Two Methods for Determining Softening Relationships of Dam Concrete and Wet-Screened Concrete

Abstract

The direct tension tests and three-point bending notched beam tests were performed on dam concrete and wet-screened concrete specimens. Based on these two fracture tests, the softening relationships (σ – w curves) of dam concrete and wet-screened concrete were determined by employing direct tension test method and inverse analysis method respectively. The inverse analysis method based on cracking strength criterion was adopted in the analysis. The results showed that the obtained softening relationships by the DT test method were in good agreement with those by the inverse analysis. It was also found that the tensile strength as well as the fracture energy of dam concrete were smaller than those of wet-screened concrete, but the crack width at zero stress of dam concrete was greater than that of wet-screened concrete. It can be seen there may be a definite relation between the softening relationship of dam concrete and that of wet-screened concrete.