Quantitative statistical analysis of the crack propagation and fracture process of self‐compacting rubber concrete based on acoustic emission

Abstract

In this study, acoustic emission (AE) was used to monitor the whole process of tensile and fracture of the self-compacting rubber concrete (SCRC) under four-point bending. The AE activities of SCRC during the stretching and fracture process were analyzed by statistical methods to correlate the process of crack propagation with changes in mechanical properties. And by comparing the tensile and fracture properties, the change patterns of crack mode, the cumulative events and energy of AE in the bending process of SCRC with different rubber particles content, the influence of the incorporated rubber particles on the propagation of microcracks, and the macroscopic fracture mechanism were analyzed. Studies showed that with the incorporation of rubber particles, the ductility of the concrete before and after cracking was improved. Due to the weak bonding surface between the rubber particles and the matrix, the microcracks began to propagate at low-stress levels and developed steadily throughout the stretching process. As the rubber content increased, more rubber components participated in the tensile and fracture process. Because of the elastic stretching of rubber particles, the tensile deformation capacity and fracture properties of the concrete have been improved. And in the whole process of tensile and fracture, the cracking of the weak cemented surface of the matrix and the pulling of the rubber particles were more likely to cause shear mode cracks.