Characterization of high-strength concrete under monotonic and fatigue mode II loading with actively controlled level of lateral compression

Abstract

The fatigue behavior of plain concrete has been studied for decades, usually under compressive or tensile loading. Shear loading (mode II) has been almost completely neglected in the past. In contrast to cylindrical compression tests, this type of loading offers the advantage of precise load determination and a small, well-defined fracture surface. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental campaign of 66 shear tests, which was conducted to systematically investigate the monotonic, cyclic, and fatigue response of high-strength concrete under mode II loading. Since the material behavior under shear stress is strongly dependent on the concurrent lateral compressive stress, a new test setup was developed which allows simultaneous control of compressive and shear loading. One potential utilization for these shear fatigue tests is the validation of a promising hypothesis that suggests that the development of fatigue damage in concrete at subcritical load levels is governed by a cumulative measure of shear sliding. The qualitative influence of the lateral compressive loading on the displacement and damage development, fracture behavior, and fatigue life is analyzed and discussed. The test results indicate that there is no influence of the lateral compressive load level on the shear fatigue life, as long as the increase in shear strength is considered. Furthermore, concrete under mode II loading seems to have a longer fatigue life than concrete in standard cylindrical specimens under compressive loading.