In the current paper some aspects related to brittle failure modes of precast elements connected with steel angles and passing dowels to the concrete element are investigated. In particular the aspects related to the spalling of concrete have been deepen by means of nonlinear finite element analyses and the comparison with analytical models available in literature. Nonlinear finite element analyses highlighted the influence of the dowel position in the concrete element on the resistance value and on the failure mode detected. Furthermore it has been pointed out that ordinary edge reinforcement can give high benefits both in terms of resistance value and in terms of failure mode detected. As a matter of fact for the case study analyzed the inclusion of ordinary edge reinforcement has leaded to an increase in the resistance value and to a different failure mode, that changed from brittle splitting of concrete to steel flexural failure with crushing of concrete. 

The results obtained from nonlinear finite element analyses were in good agreement with some analytical models available in literature.

However the results obtained cannot be yet generalized and additional numerical and experimental research are necessary in order to further investigate the aspects treated in the paper.