Experimental Study on Mixed-Mode Fracture for Concrete

Abstract

A new criterion (failure stress criterion) is presented for the mixed-mode fracture of concrete by comprehensively evaluating several mixed-mode crack criteria. The new criterion absorbs some results fitting in with concrete from G.C.Sih and Erdogen’s maximum circumference stress criterion and G.C.Sih’s minimum strain energy intensity factor criterion. It combines concrete material fracture property with the condition of loads at the moment of concrete fracture by Weibull theory. It is concluded that concrete crack expands neither along the direction of maximum circumference stress nor along minimum strain energy factor S. The crack extends along the direction limited in the area controlled by two criteria. The accurate crack position is determined by failure probability of the strength of concrete structure. The experimental results indicate that the new criterion has better precision and adaptability comparing with other criteria and it can be applied to engineering very well.