Effect of specimen size on fracture energy and softening curve of concrete: Part I. Experiments and fracture energy

Journal Article · Fri Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Cement and Concrete Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2008.03.017· OSTI ID:21130734

Zhifang, Zhao ^[1]; Shah, Surendra P ^[2]

---

1. College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014 (China)
2. Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, A130, Evanston, IL, 60208 (United States)

The fracture energy of concrete G{sub F} is a fundamental fracture parameter, presenting the concrete's cracking resistance. However, because of the experimentally observed size dependency, it remains controversial as to whether the fracture energy can be considered as a material property. In this study, a three-point bend test for a notched beam and a wedge splitting test were performed with different size specimens for ten different concrete mixes in order to investigate the effect of specimen size and geometry on the fracture energy. A data processing method was proposed for averaging the test results of companion specimens, and the fracture energy was calculated from the averaged results. From a comparison of the fracture energies, it was found that the fracture energy increases with an increase in specimen size in both the beam and wedge splitting tests.

• OSTI ID: 21130734
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research, Journal Name: Cement and Concrete Research Journal Issue: 8-9 Vol. 38; ISSN 0008-8846; ISSN CCNRAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CONCRETES
CRACKS
DATA PROCESSING
FRACTURES