Measurements and Calculations of the Width of the Fracture Process Zones on the Surface of Notched Concrete Beams

The paper presents the results of experimental and theoretical investigations of the width of the fracture process zone (FPZ) on the surface of notched concrete beams during quasi-static three-point bending. To measure two-dimensional deformations on the surface of beams, a Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique was used. Laboratory tests were performed with different notched concrete beams. The experiments were simulated with two different isotropic continuum crack models under two-dimensional conditions: an elasto-plastic and a damage one with non-local softening.