Study of Aggregate Size Effect on Fracture Toughness of Petreous Macrocomposites (Concrete)

Abstract

The present study investigates the effect of rock aggregate size on the fracture toughness of a petreous macrocomposite material (concrete). The effect of aggregate size on the fracture properties of concrete was studied by analysing the fracture toughness KIC results obtained using single edge notched beam (SENB) specimens submitted to 4-point bending test. The results were obtained according to the methodology proposed by Srawley and Gross for monolithic ceramic materials. Additionally, the effect of aggregate size has been analysed by performing fractographic examination of unnotched beam specimens also submitted to 4-point bending test. KIc values obtained via linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) theory applied to the fractographic data were comparable to those obtained by SENB method. The obtained results show that the fracture toughness of concrete depends on the aggregate particle size, although KIC is not linearly related with the particle size. Fracture behaviour depends on the interaction between the used mortar (a mixture of portland cement with sand and water) and the different rock (aggregate) particle sizes. This kind of studies allows further extending the knowledge on the failure mechanisms of concrete, which permits to improve the characteristics of these macrocomposite materials by understanding the effects related to the modification of their structure.