ABSTRACT
This chapter presents two applications of softening fracture mechanics to bond and anchorage in reinforced concrete. Smeared and discrete crack models including tensile softening are used to simulate the fracture behavior in a tension-pull specimen and in an anchorage structure. Both problems involve axi-symmetry and it is demonstrated that in such cases transverse secondary cracking, transverse primary cracking as well as longitudinal splitting cracking can be simulated. The bond computations support the verification and validation of traction-slip rules. The anchorage computations provide a clear demonstration of the elastic-softening theory. The outcome correctly reveals that the elastic energy stored in the structure is released for creating fracture surface, as accompanied by dangerous brittle load-displacement behavior.
