The characteristics of the cohesive zone at crack tips throughout the fracture process were studied based on the initial fracture toughness(IFT)criterion and cohesive crack model. Single-edge notched beams with different sizes, subjected to three-point bending, were used as specimens, and the length of the cohesive zone at crack tips, the cohesive stress of concrete, and the crack opening displacement(COD)were calculated. The calculated results were verified with the results from tests and the finite element method(FEM). Results show that the maximum and critical lengths of the cohesive zone increase with the size of specimens; the maximum length of the cohesive zone is influenced by the tensile softening curve, while the whole fracture process is slightly affected by the tensile softening curve; after the peak load is reached, the COD is approximately linearly distributed; and the distribution of cohesive stresses depends on the tensile softening curve.