scholarly journals Advanced Evaluation of the Freeze–Thaw Damage of Concrete Based on the Fracture Tests

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 6378
Author(s):  
Barbara Kucharczyková ◽  
Hana Šimonová ◽  
Dalibor Kocáb ◽  
Libor Topolář

This paper presents the results of an experimental program aimed at the assessment of the freeze–thaw (F–T) resistance of concrete based on the evaluation of fracture tests accompanied by acoustic emission measurements. Two concretes of similar mechanical characteristics were manufactured for the experiment. The main difference between the C1 and C2 concrete was in the total number of air voids and in the A300 parameter, where both parameters were higher for C1 by about 35% and 52%, respectively. The evaluation of the fracture characteristics was performed on the basis of experimentally recorded load–deflection and load–crack mouth opening displacement diagrams using two different approaches: linear fracture mechanics completed with the effective crack model and the double-K model. The results show that both approaches gave similar results, especially if the nonlinear behavior before the peak load was considered. According to the results, it can be stated that continuous AE measurement is beneficial for the assessment of the extent of concrete deterioration, and it suitably supplements the fracture test evaluation. A comparison of the results of fracture tests with the resonance method and splitting tensile strength test shows that all testing methods led to the same conclusion, i.e., the C1 concrete was more F–T-resistant than C2. However, the fracture test evaluation provided more detailed information about the internal structure deterioration due to the F–T exposure.

2014 ◽  
Vol 897 ◽  
pp. 149-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Matysík ◽  
Libor Topolář ◽  
Petr Daněk ◽  
Tomáš Vymazal ◽  
Iveta Plšková

Acoustic emission is an experimental tool well suited for monitoring fracture processes. The paper presents experiment focused on analysing acoustic emission signals captured during three-point bending fracture test of specimens of concrete. Quantitative acoustic emission techniques were used to measure micro fracture properties. For three different concrete mixtures typical acoustic emission patterns were identified in the acoustic emission records to further describe the under-the-stress behaviour and failure development. If we have a better understanding of the relationships between micro structural events and macroscopic behaviour we can better formulate predictive models for large-scale structural performance and reliability. An understanding of microstructureperformance relationships is the key to true understanding of material behaviours. Three-point bending fracture tests were conducted on these specimens and load versus crack mouth opening displacement (Load-CMOD) diagrams were recorded during the testing.


Author(s):  
Guoqing Jing ◽  
Du yunchang ◽  
Ruilin You ◽  
Mohammad Siahkouhi

Rubber concrete (RC) has been confirmed to be suitable for concrete sleeper production. This paper studies the cracking behaviour of conventional and rubber-reinforced concrete sleepers based on the results of an experimental program. The cracking behaviour in the pure bending zone was analysed up to a load of 140 kN. The crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) was accordingly measured using a digital image correlation (DIC) method. The DIC results show that the rubber prestressed concrete sleeper (RPCS) has a resistance against crack initiation that is 20% greater than that of the conventional prestressed concrete sleeper (CPCS) under the same loading condition; however, due to the higher crack growth rate of the RPCS, the first crack detected by the operator forms at 60 kN, which corresponds to a strength approximately 9% lower compared with the 65 kN load at which the first crack is detected in the CPCS. Before the first crack (60 kN), the RPCS has a deflection 35% lower than that of the CPCS, but after cracking, at loads of 80 kN, 100 kN and 140 kN, the RPCS has a deflection 15%, 4% and 24% higher than that of the CPCS, respectively.


Author(s):  
Claudio Ruggieri ◽  
Rodolfo F. de Souza

This work addresses the development of wide range compliance solutions for tensile-loaded and bend specimens based on CMOD. The study covers selected standard and non-standard fracture test specimens, including the compact tension C(T) configuration, the single edge notch tension SE(T) specimen with fixed-grip loading (clamped ends) and the single edge notch bend SE(B) geometry with varying specimen spam over width ratio and loaded under 3-point and 4-point flexural configuration. Very detailed elastic finite element analysis in 2-D setting are conducted on fracture models with varying crack sizes to generate the evolution of load with displacement for those configurations from which the dependence of specimen compliance on crack length, specimen geometry and loading mode is determined. The extensive numerical analyses conducted here provide a larger set of solutions upon which more accurate experimental evaluations of crack size changes in fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth testing can be made.


2016 ◽  
Vol 821 ◽  
pp. 585-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Havlikova ◽  
Petr Frantik ◽  
Jan Masek ◽  
Jakub Sobek ◽  
Hana Šimonová ◽  
...  

Cement-based composites are traditionally used building materials. Concrete is the basic representative of this type of materials which exhibit the so called quasi-brittle response. Quantification of mechanical fracture parameters is performed using fracture tests on specimens with a stress concentrator. Load versus crack mouth opening displacement (P–CMOD) diagrams are recorded during these tests. In order to correctly evaluate these diagrams, an advanced own developed software tool was used for the data filtering and appropriate modifications. In this paper, the programmed Java utility is generally introduced and its utilization demonstrated on the set of recorded P–CMOD diagrams, which are further evaluated using Double-K fracture model.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hana Šimonová ◽  
Petr Frantík ◽  
Zbyněk Keršner ◽  
Pavel Schmid ◽  
Pavel Rovnaník

Knowledge of the mechanical and primarily fracture parameters of composites with a brittle matrix is essential for the quantification of their resistance to crack initiation and growth, and also for the specification of material model parameters employed for the simulation of the quasi-brittle behavior of structures made from this type of composite. Therefore, the main target of this paper is to quantify the mechanical fracture parameters of alkali-activated slag composites with steel microfibers and the contribution of the matrix to their fracture response. The first alkali-activated slag composite was a reference version without fibers; the others incorporated steel microfibers amounting to 5, 10, 15 and 20% by weight of the slag. Prism specimens with an initial central edge notch were used to perform the three-point bending fracture tests. Load vs. displacement (deflection at midspan) and load vs. crack mouth opening displacement diagrams were recorded during the fracture tests. The obtained diagrams were employed as inputs for parameter identification, the aim of which was to transfer the fracture test response data to the desired material parameters. Values were also determined for fracture parameters using the effective crack model, work-of-fracture method and double-K fracture model. All investigated mechanical fracture parameters were improved by the addition of steel microfibers to the alkali-activated matrix. Based on the obtained results, the addition of 10 to 15% of microfibers by weight is optimal from the point of view of the enhancement of the fracture parameters of alkali-activated slag composite.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1205 (1) ◽  
pp. 012019
Author(s):  
H Simonova ◽  
C Mizerova ◽  
P Rovnanik ◽  
M Lipowczan ◽  
P Schmid

Abstract In this study, the effect of carbon black and graphite filler on the crack initiation and fracture parameters of fly ash geopolymer mortar is investigated. The carbon black was added in the amount of 0.5 and 1.0% and graphite powder in the amount of 5 and 10% relative to the fly ash mass. The reference mixture without any filler was also prepared. The fracture characteristics were determined based on the results of the three-point bending test of prismatic specimens provided with an initial central edge notch. The fracture experiments were conducted at the age of 48 days. The vertical force (F), the displacement measured in the middle of the span length (d), and the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) were continuously recorded during the test. The records of fracture tests were subsequently evaluated using the effective crack model, work-of-fracture method, and double-K fracture model. The addition of both fine fillers led to a decrease in monitored mechanical fracture parameters in comparison with reference mortar.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Salam Buller ◽  
Fahad-ul-Rehman Abro ◽  
Tariq Ali ◽  
Sadam Hussain Jakhrani ◽  
Abdul Hafeez Buller ◽  
...  

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effect of autogenous healing capacity with the addition of expansive and crystalline agents on mechanical and fracture behaviors of fiber-reinforced (FR) mortar specimens with crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) controlled test set-up. The experimental results of a self-healing approach of FR mortar were analyzed in terms of first cracking peak load (FCPL) increase, index of fracture toughness recovery (IFTR), and index of fracture energy recovery (IFER). Initially, the specimens were pre-cracked at different crack widths ranging from 30 μm to 200 μm after 28-days of curing. After pre-cracking, the specimens were kept in water for 56- and 120-day healing. A controlled three-point bending test (PBT) was applied on prism specimen having a central notch of 40 mm depth for pre-cracking as well as the post-conditioning stage for determining the FCPL. However, the crack surfaces were monitored by a high-range digital microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to examine the nature of healed products near the damaged area. Test results revealed that a significant recovery of small cracks (≤50 μm) could be achieved for self-healing specimens by using healing agents (HA), while for large cracks (≥100 μm) partial recovery could be achieved after the 120-day healing period.


Author(s):  
Nader Yoosef-Ghodsi ◽  
Da-Ming Duan ◽  
Qishi Chen ◽  
Randy Petersen ◽  
Chengye Fan

Finite element models of curved wide plate (CWP) samples were used to generate a family of load-deformation curves, where each curve corresponds to a flaw with a constant depth. This family of curves was then compared to the test results to find the flaw depth corresponding to each load step using two techniques. One technique is based on mapping the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) response obtained from finite element analysis (FEA) and tests, while the other one is based on FEA and experimental unloading compliance data. Both the CMOD mapping and unloading compliance techniques were applied to six CWP specimens and the results from the two techniques were compared. The CWP specimens included flaws either at the centreline of the girth weld or at the heat affected zone (HAZ). Nominal flaw sizes were 3 or 5 mm deep by 25, 50 or 75 mm long. For all specimens, testing continued until either maximum load was reached or specimen rupture occurred. Failure strain, defined as the remote strain at peak load, ranged from 1.1% to 4.1%. The flaw growth history curves from the CMOD mapping and unloading compliance techniques for a given specimen were generally found to be in close agreement. The prediction of flaw growth at failure for the specimens with flaw in the weld was closer to the experimental flaw growth at failure than for the specimens with flaw in the HAZ. The average FEA to test ratio of the flaw growth at failure for these two groups of specimens was 0.95 and 0.6, respectively. Additional analyses were carried out to study the effect of HAZ softening and the shape of the input stress strain curves beyond the onset of necking.


2017 ◽  
Vol 259 ◽  
pp. 58-63
Author(s):  
Hana Šimonová ◽  
Libor Topolář ◽  
Ivana Havlíková ◽  
Michal Matysík ◽  
Petr Daněk ◽  
...  

In this paper, authors concentrate attention on crack initiation and acoustic emission (AE) parameters obtained from records of three-point bending fracture tests on eight sets of concrete specimens with initial stress concentrator at the age of 28 days. Resistance to stable and unstable crack propagation was quantified via evaluation of load vs crack mouth opening displacement diagrams using Double-K fracture model. The AE technique was used to monitor damage process taking place during testing in specimens.


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