Tensile strength of dried mortar over a wide range of strain rate

Abstract

To investigate the tensile strength of a dried mortar over a wide range of strain-rate (1e-5 /s – 5e3 /s), quasi-static tests and dynamic tests have been conducted on dry specimens. The device used for the quasi-static experiments is a hydraulic press armed with ball-and-socket joints on both sides of the loading platens between which the mortar specimen is glued. In parallel, based on the spalling technique, a Hopkinson bar device has been used for intermediate loading rates (range of strain-rate from 40 /s to 140 /s). Complementary, based on pulsed power technology, spall experiments have been performed on the mortar with the GEPI device at Centre d'Etudes de Gramat to reach the highest strain rates. The experimental results show a significant increase of strength with strain-rate over the range of loading rate considered.