CRACKS AS IMPORTANT CONSTITUENTS OF STRUT AND TIE MODELS

Construction of strut and tie mode! (STM) at D-regions is based on elastic stress distributions by imagining the forces as resultants of stresses. Beside 'smooth' stress-trajectories there are 'turbulent' places having a decisive influence on the cracks. Therefore. it is useful to use alternative STMs. one constructed on the base of smooth trajectories, and another which fits the turbulent stresses. Examples are given for different types of structural elements.