6.3 Describe Griffiths model for cracking in concrete.

Griffith suggested the difference between the theoretical and actual strengths can be
described by the existence of flaws or cracks. These may lead to very high stress
concentrations at their tips under load so that localized microscopic fracture can occur when
the average (nominal) stress in the whole material is comparatively low. The concentration of
stress at the crack tip is, in fact, 3-D but the greatest weakness is when the orientation of a
crack is normal to the direction of the applied load, as show in Fig 6.1. The longer and
sharper the crack, the greater the maximum stress induced.