ON THE EVALUATION OF THE CHARACTERISTIC LENGTH IN HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE

The "internal length" of concrete, which has been recognized as a crucial parameter for modeling the fracture process within the smeared-crack approach, is studied here by investigating two types of uniaxial tension test: direct tension in notched specimens (with free localization of inelastic strains), and indirect-tension in laterally-stiffened prisms (with restrained strain localization - PIED tests). As a first step, both types of tension tests are modeled via a non-local damage approach in order to show how the mechanical response is affected by crack propagation, and to correlate the slopes of the softening branches to the internal length of the material. Subsequently, the internal length is evaluated taking advantage of the tests on 16 laterally-stiffened specimens and as many uniaxial tension tests, in the case of two highly-siliceous high-strength concretes. The effects of a single thermal cycle at high temperature (T=105-400 degrees C) on fracture parameters are also studied.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References;
  • Pagination: p. 377-390

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00778466
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0784404194
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Nov 26 1999 12:00AM