Fracture Events Localization by Numerical Simulations of Cementitious Composites

This paper presents a numerical study of failure behavior of cementitious composite materials differing in their composition (aggregate size). A set of four different materials was tested in atypical splitting test geometry. During these tests, apart from the typical outputs such as the load–displacement curves, signals from failure events causing acoustic emission (AE) were recorded. However, reliability of the procedures of the failure events localization might seem questionable in some cases – therefore, the test evaluation procedures were accompanied by analyses using 3D numerical simulation tools based on nonlinear fracture-mechanics approach and propagation of fracture events in the specimens are performed using two computational codes. One is a commercial non-linear FEM code with implementation of cohesive crack model (in the smeared cracks formulation). The second one is an own developed discrete lattice-type model. The comparison of AE records from the tests with the results of the performed numerical simulations can answer questions on the distribution and magnitude (and possibly the energy dissipation amount) of the recorded failure events and generally help in the interpretation and exploitation of AE in the research of failure of non-electric building materials.