ANALYSIS ON THE COHESIVE STRESS AT HALF INFINITE CRACK TIP

The nonlinear fracture behavior of quasi-brittle materials is closely related with the cohesive force distribution of fracture process zone at crack tip. Based on fracture character of quasi-brittle materials, a mechanical analysis model of half infinite crack with cohesive stress is presented. A pair of integral equations is established according to the superposition principle of crack opening displacement in solids, and the fictitious adhesive stress is unknown function . The properties of integral equations are analyzed, and the series function expression of cohesive stress is certified. By means of the data of actual crack opening displacement, two approaches to gain the cohesive stress distribution are proposed through resolving algebra equation. They are the integral transformation method for continuous displacement of actual crack opening, and the least square method for the discrete data of crack opening displacement. The calculation examples of two approaches and associated discussions are given.

Calibration of coupled hydro-mechanical properties of grain-based model for simulating fracture process and associated pore pressure evolution in excavation damage zone around deep tunnels

The objective of this paper is to develop a methodology for calibration of a discrete element grain-based model(GBM)to replicate the hydro-mechanical properties of a brittle rock measured in the laboratory,and to apply the calibrated model to simulating the formation of excavation damage zone(EDZ)around underground excavations.Firstly,a new cohesive crack model is implemented into the universal distinct element code(UDEC)to control the fracturing behaviour of materials under various loading modes.Next,a methodology for calibration of the components of the UDEC-Voronoi model is discussed.The role of connectivity of induced microcracks on increasing the permeability of laboratory-scale samples is investigated.The calibrated samples are used to investigate the influence of pore fluid pressure on weakening the drained strength of the laboratory-scale rock.The validity of the Terzaghi’s effective stress law for the drained peak strength of low-porosity rock is tested by performing a series of biaxial compression test simulations.Finally,the evolution of damage and pore pressure around two unsupported circular tunnels in crystalline granitic rock is studied.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Delamination Repair Plaster Applied to Historical Masonry Building

Often masonry walls of historical buildings are subject to rising damp effects due to capillary or rain infiltrations. In the time, their cyclic action produces decay and delamination of historical plasters. An experimental laboratory procedure for the pre-qualification of repair mortars is described. Long-term plaster delamination frequently occurs because of the mechanical incompatibility of new repair mortars. The tested mortars are suitable for new dehumidified plasters applied to historical masonry walls. Compression static tests were carried out on composite specimens stSone block-repair mortar, which specific geometry can test the de-bonding process of mortar in adherence with historical masonry structure. A numerical simulation based on the cohesive crack model was used to follow the experimental data, in order to describe the evolutionary phenomenon of de-bonding as a function of a small number of parameters. This method supplies useful indication for selecting the product that is best in keeping with the mechanical characteristics of the historical material, thereby avoiding errors associated with materials that are not mechanically compatible. Currently, the methodology is being used at Sacro Monte di Varallo Special Natural Reserve （UNESCO heritage site） in Piedmont （Italy）.

Arch-dam crack deformation monitoring hybrid model based on XFEM

An extended finite element method incorporated with the cohesive crack model(CCM-based XFEM) is developed in consideration of crack tip enrichment.It could improve the accuracy and is introduced into dam safety monitoring for the first time.Firstly,the proposed method is verified for a benchmark concrete beam by comparing the results with those of numerical investigations obtained by other researchers.Furthermore,it is adopted as an alternative method for building the deformation hybrid models of non-stable cracks in an arc dam,for the reason that classical FEMs are cumbersome in modeling the cohesive crack growth due to the need of remeshing the moving discontinuities.Case study proves that the fitted results of the mentioned deformation hybrid model,better than the classical statistical model,are well consistent with the measured data and reliable to forecast the development tendency of crack deformation.Therefore,the present CCM-based XFEM could provide a practical way to simulate and monitor the cracking process in concrete arch dam.