| Abstract: | The flexural behavior of a beam is investigated in an attempt to establish a correlation between the tensile and bending properties of strain-softening solids. Given the complete uniaxial stress—strain relations, including the post-peak tension-softening portion, it is possible to predict the flexural behavior in moment—curvature and load—deflection relations. The results indicate that strain-softening gives rise to enhanced bending strength in agreement with experimental data. Conversely, given the bending responses together with the softening characteristics the complete tensile behavior can be determined. Since bending experiments are easier to perform than uniaxial tensile tests, this well-defined correlation provides a feasible means to obtain the entire tensile behavior of strain-softening solids such as concrete, rocks and ceramics. |
