracture mechanism in the material. This can be done with different approaches at different levels. A necessary condition for each of these approaches is to assure that a constant energy is exploited in the fracture process zone independently of the mesh size and shape (orienta- tion). When this integral condition is not satisfied, problems of spurious mesh sensitivity will arise i.e. unobjectivity of the analysis with respect to the finite element size. The crack band approach is the most simple application of the internal scale le

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