ABSTRACT
SDA offers an alternative to the modelling of crack formation of concrete structures. In contrast to smeared crack approaches or crack bands it naturally solves the problem of mesh sensitivity due to strain softening behavior. In contrast to X-FEM propagating displacement discontinuities are treated on the element level and not carried to the system level which simplifies crack propagation criteria. The paper discusses a theory to connect the SDA for continuum elements with truss elements which are arbitrarily embedded in a continuum with a flexible bond to model rebars and demonstrates it with examples.
