Influence of some parameters on a phase field based cohesive zone model for modelling interface failure in steel fiber reinforced concrete

Fiber debonding and bridging effects are crucial for characterizing the properties of steel fiber reinforced concrete. To achieve this topic, in this work, a regularized phase-field cohesive zone model has been developed. The interface is represented in a smeared sense within the framework of phase field regularization. The latter is a scalar variable between 0 and 1 that distinguishes the interface and matrix/inclusion zone. Starting from an energetic framework, a phase field representation for cohesive fracture is elaborated employing the cohesive traction law. The displacement jumps at the interface is represented by an auxiliary field. This model has been implemented in a house Matlab code using both quadrilateral and triangular elements. It is capable of simulating the competition and interaction between the bulk and interface cracks. The accuracy of this approach and the influence of certain numerical parameters are investigated through the uniaxials tension test.