3D fracture modelling and limit state analysis of prestressed composite concrete pipes

In this manuscript, we study fracture of prestressed cylindrical concrete pipes. Such concrete pipes play a major role in tunneling and underground engineering. The structure is modelled fully in 3D using three-dimensional continuum elements for the concrete structure which beam elements are employed to model the reinforcement. This allows the method to capture important phenomena compared to a pure shell model of concrete. A continuous approach to fracture is chosen when concrete is subjected to compressive loading while a combined continuous-discrete fracture method is employed in tension. The model is validated through comparisons with experimental data.