Comparison between Mechanical Properties of Dam and Sieved Concretes

Abstract

This technical note presents the behavior of dam and sieved concretes in uniaxial tension and compression together with the effects of curing age on large size specimens of 450 mm x 450 mm x 900 mm (prism shape) and 450 mm x 450 mm 450 mm (cube shape) and small size specimens of 150 mm x 150 mm x 350 mm and 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm, respectively. The complete stress — strain curves both in tension and compression were acquired through a systematic experimental program. The specimen ages varied from 7 to 180 days. Models with hyperbolic form are proposed to estimate the tensile and compressive strengths, the elastic modulus, and the fracture parameters of the concretes with effects of specimen ages. On top of that, the maximum crack width, fracture energy, and brittleness of dam concretes were also obtained based on the stress — deformation curves. It was found that the strengths, modulus of elasticity, and fracture energy increase with specimen age, and that the specimen size and maximum aggregate diameter significantly affect the fracture energy, peak strain, and crack width of concretes in uniaxial tension.