Comparative study of tensile tests based on Hopkinson bar for recycled aggregate concrete

Abstract

To comparatively study the tensile properties and fracture patterns of recycled aggregate concrete with various replacement percentages (i.e. 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of recycled coarse aggregate, the dynamic direct tensile tests, splitting tests, and spalling tests of recycled aggregate concrete in the strain-rate range of 100–102 s−1 were carried out using large diameter (75 mm) split Hopkinson tensile bar and pressure bar. Test results show that for recycled aggregate concrete, the quasi-static direct tensile strength is more marvelous than its quasi-static splitting strength. When recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentage is 0%–75%, the replacement percentage impact minimally on the quasi-static tensile strength of recycled aggregate concrete. In dynamic tensile tests, there exists apparent difference between the dynamic direct tensile strength and dynamic splitting. The dynamic tensile strength of recycled aggregate concrete increases with the increase of average strain-rate in all three kinds of tests. The average strain-rate affects the damage form of recycled aggregate concrete, which indicates that the recycled aggregate concrete has obvious rate sensitivity. There shows no obvious regularity between the dynamic tensile strength and the recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentage. And the indirect tensile strength calculation method used in this article offers the theoretical basis for the engineering application of recycled aggregate concrete.