The paper is aimed at accurately predicting the discrete fracture process in concrete specimens under complex stress states in two dimensional (2D) simulations. Plain concrete specimens subjected to Montevideo splitting test (MVD) were used for consideration due to non-negligible shear stresses impact in this type of test. In order to reflect the heterogeneous nature of the concrete, the meso-structure of the samples was included...

In the paper a non-uniqueness of fracture parameter choice in simulations of cracking process in plain concrete specimens at mesoscale level under monotonic static loading is analysed. The Finite Element Method is used, where cracks are defined in a discrete way using interface cohesive elements with nonlinear material law including softening. The concrete mesostructure (such as: cement matrix, air voids, aggregates, and Interfacial...