Modelling of concrete response to fluctuating load

Abstract An elastoplastic constitutive model for concrete subjected to cyclic loading conditions is presented. The model is an extension of a recently proposed constitutive concept. 7 An initial active loading process is described, using the conventional framework of the rate independent theory of plasticity. An appropriate hardening/softening parameter is introduced which allows one to model the sensitivity of material characteristics to varying confining pressure, including a smooth transition from stable to unstable response. For stress histories that include stress reversals, the formulation invokes a set of neutral loading loci defining the conditions of the neutral state. 8 The field of hardening moduli is specified through an appropriate interpolation rule which enables one to simulate adequately the effect of cyclic degradation of the material. The performance of the model is verified for some typical cyclic loading histories, and the results are compared with existing experimental data.