Strain localization in transient concrete state and potential crack location

Strain localization is affected by softening characteristics of material. In transient concrete state, there exist plural softening strain components which pertain localization. Such components are known as plastic strain and visco-plastic strain. These strain components are hard to be identified or distinguished in transient concrete state. The first part of this paper is devoted to the rational identifying method of those strain components from experiment. Then constitutive equation is developed. Applying the same method to the interface characteristics, the thermal stress generation is investigated in relation to interfacial stiffness. The new insight to the problem is addressed from the viewpoint of bifürcation of the interfacial deformation and potential cracking location.