Characterization of two-parameter fracture properties of portland cement concrete containing reclaimed asphalt pavement aggregates by semicircular bending specimens

Abstract

Although few available test results showed that portland cement concrete containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP-PCC) can have equivalent (or even improved) fracture properties and ductility compared to plain PCC, the limitations of the existing experimental methods to test the two-parameter fracture properties (TPFP) of concrete (critical stress intensity factor, KIcs, and critical crack tip opening displacement, CTODc) have hindered an effective characterization of RAP-PCC's fracture properties and ductility. To provide an easy but effective approach, this paper developed an innovative fracture test using the semicircular bending (SCB) geometry to characterize the TPFP of the studied RAP-PCC mixtures. Based on the results, it is confirmed that addition of RAP improves PCC's CTODc and Gf, despite of a reduction in mechanical strengths. The material length, Q, of the RAP-PCC mixture is statistically higher than that of the plain PCC, suggesting that RAP-PCC is a more ductile material. Besides, the theoretical tensile strength, tensile MOE, and bilinear softening curve of the RAP-PCC can be easily obtained using the developed SCB fracture test.