Fracture modelling of plain concrete using non-local fracture mechanics and a graph-based computational framework

In this article, we developed a thermodynamically consistent non-local microcracking model for quasi-brittle materials with application to concrete. The is implemented using novel graph-based finite element analysis (GraFEA) approach that allows (i) the probabilistic modeling of growth and coalescence microcracks, (ii) crack closure kinematics-based approach, (iii) rate effects on microcracking. theoretical its computational framework also into dynamics-based Abaqus/Explicit program through vectorized user-material subroutine interface. We further demonstrate procedure obtaining parameters (including intrinsic material length scale, which governs fracture process) consequently validate simulations independent experimental results.