Methodological principles of constructing the theory of concrete destruction

This paper presents the results of experimental studies that provide strong confirmation for the proposed hypothesis on the fractal nature of concrete's structure. The authors established that traditional analysis methods fail to fully capture the complexity of this composite material's architecture. For an adequate and comprehensive assessment of its structural heterogeneity and inherent multi-scale nature, the application of fractal geometry's mathematical framework is strongly recommended. The experiments clearly demonstrated the critical influence of the identified structural heterogeneity on the failure mechanism of concrete specimens. It was found that the fracture process is not localized or single-scale; on the contrary, it is distinctly multi-scale. This means it develops and propagates simultaneously across different structural levels—from macroscopic cracks to micro-defects. As a theoretical basis for describing this complex process, the article proposes new methodological principles. These principles synthesize the fundamental tenets of fracture mechanics with modern approaches of fractal geometry, enabling the development of a completer and more adequate model for predicting the behavior of concrete under load.