On the compressive strength of microcracked elastic solids

An alternative approach to modeling uniaxial compressive failure of brittle materials is presented. Damage evolution of microcracked elastic sheets is considered to decrease the overall stiffness until a condition of equilibrium bifurcation is reached. The related critical value of the compressive stress, provided by the buckling analysis of the solid made orthotropic, is then assumed as the compressive strength of the brittle material. The obtained theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental investigations using frictionless loading devices.