doi:10.3850/978-981-08-7920-4_S3-M003-cd

ABSTRACT

Several investigators worked on various aspects of tensile behavior of concrete because of its wide usage in structural design. One of the observable phenomena during tensile failure of concrete is strain softening, i.e. a negative slope in the stress—deformation diagrams. There are many kinds of experiment-based softening curves for concrete. In current research, use of newly introduced concept of fractal geometry and a failure model yields to a new softening curve for concrete. This new curve is denominated “Quasi-fractal” softening curve, which is a theorybased softening model. Comparison of Quasi-fractal softening curve with a set of proposed experimental softening curves has been performed which reveals good agreement.

Keywords: Fractal geometry, Tensile fracture, Strain softening, Concrete, Softening curve.

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