ABSTRACT
Abstract Experiments have been carried out in order to determine the input parameters for the Delft Lattice Model. Emphasis is placed on the fracture properties of the interfacial transition zone between matrix and aggregate particles. Both the experiments and the simulations presented in this paper have been performed at the Stevin Laboratory of Delft University of Technology. In the experiments a single aggregate particle is positioned at a prescribed position of a notched specimen. Interface fracture is obtained by a splitting load. To vary the interface characteristics, either a granite or a sandstone aggregate particle is used. The results are used to determine the interface properties in the Delft Lattice Model. In the two dimensional model concrete is schematised as a three phase material by means of brittle breaking beam elements. Fracture is simulated by removing an element as soon as the strength of the element is reached. The results show that the stiffness of the beam elements hardly affects the fracture process, whereas the failure mechanism is dominated by the strength of the beams.
