Scaling of Structural Strength

This book is concerned with a leading-edge topic of great interest and importance, exemplifying the relationship between experimental research, material modeling, structural analysis and design. It focuses on the effect of structure size on structural strength and failure behaviour.

Bazant's theory has found wide application to all quasibrittle materials, including rocks, ice, modern fiber composites and tough ceramics. The topic of energetic scaling, considered controversial until recently, is finally getting the attention it deserves, mainly as a result of Bazant's pioneering work. In this new edition an extra section of data and new appendices covering twelve new application developments are included.

* The first book to show the 'size effect' theory of structure size on strength
* Presents the principles and applications of Bazant's pioneering work on structural strength
* Revised edition with new material on topics including asymptotic matching, flexural strength of fiber-composite laminates, polymeric foam fractures and the design of reinforced concrete beams


Introduction; Asymptotic Analysis of Size Effect; Randomness and Disorder; Energetic Scaling for Sea Ice and Concrete Structures; Energetic Scaling of Compression Fracture and Further Applications to Concrete, Rocks and Composites; Scaling via J-Integral, with Application to Kink Bands in Fiber Composites; Time Dependence, Repeated Loads and Energy Absorption Capacity; Computational Approaches to Quasibrittle Fracture and its Scaling; New Asymptotic Scaling Analysis of Cohesive Crack Model and Smeared-Tip Method; Size Effect at Continuum Limit on Approach to Atomic Lattice Scale; Future Perspectives; Appendices