Effect of T-stress on the initial fracture toughness of concrete under I/II mixed-mode loading. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Yanhua; Dong, Wei; Xu, Bohan; Liu, Jin
• Is Part Of: Theoretical and applied fracture mechanics. Volume 96(2018)
• Page Start: 699
• Page End: 706
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Fracture mechanics -- Concrete -- Fracture toughness -- Crack initiation -- T-stress; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; 620.1126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tafmec.2017.10.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-8442

Abstract

Highlights: SIFs and T -stress at the crack tip are computed for four-point bending beam. Negative T -stress can enhance mixed-mode fracture toughness of concrete. Pure II fracture mode with K I and T -stress equal to zero is not easy to achieve. Abstract: The mixed-mode stress intensity factors (SIFs) and T -stress for different geometries of four-point bending specimens were calculated by means of finite element analysis through a software suite Abaqus, where the influence of the crack length, loading point and crack location were considered. Thereafter, a series of four-point bending tests were re-interpreted to account for the consequences of the T -stress on the initial fracture of concrete, where a generalized maximum tangential stress (MTS) criterion was employed. The results indicate that the inclusion of T -stress is essential to predict a more realistic initial fracture toughness of concrete subjected to mixed-mode I/II loading.