Hi everybody!

I am now using Abaqus to model concrete cracks by using cohesive element and I have got two questions regarding this:

1. cohesive element, as known, is often employed to model interface especially when the integrity and strength of the interface is of interest. For my problem, there is no real interface, however, I impose a cohesive element interface artificially in the concrete and to see the crack propagation. Is this applicable theoretically?

2. Given the above assumption is correct, how to define the material properties of both concrete and the interface, as the interface is not real but dummy? I really have no sense on this point. 

Kind regards

Chris

Hello everybody, I am working on the concrete crack width (longintudinal) under both corrosion and applied loads using fracture mechanics. In my analytical model I used smeared crack model which as known is simulated by reducting the stiffness and strength, not like discrete crack model assuming displacement discontinuity. When I was approaching to the numerical verification, howver, I found that it was difficult to model the crack propagation as well as getting the crack width. I have tried ABAQUS and ANSYS. My question would be, therefore, can concrete crack width (and propagation) be numerically modelled using smeared crack. If applicable, what software could be used? Many thanks!