The effect of coarse aggregate hardness on the fracture toughness and compressive strength of concrete

Abstract

Coarse aggregate is the dominant constituent in concrete. Aggregate hardness is a variable needed to investigate in determining its effect on the critical stress intensity factors (KIC), dissipated fracture energy (Gf) and compressive strength (fc’) of the concrete. The hardness of coarse aggregate based on Los Angeles abrasion values of 16.7%., 22.6%, and 23.1% was used incorporated with Portland Composite Cement (PCC), and superplasticizer to create specimens. Cubes of 150x150x150 mm were employed to determine the fc’, and four beam sizes: 50x100x350 mm, 50x150x500 mm, 50x300x950 mm and 50x450x1250 mm were engaged to determine KIC and Gf. The fc’ and Gf of specimens manufactured by three different hardness of coarse aggregates were 45, 43, 40 MPa and 89.4, 54.0, 56.3 N/m respectively. KIC of specimens was 138.9, 119.4 and 114.1 MPa.mm1/2 for beam size of 50x100x350 mm; 148.2, 115.8 and 108.8 MPa.mm1/2 for beam size of 50x150x500 mm; 230.9, 183.1 and 157.9 MPa.mm1/2 for beam size of 50x300x950 mm; and 293.2, 248.1 and 244.3 MPa.mm1/2 for beam size of 50x450x1250 mm. Experimental results showed that decreasing hardness of coarse aggregate was found to have significant effect on the fracture toughness rather than on the compressive strength of concrete.