%0 Journal Article
%@ 1573-2673
%A Carpinteri, Alberto
%A Corrado, Mauro
%A Paggi, Marco
%D 2010
%F eprints:1986
%I Springer-Verlag
%J International Journal of Fracture
%K Reinforced concrete; Cohesive Crack Model; Nonlinear analysis; Finite element method; Crushing; Ductility; Overlapping Crack Model
%N 2
%P 161-173
%T An integrated cohesive/overlapping crack model for the analysis of flexural cracking and crushing in RC beams
%U http://eprints.imtlucca.it/1986/
%V 161
%X In the present paper, a new fracture-mechanics based model is proposed for the analysis of reinforced concrete beams in bending describing both cracking and crushing growths taking place during the loading process by means of the concept of strain localization. In particular, the nonlinear behaviour of concrete in compression is modelled by the Overlapping Crack Model, which considers a material interpenetration when the elastic limit is overcome, in close analogy with the Cohesive Crack Model, routinely adopted for modelling the tensile behaviour of concrete. On the basis of different nonlinear contributions due to concrete and steel, a numerical finite element algorithm is proposed. According to this approach, the flexural behaviour of reinforced concrete structural elements is analyzed by varying the main geometrical and mechanical parameters. Particular regard is given to the role of the size-scale effects on the ductility of plastic hinges, which is available at the ultimate load conditions.