Modelling gas fracturing in saturated clay samples using triple-node zero-thickness interface elements

Geological Disposal Facilities (GDF) for radioactive waste will generally rely on clay-rich materials as a host geological formation and/or engineered barrier. Gas will be produced within the GDF, which can build up significant gas pressure and will activate the migration of gas through the clay materials via different transport mechanisms....

3D zero-thickness interface model for fracture of cement-based materials with chemical degradation

In the framework of the Finite Element Method, zero-thickness interface elements have been widely used to model fracturing processes in quasi-brittle materials in a broad variety of problems. In particular, interface elements equipped with elastoplastic constitutive laws that account for the softening of the material strength parameters due...

A sub-stepping iterative constitutive model for cyclic cracking-crushing-shearing in masonry interface elements

This paper proposes a sub-step based iterative constitutive model for line interface elements used to analyse masonry structures loaded in-plane. Based on a total deformation theory, the model adopts characteristics of multi-surface plasticity, including a Coulomb friction failure surface for shear, with tension and compression cut-off and...

Sub-increment Based Iterative Constitutive Model for Cyclic Cracking-Crushing-Shearing in Masonry Interface Elements

Masonry is one of the most commonly used construction materials for residential buildings and historic buildings around the world. Some of these buildings are located at seismic zones, while unreinforced masonry structures are vulnerable to seismic loads. To assess the existing masonry buildings and to design new masonry structures, nonlinear...

Modelling of membrane bonding response: Part 1 development of an adhesive contact interface element

The adhesive bonding strength of the membrane layers between the asphalt concrete surface layers and the decks of steel bridges has a strong influence on the fatigue life of orthotropic steel deck bridges (OSDBs). The most important requirement for the application of membrane materials to orthotropic steel deck bridges is that the membrane...

Modelling of membrane bonding response: Part 2 finite element simulations of membrane adhesion tests

The adhesive bonding strength of the membrane layers between the asphalt concrete surface layers and the decks of steel bridges has a strong influence on the fatigue life of orthotropic steel deck bridges (OSDBs). The interfacial properties between the membrane and the layers bonded to it have not been extensively studied in the current...

Model for alkali-silica reaction expansions in concrete using zero-thickness chemo-mechanical interface elements

Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) is a particular type of chemical reaction in concrete, which produces cracking and overall expansion of the affected structural element due to the formation of expansive reaction products within the cracks. This paper develops the formulation of a coupled Chemo-Mechanical (C-M) Finite Element (FE) model for...

A fibre flexure: Lumped shear model for masonry structures

Existing sophisticated numerical micro- and macro models have already proven to be capable of simulating typical masonry behaviour. However, assessing the global response of masonry buildings using brick-to-brick micro modelling or even simplified macro modelling, in which masonry is regarded as a continuum material, takes such an amount of time...

Modeling fatigue-driving delamination using a thick level set interface model

This paper presents a new discontinuous damage model for simulating fatigue-driven delamination in composites. Fatigue models commonly describe crack growth using the Paris law which provides the link between the energy released due to delamination and the crack growth rate. A core issue in implementing the Paris law is to accurately compute the...

A thick level set interface model for simulating fatigue-drive delamination in composites

This paper presents a new damage model for simulating fatigue-driven delamination in composite laminates. This model is developed based on the Thick Level Set approach (TLS) and provides a favorable link between damage mechanics and fracture mechanics through the non-local evaluation of the energy release rate. Previously, this approach has been...

An Efficient Approach to the Modeling of Compressive Transverse Cracking in Composite Laminates

A wedge-shaped failure mechanism occurs when a composite ply in a laminate is loaded under transverse compression. Because of this, a typical failure model for tensile load cases is not straightforward applicable for compressive load cases. In this paper, a method is described to approximate the compressive behavior using a vertical crack plane....

Numerical assessment of failure mechanisms in fibre metal laminates

In this contribution numerical models are discussed for describing failure mechanisms in fibre metal laminates. Fibre metal laminates form a new class of materials which are considered for a possible application to the fuselage of future aircraft generations. The intensive experimental analyses of these materials are focused on the assessment of...

Finite elements simulation of reflective cracking in asphaltic overlays

Overlaying is one of the most popular and cost effective techniques of rehabilitation of cracked pavements. The placing of reinforcement between the overlay and the top layer of the cracked pavement is currently being utilised as a possible technique for delaying the development of cracks into the overlay. In order to assist the road designer...

The application of interface elements and enriched or rate-dependent continuum models to micro--mechanical analyses of fracture in compistes

A non-linear finite element approach for the analysis of mode-I free edge delamination in composites

On the numerical integration of interface elements