Constitutive Model for Short-Time Loading of Concrete

A constitutive model based on nonlinear elasticity is proposed, where the secant values of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are changed appropriately. This alteration is obtained through the use of a nonlinearity index that relates the actual stress state to the failure surface. The model simulates the strain hardening before failure, the failure itself and the strain softening in the post-failure region. The dilation of the concrete and the influence of all three stress invariants are considered. All stress states including those where there are tensile stresses can be dealt with; however, the model is calibrated using experimental data obtained by a uniaxial compressive and tensile test only. The model predictions are demonstrated to be in good agreement with experimental results involving a wide range of stress states and different types of concrete.