• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.199-213
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• 2015

The residual fracture toughness of post-fire normal-strength concrete subjected up to $600^{\circ}C$ is considered by the wedge splitting test. The initial fracture toughness $K_I^{ini}$ and the critical fracture toughness $K_I^{un}$ could be calculated experimentally. Their difference is donated as the cohesive fracture toughness $K_I^c$ which is caused by the distribution of cohesive stress on the fracture process zone. A comparative study on determining the residual fracture toughness associated with three bi-linear functions of the cohesive stress distribution, i.e. Peterson's softening curve, CEB-FIP Model 1990 softening curve and Xu's softening curve, using an analytical method is presented. It shows that different softening curves have no significant influence on the fracture toughness. Meanwhile, comparisons between the experimental and the analytical calculated critical fracture toughness values further prove the validation of the double-K fracture model to the post-fire concrete specimens.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.475-486
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• 2015

Mode II fracture toughness ($K_{IIc}$) of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) has been widely investigated under various patterns of test specimen geometries. Most of these studies were focused on single type fiber reinforced concrete. There is a lack in such studies for hybrid fiber reinforced concrete. In the current study, an experimental investigation of evaluating mode II fracture toughness ($K_{IIc}$) of hybrid fiber embedded in high strength concrete matrix has been reported. Three different types of fibers; namely steel (S), glass (G), and polypropylene (PP) fibers were mixed together in four hybridization patterns (S/G), (S/PP), (G/PP), (S/G/PP) with constant cumulative volume fraction ($V_f$) of 1.5 %. The concrete matrix properties were kept the same for all hybrid FRC patterns. In an attempt to estimate a fairly accepted value of fracture toughness $K_{IIc}$, four testing geometries and loading types are employed in this investigation. Three different ratios of notch depth to specimen width (a/w) 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 were implemented in this study. Mode II fracture toughness of concrete $K_{IIc}$ was found to decrease with the increment of a/w ratio for all concretes and test geometries. Mode II fracture toughness $K_{IIc}$ was sensitive to the hybridization patterns of fiber. The (S/PP) hybridization pattern showed higher values than all other patterns, while the (S/G/PP) showed insignificant enhancement on mode II fracture toughness ($K_{IIc}$). The four point shear test set up reflected the lowest values of mode II fracture toughness $K_{IIc}$ of concrete. The non damage defect concept proved that, double edge notch prism test setup is the most reliable test to measure pure mode II of concrete.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.185-190
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• 2000

The effect of specimen thickness and notch's depth and the validity of J-integral analysis were studied on the fracture behavior of concrete. Through the 3-point bending test, the stress-deformation curves were experimentally measured. Concrete fracture toughness is calculated from stress-displacement curves. Concrete fracture toughness decreases when notch's depth is longer. So, Gf is less sensitive than JIc and Gf is more useful factor as concrete fracture toughness parameter. The values of J-integral and fracture energy increase when the breadth of concrete specimen get longer from 75mm to 150mm. Therefore, the breadth effect of specimen has to be considered in determining the concrete fracture toughness.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.359-364
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• 1998

The interfacial zone in concrete materials is extensive, geometrically complex, and constitutes inherently weak zones that limit the concrete performance. Motar-aggregate interfaces play a major role in the fracture processing in concrete composites. Also, the interfacial bond considerably influence mechanical properties of concrete such as modulus of elasticity, strength, and fracture energy, Characterization of the interfacial properties is, therefore, essential to overcome the limitations associated with the interfaces. an objective of this paper is to investigate the corelationship between the fracture toughness of mortar-aggregate interface and the concrete properties such as strengths and elastic moduli. It is observed from the test results that interface fracture toughness is closely related with the compressive strength rather than other properties. At early ages, the development of both tensile strength and elastic modulus are much greater thatn that of both interface fracture toughness and compressive strength.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.18 no.3E
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• pp.183-189
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• 2006

Many researchers have recently proposed various parameters, variables of models and experimental methods to evaluate fracture properties of concrete, and their developments allow us to analyze the non-linear and quasi-brittle fracture mechanisms. This paper presents a brief treatment of the fracture parameters. Additionally, three-point bending tests were conducted to compare J-integral($J_{Ic}$) with other parameters($K_{Ic},\;G_{Ic},\;and\;G_F$). The change in parameter values with respect to the width and notch length of concrete beam specimens was also considered. The load-displacement curves were used to measure the concrete fracture toughness experimentally. From the results of experiment, it was found that the value of $G_F\;and\;J_{Ic}$ decreased as the notch depth increased and that $G_F$ was less sensitive than $J_{Ic}$. Therefore, the former, $G_F$, is more appropriate in using it as the concrete fracture toughness parameter. The values of $G_F\;and\;J_{Ic}$ increased when the width of concrete specimens increasing from 75 mm to 150 mm. Thus, the effects of the specimen width should be considered in determining the fracture toughness of concrete.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.387-402
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• 2010

From typical stress-axial strain curve and stress-volume strain curve of a concrete under uniaxial compression, the initiation and localization of microcracks within the interior of the specimen can be identified. The occurrence of random microcrack indicates the end of the linear elasticity, and the localization of microcrack implies formation of major crack, which triggers the onset of unstable crack propagation. The interval between initiation and localization of microcracks is characterized by a stable microcrack growth. Based on fracture behavior observed from a uniaxial compressive test of a concrete cylinder, a model has been developed to extract fundamental fracture properties of a concrete, i.e. the equivalent fracture toughness and the size of fracture process zone. The introduction of cracking Poisson's ratio accounts for tensile failure characteristics of concrete even under uniaxal compression. To justify the validity of the model proposed, tests on three-point bending have been performed to obtain the fracture toughness in accordance with two parameter fracture model and double-K fracture model. Surprisingly, it yields favorably comparable results and provides an encouraging alternative approach to determine fracture properties for concretes.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.541-551
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• 2016

Asphalt pavements are exposed to complex weather conditions and vehicle traffic loads leading to crack initiation and crack propagation in asphalt pavements. This paper presents the impact of weather conditions on fracture toughness of an asphalt concrete, prevalently employed in Ardabil road networks, under tensile (mode I) and shear (mode II) loading. An improved semi-circular bend (SCB) specimen was employed to carry out the fracture experiments. These experiments were performed in two different weather conditions namely fixed and cyclic temperatures. The results showed that consideration of the impact of temperature cycling resulted in decreasing the fracture toughness of asphalt concrete significantly. Furthermore, the fracture toughness was highly affected by loading mode for the both fixed and cyclic temperature conditions studied in this paper. In addition, it was found that the MTS criterion correctly predicts the onset of fracture initiation although this prediction was slightly conservative.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.37 no.3_4
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• pp.90-98
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• 1995

The recycled concrete, average compressive strength of which was 2l0kg/cm$^2$ or higher with slump range of 14~18cm, was prepared by replacing 25% and 50% by weight of coarse aggregate with recycled aggregate from waste concrete. Mix design method for crushed aggregates was used and all specimens were cured by normal moisture curing method. A plasticiser and a fly ash were added to the mix to improve performance of recycled concrete. Flexural strength, stress- strain relationship and fracture toughness were evaluated by comparing with those of normal concretes. Recycled concrete showed, in general, lower flexural strength and fracture toughness, and higher strain under the same stress level. Fly ash in the concrete had an effect of reducing the strength and fracture toughness on both normal and recycled concretes. Since fly ash is known to improve many properties of concrete, while reducing strength properties, decision for using fly ash should be made carefully depending on the intended usage of the recycled concrete.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.161-169
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• 2000

Recycled aggregates were generated when concrete structures were dismembered. However, in concrete structures, because of durability, strength and toughness, recycled aggregates don't use generally. This study was done to use recycled aggregate in concrete structures. Problems of durability, strength, and toughness were caused troubles, when recycled aggregates were used, were solved as steel fibers and additives were added. Of course, steel fiber length, steel fiber contents, additive substitution, and recycled aggregate substitution were variables of this study. After flexural specimens($15{\times}15{\times}70cm$) with notch(45mm) were fabricated, basic strength tests were done and toughness was estimated using fracture mechanics parameters. The results suggest that JIC is a promising fracture criterion for all of these, while KIC(or GIC) almost certainly are not.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.527-546
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• 2014

Portland cement concrete, which has higher strength and stiffness than asphalt concrete, has been widely applied on pavements. However, the brittle fracture characteristic of cement concrete restricts its application in highway pavement construction. Since the polypropylene fiber can improve the fracture toughness of cement concrete, Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (PFRC) is attracting more and more attention in civil engineering. In order to study the effect of polypropylene fiber on the generation and evolution process of the local deformation band in concrete, a series of three-point bending tests were performed using the new technology of the digital speckle correlation method for FRC notched beams with different volumetric contents of polypropylene fiber. The modified Double-K model was utilized for the first time to calculate the stress intensity factors of instability and crack initiation of fiber-reinforced concrete beams. The results indicate that the polypropylene fiber can enhance the fracture toughness. Based on the modified Double-K fracture theory, the maximum fracture energy of concrete with 3.2% fiber (in volume) is 47 times higher than the plain concrete. No effort of fiber content on the strength of the concrete was found. Meanwhile to balance the strength and resistant fracture toughness, concrete with 1.6% fiber is recommended to be applied in pavement construction.