An analytical study on the effects of strain gradient on the fracture statistics of quasi-brittle materials

A deterministic model with material strain-softening has been employed to predict the failure process of quasi-brittle materials subjected to different strain gradients. The failures of beams in pure bending and L-shape specimens in tension are simulated using this model, and the influence of material damage rate on the failure process is studied. The effect of statistical variations in the material properties on the fracture statistics of the components is then considered. The model correctly predicts the changes in the magnitude and distribution of the failure loads of specimens with different strain gradients. The results can help explain the influence of strain gradient on the fracture statistics of quasi-brittle materials.