Influence of volumetric–deviatoric coupling on crack prediction in concrete fracture tests

The influence of volumetric–deviatoric coupling on the prediction of curved crack patterns in concrete fracture tests is analyzed by using an elasto-plastic-damage model, for which the amount of volumetric–deviatoric coupling is controlled by the hardening modulus of the plasticity model. First, the tangent stiffness matrix and the total stress–strain response for simple shear are investigated. Then, two fracture tests reported in the literature are simulated with significantly varying amounts of coupling. It is shown that volumetric–deviatoric coupling greatly improves the description of curved crack patterns in mixed-mode fracture tests.