Papers by Keyword: Fracture Energy

Abstract: The paper is focused on the mechanical fracture properties of hardened cement mortars in which Portland cement is partially replaced by reactive admixtures. These properties are evaluated in relation to the mortars’ microstructure through the size and content of pores. The cement in the mortars was partially replaced by a diatomite that contains amorphous SiO₂. The three-point bending fracture tests were performed on beams with a central edge notch. The investigated mechanical fracture properties of the aforementioned cement-based composites included flexural strength, compressive strength, elasticity modulus, effective fracture toughness and specific fracture energy.

Abstract: This contribution brings summary of refractory hydraulic binder issue. The refractory cement composites (or refractory concrete) represent very specific area of modern material engineering. We can find its use in special monolithic structures in industry, for fire-resistance brick, protection cladding, etc. The composition brings opportunity for using aluminous cement with different amount of Al₂O₃, according to temperature level. Hydration process and products together with the decomposition due high temperatures is described in this paper. Also the risk of conversion metastable hydration to stable one is described. The issue of possible bonds between filler and binder is shown (hydraulic, ceramic and chemical). Paper also describes values of fracture energy of aluminous cement pastes with various water to cement ratio after temperature loading.

Abstract: Geopolymer concrete (GPC) is a new construction material in which cement is totally replaced by calcined source materials fly ash and GGBS. Geopolymer utilization reduces or eliminates the use of cement whose production produces a lot of carbon dioxide. Usually fly ash as a source material for the geopolymer. The behavior of GPC has to be studied in detail to check its suitability in construction industry. In the present study, the fracture behavior of geopolymer concrete is investigated and compared. Three-point bending test on notched prisms with a/d (notch depth/beam depth) ratios 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 are considered. The values of Critical load, fracture toughness, fracture energy and ductility are presented. The test results of total of 27prisms, 6cubes, 18 cylinders with M30 grade geopolymer concrete and conventional concrete (OPC) of same grade are presented in this paper. The test results indicated that the characteristic length of GPC is about 25% more than that of conventional concrete.

Abstract: This paper concerns the simulation of Mode I fracture with a local concrete damage model in explicit finite element code LSDYNA. A reliable modeling of fracture is essential in the analysis of tension-dominated problems, as well as the prediction of concrete damage due to cracking. A special focus of this paper is placed on an effective representation of the tensile localization in finite element modeling while generalized macro material properties are employed to modeling meso-scale problems. An investigation into the use of a typical damage plasticity concrete model within LSDYNA Explicit, based on the crack band theory, is described in detail. The main focus of the current paper is on the tensile softening branch.

Abstract: For the study of fracture characteristics of ultra-high performance cementitious composites(ECC),16 different sizes of three-point bending beams were made and ultimate load, ultimate deflection and crack mouth opening displacement ,the curve andcurve of ECC were contructed,with the method of fracture work recommendedby RILEM , the external work was respectively calculated by the curve ofand, which determined the fracture energy of ECC.Results show that two kinds of calculation result are roughly equal;The influence of size effect on fracture character was: fracture energy increased with the increasing of the crack-depth ratio, the fracture energy of concrete specimen is the maximum when the crack-depth ratio is 0.4 ; is proportional to the initial crack-depth of the specimen, but there is no relationship betweenand crack-depth ratio. This paper would have great significance for the study of fracture characteristics of ECC.

Abstract: This paper deals about behavior of fiber reinforced cement composite in dependence on the casting direction. Almost fifty concrete prisms of size 400 x 100 x 100 mm were cast; half of these were fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) and the other half was ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Approximately one half of both mixtures was cast in horizontal direction and the other half vertically. It was found that the specific fracture energy of horizontally cast prisms was approximately 4,5 times larger for both materials than the vertically cast ones. Ultimate loads of FRC were very similar for both casting directions. Peak loads of the horizontally cast UHPFRC prisms were approximately 3 times larger than the vertically cast ones. This research confirmed that there is significant influence of the casting direction on the fiber reinforced concrete characteristics.

Abstract: This study includes the identification of parameters for the characterization of the structural behavior of thin plates composed of geopolymer mortars structured with bi-directional carbon fiber mesh. Initially, facade projects, designed by offices in São Paulo using the concepts of sustainable architecture, promoting the use of geopolymeric materials are presented. Then shows the composition of the geopolymer mortar used in this study and the characterization of their mechanical properties. As part of the experimental program, this study evaluates the plate bending behavior and the effect of pull-out test and push-off test of the metallic inserts. It has used the advanced features of ATENA computational mechanics program, which correspond to the state of the art in Finite Element Modeling of reinforced concrete structures, which allow the calibration of the mathematical model based on information from the experimental program. The numerical results showed satisfactory adhesion with the experimental results. It also has emphasized the importance of validation of these results on the determination of loads collapse of structural elements, as is reflected positively in the field of Structural Engineering in the face of increasing advancement of surface modeling programs and technological innovations in according to sustainability criteria for constructions materials.

Abstract: This paper presents an original research on the influence of defects in recycled aggregate (RA) on mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, fracture energy and elastic modulus. Six types of concretes, with the water to binder ratios (W/B) of 0.26 and 0.60, were prepared using nature aggregate (NA), RA and recycled aggregate treated by 3 mol/L (RA-H). Mechanical properties of RAC was inferior to that of NAC, and treated RA by sulfuric acid solution could improve the mechanical properties. Attached mortar in RA was the main factor resulting in the decrease of mechanical properties of RAC with 0.26 W/B, and for the RAC with 0.60 W/B, the effect of aggregate damage was more significant than that of attached mortar.

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental research on the influence of defects of recycled coarse aggregate on mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). Concretes at two water/binder ratios (0.255 and 0.586) were broken into recycled aggregate (RA). A type of thermal treatment, i.e. heating to target temperature 620 °C, which was maintained for 3 hr, was employed to remove mortar from gravel in RA. Tests were conducted on RA and natural aggregate to measure their water absorption and crushing values, and on RAC and natural aggregate concrete (NAC) to measure compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, and fracture energy. The experimental results revealed that both gravel damage and mortar attached can significantly influence the water absorption and crushing value of RA, as well as strength and fracture energy of RAC. The mechanical properties RAC were obviously lower than those of NAC at an identical mix proportion. Moreover the removal of mortar caused additional change in mechanical properties of RA, which might be a decrease in mechanical properties in the case of low water/binder ratio, but might be an increase in mechanical properties in the case of high water/binder ratio. As to RAC at a low water/binder ratio, gravel damage was a main factor governing the decrease in fracture energy, which means a decrease in cracking resistance of hardened RAC, whereas the mortar attached had only a slight influence on fracture energy. However, as to RAC at a high water/binder ratio, mortar attached could significantly cause a greater decrease in cracking resistance of RAC than that caused by gravel damage.

Abstract: An experimental investigation on the variation of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and fracture energy, with the ratios of water to binder (W/B) of ultra-high strength concretes, including the reactive power concrete (RPC) and ultra-high strength concrete with coarse aggregate (UHSC), has been carried out. The W/B varied between 0.14 and 0.22 at a constant increment of 0.02. It was observed that, compressive strength of RPC almost remained the unchanged, when the W/B was between 0.14 and 0.18. However, it decreased dramatically when the ratios were 0.20 and 0.22. For UHSC, the compressive strength was the highest value at the ratio of 0.18. The results of the two concretes could not comply with the Abrams' generalized W/B ratio law. Moreover, splitting tensile strength of RPC and UHSC decreased continually as the ratio increased from 0.14 to 0.22. Fracture energy of RPC was more or less the same when the ratios were between 0.16 and 0.20, and the maximum value was at 0.14. Fracture energy was observed to be almost no variation for UHSC at all ratios