Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone Method

Wood, steel, and concrete constitute the three predominant structural materials employed in contemporary commercial and residential construction. In composite applications, bond interfaces between these materials represent critical structural junctures that frequently exhibit a reduced load-bearing...

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Main Authors: Yulong Zhu, Yafen Zhang, Lu Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1717
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author Yulong Zhu
Yafen Zhang
Lu Xiang
author_facet Yulong Zhu
Yafen Zhang
Lu Xiang
author_sort Yulong Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Wood, steel, and concrete constitute the three predominant structural materials employed in contemporary commercial and residential construction. In composite applications, bond interfaces between these materials represent critical structural junctures that frequently exhibit a reduced load-bearing capacity, rendering them susceptible to the initiation of cracks. To elucidate the fracture propagation mechanisms at composite material interfaces, this study implements the cohesive zone method (CZM) to numerically simulate interfacial cracking behavior in two material systems: glued laminated timber (GLT) and reinforced concrete (RC). The adopted CZM framework utilizes a progressive delamination approach through cohesive elements governed by a bilinear traction–separation constitutive law. This methodology enables the simulation of interfacial failure through three distinct fracture modes: mode I (pure normal separation), mode II (pure in-plane shear), and mixed-mode (mode m) failure. Numerical models were developed for GLT beams, RC beams, and RC slab structures to investigate the propagation of interfacial cracks under monotonic loading conditions. The simulation results demonstrate strong agreement with experimental cracking observations in GLT structures, validating the CZM’s efficacy in characterizing both mechanical behavior and crack displacement fields. The model successfully captures transverse tensile failure (mode I) parallel to wood grain, longitudinal shear failure (mode II), and mixed-mode failure (mode m) in GLT specimens. Subsequent application of the CZM to RC structural components revealed a comparable predictive accuracy in simulating the interfacial mechanical response and crack displacement patterns at concrete composite interfaces. These findings collectively substantiate the robustness of the proposed CZM framework in modeling complex fracture phenomena across diverse construction material systems.
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spelling doaj-art-04b282ca0719487c9fa3385eca557c3e2025-08-20T02:33:43ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-05-011510171710.3390/buildings15101717Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone MethodYulong Zhu0Yafen Zhang1Lu Xiang2School of Civil Engineering, Institute of Disaster Prevention, Sanhe 065201, ChinaSchool of Engineering, The Open University of China, Haidian Wukesong, Beijing 100039, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Changping Beinong 2#, Beijing 102206, ChinaWood, steel, and concrete constitute the three predominant structural materials employed in contemporary commercial and residential construction. In composite applications, bond interfaces between these materials represent critical structural junctures that frequently exhibit a reduced load-bearing capacity, rendering them susceptible to the initiation of cracks. To elucidate the fracture propagation mechanisms at composite material interfaces, this study implements the cohesive zone method (CZM) to numerically simulate interfacial cracking behavior in two material systems: glued laminated timber (GLT) and reinforced concrete (RC). The adopted CZM framework utilizes a progressive delamination approach through cohesive elements governed by a bilinear traction–separation constitutive law. This methodology enables the simulation of interfacial failure through three distinct fracture modes: mode I (pure normal separation), mode II (pure in-plane shear), and mixed-mode (mode m) failure. Numerical models were developed for GLT beams, RC beams, and RC slab structures to investigate the propagation of interfacial cracks under monotonic loading conditions. The simulation results demonstrate strong agreement with experimental cracking observations in GLT structures, validating the CZM’s efficacy in characterizing both mechanical behavior and crack displacement fields. The model successfully captures transverse tensile failure (mode I) parallel to wood grain, longitudinal shear failure (mode II), and mixed-mode failure (mode m) in GLT specimens. Subsequent application of the CZM to RC structural components revealed a comparable predictive accuracy in simulating the interfacial mechanical response and crack displacement patterns at concrete composite interfaces. These findings collectively substantiate the robustness of the proposed CZM framework in modeling complex fracture phenomena across diverse construction material systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1717cohesive zone method (CZM)glued laminated timber (GLT)reinforced concrete (RC)bond interface cracking
spellingShingle Yulong Zhu
Yafen Zhang
Lu Xiang
Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone Method
Buildings
cohesive zone method (CZM)
glued laminated timber (GLT)
reinforced concrete (RC)
bond interface cracking
title Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone Method
title_full Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone Method
title_fullStr Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone Method
title_full_unstemmed Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone Method
title_short Crack Propagation Behavior Modeling of Bonding Interface in Composite Materials Based on Cohesive Zone Method
title_sort crack propagation behavior modeling of bonding interface in composite materials based on cohesive zone method
topic cohesive zone method (CZM)
glued laminated timber (GLT)
reinforced concrete (RC)
bond interface cracking
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1717
work_keys_str_mv AT yulongzhu crackpropagationbehaviormodelingofbondinginterfaceincompositematerialsbasedoncohesivezonemethod
AT yafenzhang crackpropagationbehaviormodelingofbondinginterfaceincompositematerialsbasedoncohesivezonemethod
AT luxiang crackpropagationbehaviormodelingofbondinginterfaceincompositematerialsbasedoncohesivezonemethod