ABSTRACT
Abstract Lattice type fracture models have proven to be a powerful instrument for predicting tensile fracture of concrete and other brittle disordered materials [1]. The model that is used so far comprises of a triangular lattice projected on top of a generated particle structure of the material. The fracture law is a purely brittle law, based on an effective stress computed from normal and flexural stresses in the lattice beams. For compression, this model has shown to give less favourable results [2]. Therefore, at present different types of lattice models are studied. The effect of different fracture laws on the biaxial stress contour is determined. This paper contains a number of preliminary results, which suggest that a fracture law based on normal and shear stress is more effective for describing biaxial states of stress, including compressive states of stress. Moreover, the size of the lattice, and the rotational freedom of the nodes affect the results to some degree. Keywords: Lattice models, biaxial loading, fracture law, concrete.
