Steel reinforced high strength and high performance concrete (SRHSHPC) specimens were
experimented to study the mechanical behaviors between steel and concrete interface. In experiment,
interfacial bond softening process was observed, which can be explained in terms of damage along the
interface, leading to progressive reduction of shear transfer capability between steel and high strength
and high performance concrete (HSHPC). In this paper, bond softening process along the interface is
considered in the analysis of crack-induced debonding. Interfacial bond-slip mechanism between
steel and HSHPC is studied in detail based on fracture mechanics. With the help of acoustic emissions
technology, the crack propagation in the interlayer was observed, thus the interfacial crack
propagation and fracture model is set up. Under the assumption that the interlayer is weak concrete
compared with concrete matrix, the stress field as well as displacement field around the crack tip is
deduced. The characteristics of interfacial fracture process are discussed and a model for interfacial
fracture process zone is built up. With this model, the size of fracture process zone can be derived. At
last, the influence of the fracture process zone on interfacial fracture toughness is determined using
critical fracture toughness. All these may contribute to improvement of theory for SRHSHPC
composite structure.
On the link between fracture toughness, tensile strength, and fracture process zone in anisotropic rocks