Accurately and explicitly simulating distinct tensile and compressive behaviors of various concretes with new elastoplasticity model

Purpose This paper aims to present a direct analysis to demonstrate why markedly different tensile and compressive behaviors of concretes could not be simulated with the Drucker–Prager yield criterion. Design/methodology/approach This study proposed an extended form of the latter for establishing a new elastoplasticity model with evolving yield strengths. Findings Explicit closed-form solutions to non-symmetric tensile and compressive responses of uniaxial specimens at finite strain are for the first time obtained from hardening to softening. Originality/value With such exact solutions, the yield strengths in tension and compression can be explicitly prescribed by uniaxial tensile and compressive stress-strain functions. Then, the latter two are further provided in explicit forms toward accurately simulating tensile and compressive behaviors. Numerical examples are supplied for meso-scale heterogeneous concrete (MSHC) and high-performance concrete (HPC), etc. Model predictions are in good agreement with test data.