An analysis of dynamic fracture in concrete with a continuum visco-elastic visco-plastic damage model

We present a rate-dependent continuum model for the dynamic modelling of concrete. Rate dependency is included by means of visco-elastic and visco-plastic constitutive relationships. The inclusion of the Stefan effect, described by a visco-elastic model, results in an increased tensile strength with increasing loading rate. An additional rate effect comes from the visco-plastic contribution which, from a mechanical standpoint, can be related to the micro-inertia of the material surrounding the crack tip. Static and dynamic examples show the capabilities of the model with respect to localization, hysteresis and dissipation of energy.