Micromechanically Inspired Phenomenological Damage Model

The paper suggests a phenomenological damage theory for perfectly brittle response of solids. The theory is based on the micromechanics of brittle deformation processes. The inelastic change of the compliance is identified as the flux and a properly averaged energy release rate as the affinity. The paper identifies conditions under which the damage potential exists. The proposed model is illustrated on the examples of plain concrete specimens subjected to uniaxial tension and compression.