Study of the mechanical properties of plain concrete under dynamic loading

Abstract

A new testing methodology based on the Hopkinson bar principle is proposed for studying globally and locally the mechanical properties of plain concrete at a high strain rate. A Hopkinson bar bundle measures the local mechanical characteristics over the cross section of a large specimen of plain concrete subjected to impact loading. With this method, more accurate measurements of the stress-strain diagram are obtained, especially during the fracturing phase of the concrete specimen.