Calculations of fracture process zones on meso-scale in notched concrete beams subjected to three-point bending

The paper describes investigations on fracture process zones (FPZ) at meso-scale in notched concrete beams subjected to quasi-static three-point bending. The simulations were carried out with the FEM using isotropic damage constitutive model enhanced by a characteristic length of micro-structure by means of a non-local theory. Concrete was modelled as a random heterogeneous three-phase material. The effect of the beam size, aggregate distribution, aggregate density, aggregate shape, aggregate size and characteristic length on the width and shape of FPZ and load-displacement curve was numerically investigated. The numerical results were compared with own test results using Digital Image Correlation method (Skarzynski et al., 2009a), the tests by Le Bellego et al., (2003) and the size effect law by Bazant (2004). (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.