Computational model for discrete crack growth in plain and reinforced concrete

The problem of analyzing reinforced concrete (RC) structural members for the formation and growth of cracks remains one of the difficult tasks in the field of structural concrete engineering. A computational model CoMICS is developed in this study by integrating plain concrete fracture model with bond-slip model for bimaterial contact for application to RC plane stress members. Accurate description of crack formation and its growth, contact behaviour, efficient finite element meshing/remeshing strategies are among the problems on which attention is focussed. Non-linear behaviour due to tensile cracking of concrete, and steel–concrete interface bond are considered. The stress paths for the materials are assumed to be proportional and the analysis is performed to study the response of the members within this range. Verification problems include analyses of bond-slip failure and tensile mode I failure in RC test specimen. The use of plain concrete crack model in conjunction with bond-slip model gives good correlation with experimental data.