Modelling the failure of reinforced concrete with nonlocal and crack band approaches using the damage-plasticity model CDPM2

A nonlocal extension of the damage-plasticity model CDPM2 is proposed. The performance of this extension is evaluated in comparison with a crack band version of the same model for describing the failure of reinforced concrete. In particular, the influence of mesh size on the structural response in the form of load-displacement curves and strain distributions is studied for a reinforced concrete beam subjected to four point bending. The nonlocal model provides mesh independent load-displacement curves and strain profiles, whereas the peak loads and strain profiles obtained with the crack band model depend on the element size.