Loading Rate Effect on the Tensile Failure of Concrete and Its Constituents using Diametrical Compression and Direct Tension

Abstract

The loading rate effect on the tensile failure strength of concrete and its constituent materials has been investigated. Concrete is inherently weaker in tension than compression so tensile failure represents the dominant failure mode. Understanding the failure characteristics of concrete, particularly at high loading rate, is important for developing modeling capabilities, in particular for predicting spallation damage and fragmentation. Several concretes, and their constituents, have been investigated at different loading rates to understand the tensile failure behavior as a function of loading rate. In this paper, experimental procedures that were used are discussed, and results from two different tensile testing methods, direct tension and diametric compression (Brazilian/split-tension), are presented for several of these materials.

This work was undertaken as a collaborative effort between Australia and the U.S. while Sam Weckert was on a 6 month attachment at ARL in the High Rate Mechanics and Failure branch under the Scientists and Engineers Exchange Program in 2010.