Effect of Specimen Size on Fracture Energy and Softening Curve of Concrete: Part II. Inverse Analysis and Softening Curve

The size effect of fracture energy was observed in experiments presented in a companion paper. In this paper, the softening curve representing the relationship between the crack opening and the gradual stress drop after tensile strength was found for each specimen of the experiments by inverse analysis. The effect of the size-dependent fracture energy on the softening curve was then studied. It was found that the first steep branch of the softening curve is very similar for different size specimens whereas the tail of the curve becomes longer with increased specimen size. The observed size-dependent fracture energy can be explained by the features identified on the softening curve, and a possible mechanism of the fracture process zone with respect to the size effect is discussed herein.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2008.03.014
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00088846
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Kwon, Seung Hee
  • Zhao, Zhifang
  • Shah, Surendra P
• Publication Date: 2008-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1061-1069
• Serial:
  • Cement and Concrete Research
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue Number: 8-9
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0008-8846
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00088846

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete construction; Cracking; Fracture mechanics; Fracture properties; Softening point; Tensile strength
• Uncontrolled Terms: Softening curve; Specimen size
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01105329
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 30 2008 8:10AM