Mixed-Mode I-II Cracking Characterization of Mortar Using Phase-Field Method

There have been many studies on mortar single-mode cracking behavior under tensile loading, however, the mixed-mode cracking is still not fully understood. In this paper, the mortar Mixed-Mode I-II cracking behavior is investigated by decomposing the total fracture energy into Mode I component and Mode II component. The total fracture energy is then put into the modified nonconserved Allen-Cahn equation to simulate the cracking process. Two types of cracking experiments, namely, internal inclined cracking test and single-edge cracking test, are conducted to verify the simulation results. It is discovered that the phase-field method simulation could satisfactorily capture the Mixed-Mode I-II cracking behavior of mortar. (C) 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.