THE EFFECT OF LONGITUDINAL GRADIENTS OF COMPRESSIVE STRESS UPON THE FAILURE OF CONCRETE

The results of an experimental programme on the failure of concrete when subjected to longitudinal gradients of compressive stress are reported. The test specimens are point-loaded reinforced concrete beams, beams of tapering width under constant moment and tapering prisms under axial compression. The results confirm that the compressive strength of concrete is significantly increased in the presence of such non-uniform stress states. Existing theories of failure, which are usually derived from and tested under uniform stress states, do not appear to be capable of explaining this effect. The fracture mechanism observed involves a finite volume of material rather than a section as is usually implied, and appears to be due to the formation of a post-cracking macro-structure of longitudinal strips which fails owing to flexural instability. Such a fracture model could explain to observed increases in the compressive strength of concrete due to longitudinal stress gradients.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00249831
• Corporate Authors:

  An Foras Forbartha

  St Martin's House, Waterloo Road
  Dublin 4,   Ireland 
• Authors:
  • Uppal, J Y
  • KEMP, K O
• Publication Date: 1971-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 11-22
• Serial:
  • MAGAZINE OF CONCRETE RESEARCH
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 74
  • Publisher: Thomas Telford Limited
  • ISSN: 0024-9831

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Compressive strength; Failure; Fracture mechanics; Highway grades; Reinforced concrete; Stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fracture; Longitudinal gradient; Reinforced concrete beams
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00081048
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 1975 12:00AM