MICROMECHANICAL MODELLING OF STRAIN SOFTENING IN MICROCRACK-WEAKENED QUASI-BRITTLE MATERIALS

By using the concept of domain of microcrack growth(DMG),themicromechanisms of damage in quasi-brittle materials subjected to triaxial either tensileor compressive loading are investigated and the complete strew-strain relation includingfour stages is obtained from micromechanical analysis.The regime of pre-peaknonlinear hardening corresponds to the distributed damage,i.e.the stable propagationof microcracks.After the attainment of the ultimate strength of load-bearing capacity,some microcracks experience the second unstable growth and the distributed damage istransmitted to the localization of damage.These analyses improve our understanding ofthe hardening and softening behaviors of quasi-brittle materials.

MICROMECHANICAL MODELLING OF STRAIN SOFTENING IN MICROCRACK-WEAKENED QUASI-BRITTLE MATERIALS

By using the concept of domain of microcrack growth(DMG),the micromechanisms of damage in quasi-brittle materials subjected to triaxial either tensile or compressive loading are investigated and the complete strew-strain relation including four stages is obtained from micromechanical analysis.The regime of pre-peak nonlinear hardening corresponds to the distributed damage,i.e.the stable propagation of microcracks.After the attainment of the ultimate strength of load-bearing capacity, some microcracks experience the second unstable growth and the distributed damage is transmitted to the localization of damage.These analyses improve our understanding of the hardening and softening behaviors of quasi-brittle materials.