Progressive highly stressed volume for size effect analysis

The tensile strength of concrete and rock is vital for structural design, but variations in measurements arise from different experiments and specimen sizes. These discrepancies are influenced by the size effect and the highly stressed volume (HSV). Previous studies have relied on empirical formulations that provided valuable insights but overlooked fracturing's impact. In this study, we develop upon these approaches, emphasizing the significance of incorporating fracturing for improved accuracy. We develop relationships between progressive HSV and tensile strength, validated by experimental data. Furthermore, we consider the size effect using an equation relating progressive HSV, fracture quantification, and tensile strength.