Energy‐based simulation of concrete cracking using an improved mixed‐mode cohesive crack model within a meshless discretization

In this paper an algorithm for the automatic simulation of concrete cracking is presented. The moving crack discontinuity is represented in a meshless discretization. An adaptive coupling of meshless zones in the growing fracture area with traditional finite elements in the undamaged domain is realized, because of the larger numerical effort of the meshless methods. Since the standard cohesive crack model cannot represent the interaction between the normal traction and shear traction damage of the crack surfaces under mixed‐mode loading in this work a coupled mixed‐mode cohesive crack model is adapted for the use in the presented algorithm. This model is included in an energy‐based crack criterion based on the virtual crack extension concept, which is much more independent from the discretization than stress‐based approaches as the Rankine criterion.