Compressive behavior of concrete under high strain rates after freeze-thaw cycles

Abstract

The dynamic compressive behavior of concrete after freezing and thawing tests are investigated by using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique. The stress-strain curves of concrete under dynamic loading are measured and analyzed. The setting numbers of freeze-thaw cycles are 0, 25, 50, and 75 cycles. Test results show that the dynamic strength decreases and peak strain increases with the increasing of freeze-thaw cycles. Based on theWeibull distribution model, statistical damage constitutive model for dynamic stress-strain response of concrete after freeze-thaw cycles was proposed. At last, the fragmentation test of concrete subjected to dynamic loading and freeze-thaw cycles is carried out using sieving statistics. The distributions of the fragment sizes are analyzed based on fractal theory. The fractal dimensions of concrete increase with the increasing of both freeze-thaw cycle and strain rate. The relations among the fractal dimension, strain rates and freeze-thawing cycles are developed.