Notched concrete beams analysis with ANSYS finite element programme

Previos studies reveal that brittle failures of concrete structures generally exhibit a significant size effect which cannot be described by plastic limit analysis based on strength criterion but it can be described by linear elastic facture mechanics based on energy criterion. It is accepted that with or without steel fiber concrete beams are half-brittle. In this study concrete beams are tested on 4 point loading. Size effect is very important in this kind of fractures. Also beam tests are easy and similar to real behaviour for bending and displacement. Failure loads and displacements of beams tested in laboratory are compared with the results of ANSYS finite element computer programme. Also some graphs are obtained about this comparison. Keywords : Notched concrete beam, ANSYS, finite element, fracture load, crack width, stress intensity factor