Effect of Crack Cohesive Stresses on the Load-Deformation Response of Reinforced Concrete Beams

It is well known that the behavior of concrete is extensively affected by the initiation of cracks and their propagation. Among these cracks, diagonal or shear cracks have more complicated and less known behavior. In spite of extensive research in this field, current codes of practice do not provide a uniform margin of safety against shear failure of reinforced concrete yet. To simulate the non-elastic behavior of concrete in the fracture process zone, the distribution of cohesive forces through the crack sides have been used by researchers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the crack’s tip cohesive forces on the load-deflection response of reinforced concrete beams using fracture mechanic. In the numerical analysis used in this study, the non-linear behavior of concrete in the compression field is simulated by damage-plasticity model. To simulate the non-linear behavior of concrete in the tension area and simulating the onset and evolution of cracking, non-linear fracture mechanics based on cohesive crack model is used. Using finite element software of ABAQUS, a step by step approach is used. In the presented approach, the probability of possibility of crack evolution in beams is considered. Comparing the calculated load-deflection curves for several reinforced concrete beams with the experimental ones showed a good consistency.