Tension Cracks Research Articles

Four-parameter punching theory for reinforced concrete flat slabs without transverse reinforcement

Despite extensive scientific research, the underlying physical principles in theoretical models for understanding punching behavior remain a concern. In this paper, a four-parameter punching theory for reinforced concrete flat slabs without transverse reinforcement has been introduced and validated. The kinematic behavior of the slab was characterized by three key parameters, i.e., critical shear crack inclination, slab rotation, and slab translation. Four distinct shear transfer effects from aggregate interlocking, concrete residual tensile stress, reinforcement dowel action, and the shear-compression ring, were considered and quantified using a novel algorithm based on these three parameters, and the fourth parameter, i.e., the direction of the minimum principal stress within the shear-compression ring. The punching capacity was subsequently determined by summing the contributions from these effects. This model was evaluated through extensive comparisons with experimental data, demonstrating that it accurately captures the influence of various parameters. Across the collected 260 test data, the average ratio of experimental to predicted punching capacity was 1.01, with a coefficient of variance of 0.11 and a coefficient of determination of 0.97. The average ratio, coefficient of variation, and coefficient of determination improved by 8 %, 21 %, and 1 %, compared to the optimal results from other design and theoretical models. The developed model can also assess all shear contributions, slab deformation, and critical shear crack inclination. It is ultimately confirmed that the proposed model can elucidate the physical phenomena and underlying mechanisms involved in punching behavior. Slab deformation primarily arises from flexural deformation, whereas shear forces are predominantly transmitted through the shear-compression ring. Punching failure is attributed to the failure of the shear-compression ring under tension-compression-compression triaxial stress.

Crack evolution and fractal characteristics of fractured red sandstone based on acoustic emission parameters

Rock is a widely used engineering material, and accurate understanding of its internal microcrack evolution process during loading can provide a theoretical basis for preventing instability and failure in rock engineering. The rock pressure test system and acoustic emission equipment were used to carry out uniaxial loading and acoustic emission monitoring tests on fractured red sandstone. Based on the RA and AF values of acoustic emission and the fractal theory, the internal crack patterns and evolution rules of red sandstone with different crack angles were explored. The results show that the compressive strength of red sandstone varies with the crack Angle in the shape of “U”, and there is an obvious stress drop after the elastic stage of 30° and 45° crack red sandstone, which has a good correspondence with the acoustic emission ringing count rate. During the loading process, the damage mainly caused by tension cracks first appears inside the rock, and then the tension cracks increase steadily and the shear cracks gradually increase, indicating that the rock enters the stage of fracture instability development. With the development of shear cracks, the peak strength is finally reached and the instability failure occurs. During the loading process of 30° fracture red sandstone, the corresponding stress drop phenomenon of “shear crack group” appears. According to the D/S statistical analysis of different crack samples based on acoustic emission ringing count, the fractal dimension presents a decreasing-rising-decreasing trend with the increase of crack inclination, which corresponds to the change of the complexity of crack development in rock.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Cold Joint Effects on Intermediate Concrete Moment Frame Under Cyclic Loading

This study investigates the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete flexural frames with a focus on the impact of cold joints (CJs). Three one-bay concrete frames, scaled to 2:3 according to ACI 318-19(22), were tested under axial and cyclic loading. The frames included a control frame without CJs, a frame with CJs, and a frame with CJs reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets. Initially, the difference between the frame without CJs and the frame with CJs was examined, revealing a 10% reduction in cumulative energy dissipation, a 24% reduction in ductility, and an 18% reduction in lateral load capacity for the frame with CJs. Additionally, the stiffness in frames with CJs has decreased. Subsequently, the frame with CJs was reinforced with FRP sheets, leading to a 33% increase in cumulative energy dissipation and a 54% increase in lateral load capacity. However, the FRP sheets, while increasing load capacity, introduced brittleness, which reduced ductility. Crack patterns varied, with the frame without CJs showing vertical cracks near connections at 3% drifts, and the frame with CJs exhibiting tension and compression vertical cracks at 1% drifts. After validating the numerical models, two structural designs have been proposed to mitigate the negative effects of CJs in reinforced concrete structures. These designs are intended to improve seismic performance and enhance the structure's resistance to cyclic loads.

Investigating the influence of geometric configurations and loading modes on mixed mode I/II fracture characteristics of rocks: Part I-Numerical simulation

The influence of geometric configurations and loading modes is a bottleneck that restricts the accurate determination of rock fracture parameters and the precise understanding of fracture mechanisms. Therefore, the phase field method is employed to analyze the influences of specimen geometry and loading modes on the dimensionless stress intensity factors, peak load, fracture toughness, and crack initiation angle during the rock mixed mode I/II fracture process. Three new configurations of specimens are proposed to test rock mixed mode I/II fracture. The research results indicate that as the prefabricated crack inclination angle increases, the peak load of three-point bending type specimen increases, while the peak load of diametric-compression type specimen decreases. Moreover, the influence of geometric configurations on the fracture parameters of three-point bending specimens is greater than that of diametric-compression disk specimens. The research findings of this work can provide basic supporting data for the establishment of mixed mode I/II fracture testing standards.

Damage index correlation in massive granite-porous backfills under hydromechanical triaxial cyclic loading using acoustic emissions and X-ray computed tomography

The characterization accuracy of damage indices in massive and porous composite biomaterials under complex osmotic conditions has long been a challenge in engineering materials science. Establishing correlations between damage indices calculated using different methodologies is crucial to validate and improve defects characterizations. In this study, we investigated the damage index correlation of cylindrical massive granite-porous backfill structural composites under both dry and seepage conditions. A series of triaxial cyclic loading and unloading tests were conducted on specimens under hydromechanical conditions with varying osmotic pressures (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 MPa) and a confining pressure of 9 MPa involving acoustic emission monitoring and phase-based 3D nondestructive CT scanning. The results revealed the AE energy was lower under osmotic conditions compared to dry conditions. The AE Damage Index (DAE), defined by separating tensile and shear microcracking signals, significantly increased from 0.32 to 0.55 with rising osmotic pressure. 3D mesoscopic fracture visualization provided detailed insights into the fractures in granite and backfill interfaces. The number of small-angle cracks increased with osmotic pressure, and the crack inclination distribution range expanded from 63°- 85° to 49°–80°. The average crack angle showed a significant monotonic decrease with increasing osmotic pressure. An Energy Dissipation Damage Index (DED) was defined, and its correlation with the DAE under dry conditions was modeled using a reciprocal function DED=a/(DAE+bσ3)+c. This novel approach offers insights into the transition points between tensile and shear-dominated failure stages. Furthermore, an exponential function DV=aDAEb(b<0) was used to model the correlation between AE Damage Index and Visual Damage Index (DV) under osmotic conditions. The damage indices derived from different methods can be mathematically correlated, providing a comprehensive evaluation of material damage states. The study found the flow transition between different natural-human medias results in different damage mechanisms, which are all obey the correlation law. These damage mechanisms offered constructive recommendations for engineering applications based on varying ratios of osmotic pressure to confining pressure.

Investigating tensile failure mechanisms of layered rocks through physical testing and PFC3D analysis

Rocks generally exhibit less resistance to tension compared to shear or compression forces, and tension cracks often precede shear or compression failures. While the mechanical performance of rock layers under compression has been widely described, their tensile behavior is less known.The current study includes experimental approaches as well as computational testing with the three-dimensional Particle Flow Code (PFC3D) to evaluate the effect of layer thickness and mechanical parameters on the strength and failure patterns of layered rocks-like materials under continuous tension.The Brazilian tensile strength test was conducted on concrete and gypsum specimens. The concrete specimen measured 54 mm in diameter and 27 mm in thickness, resulting in a tensile strength of 1.35 MPa. The gypsum specimen, with the same measurements, had a tensile strength of 0.6 MPa. In addition, uniaxial compressive strength tests were performed on both materials, yielding compressive strengths of 18 MPa for concrete and 6 MPa for gypsum. Our findings indicate that layer thickness and mechanical properties considerably influence failure patterns, tensile strength, and progressive deformation of these materials. The failure modes seen in the layered specimens indicate that the tensile strength ascertained by numerical testing and direct tensile testing is equally accurate. Both the empirical and computational findings are in accordance with the analytical predictions of the failure criterion. In rock engineering, these failure criteria have a high degree of accuracy when it comes to predicting tensile strength and reflecting the failure modes of layered rocks, like layered sandstone, slate, and shale

Failure characteristics and pressure relief effectiveness of non-persistent jointed rock mass with holes

In tunnel engineering, the rock mass contains a significant number of irregularly distributed joints, and typically exhibits high energy accumulation, thereby posing a risk of rockburst occurrence. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to investigate the fracture propagation behavior in jointed rock masses and assess the impact of borehole pressure relief on mitigating rockburst occurrences for effective prevention and control measures. This paper focuses on failure characteristics and pressure relief effectiveness of non-persistent jointed rock mass with holes through laboratory testing and numerical simulation. In laboratory experiments, rock samples are prepared to include a range of crack dip angles and circular holes. Then, the crack propagation law of crack inclination and circular hole is studied by AE and DIC technology. The experimental results show that with the increase of fracture dip angle, the peak strength and energy change of the sample decrease first and then increase. Due to the existence of holes, the crack propagation direction of the original crack is changed. After drilling, the strain energy of the sample is obviously reduced, which shows that the drilling pressure relief effect is obvious, which can effectively reduce the energy accumulated inside the rock mass and reduce the risk of rockburst. Finally, the PFC numerical simulation software is used to analyze the micro-failure process and energy change law of the sample from three aspects: the relative position of cracks and holes, the diameter of boreholes and the spacing of boreholes. Further understanding of the energy dissipation law and mechanical behavior characteristics of jointed rock mass provides a reference for exploring the pressure relief effect of rock mass and preventing rockburst.

A Numerical Study of the Mechanical Behavior of Jointed Soft Rocks under Triaxial Loading Using a Bonded Particle Model.

In order to master the strength and deformation characteristics, including the macro-micro failure mechanism of soft rock samples with penetrating joints under triaxial loading, a series of numerical triaxial tests have been carried out. The strength and deformation characteristics, failure modes, crack propagation, distribution of force chains, and the influences of joint dip angles and confining pressures have been analyzed and compared with the laboratory test results. The results show that (1) the residual strength ratio of jointed rock samples generally increases first and then decreases with the increase in joint dip angles under the same confining pressure and reaches the maximum value around 23-24°. Poisson's ratio increases with the increase in the confining pressure or the joint dip angle. The elastic modulus increases with the increase in the confining pressure and decreases with the increase in the joint dip angle. (2) The jointed rock samples with different joint dip angles compact with relatively small volumetric strains and then dilate up to failure with relatively large volume expansions. Lower confining pressure and smaller dip angles will lead to a more pronounced dilation phenomenon and less obvious volume shrinkage rules. (3) The low-angle jointed rock samples all exhibit the X-type shear failure. The jointed rock samples with a joint dip angle of 45° exhibit hybrid failure with both slippage and shearing, which are controlled by both the matrix and the joint. (4) The change in the number of cracks includes three stages: the slow crack initiation stage, rapid growth stage, and crack coalescence stage. The total number of shear or tensile cracks all decrease with an increase in the joint dip angles, with the number of tensile cracks being approximately twice that of shear cracks. The tension cracks are mostly horizontal, and the shear cracks are mostly vertical. (5) The number of force chains shows a decreasing trend after the cracks begin to grow. The jointed rock samples for the intact, 15° and 30° cases all form a main force chain during the failure process, while there is no main force chain for the 45° case.

Experimental study on the mechanical properties of red sandstone with fractures under different loading rates

In order to study the effects of crack inclination angle and loading rate on rock mechanical properties, creep characteristics, and failure characteristics. Taking homogeneous red sandstone with different fracture angles as the research object, uniaxial compression tests and uniaxial compression creep tests were conducted at different loading rates. The results showed that under the same fracture angle, the loading rate was positively correlated with the peak strength, elastic modulus, instantaneous strain, creep strain, and steady-state creep rate of the sample, while negatively correlated with the peak strain. At the same loading rate, the mechanical properties and creep properties of the sample were controlled by the crack inclination angle α. With the increase of α, the peak strength, peak strain, instantaneous strain, creep strain and steady-state creep rate decreased first and then increased, and the elastic modulus increased. On the basis of rock creep testing, it is also important to establish a creep model that conforms to the actual test situation for studying rock creep characteristics. However, many models currently used cannot accurately describe the three stages of rock creep, especially the accelerated creep stage. Therefore, based on Burgers elements, this paper introduces plastic damage bodies based on damage rates and software components based on fractional calculus, A new creep model was obtained and its rationality was verified through experimental results. The results showed that the fit between the model and experimental data was above 0.97, indicating that the model can better describe the three stages of rock creep, especially reflecting the non-linear characteristics of the accelerated creep stage.

Optimal mine pitwall profiles in jointed anisotropic rock masses

ABSTRACT A new methodology based on the limit analysis upper bound method for the topological optimisation of slopes is presented, to determine geotechnically optimal slope profiles in anisotropic jointed rock masses. The methodology accounts for the effects of discontinuities such as joints, bedding planes, and tension cracks. We applied this methodology to the context of open pit mines, with the goal of achieving geotechnically optimal pitwall profiles. The optimal profiles maximise the Overall Slope Angle (OSA) while maintaining a prescribed Factor of Safety (FoS) and satisfying the geometric constraints imposed by benches and ramps. The method, implemented in the software OptimalSlope, utilises direction-dependent cohesion and internal friction angle parameters to replicate the effect of joints on slope stability. Key inputs include joint orientation, non-persistence, and probability of occurrence. We tested the methodology on a Mexican open pit mine to be excavated into Cretaceous siltstone featuring eight different joint sets and a primary bedding plane. Optimal pitwall profiles were determined for various combinations of bedding dip angles (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°) and mine pitwall orientations (hanging wall, footwall, side walls), considering the three-dimensional kinematics of the joints through anisotropic functions of cohesion and friction angle. Results indicate that the optimal pitwall profiles generally exhibit higher OSA compared to planar profiles with the same FoS, except in one bedding dip direction. Additionally, stability analyses performed using Rocscience Slide2 independently verified the FoS values of the optimal profiles.

Investigation of the fracture characteristics of mixed-mode I/III crack by using two kinds of sandstone specimens

This study aims to identify specimens that are more suitable for examining the failure properties of I/III mixed-mode cracks under static loads. We employed single-edge notched bending (SENB) and edge-notched disc bending (ENDB) specimens, and used ABAQUS finite element method software to calculate the stress intensity factors for modes I and III at various crack inclination angles θ. Fracture toughness was tested using three-point bending experiments on two types of sandstone specimens. The evolution of mixed-mode I/III fracture morphology and failure patterns was investigated with a monocular microscope. Additionally, the evolution of the strain field and crack tip opening displacement was analyzed using the digital image correlation method. Our findings indicate that the fracture toughness of the ENDB specimens surpassed that of the SENB specimens. The effective fracture toughness of both SENB and ENDB specimens initially increased with crack inclination angle θ but then decreased. The fracture mode correlated with energy release; the energy release rate of the ENDB specimens exceeded that of the SENB specimens, making the former more brittle. For SENB specimens, crack initiation was primarily intergranular, while ENDB specimens exhibited predominantly transgranular fractures. The crack initiation moments for both specimen types increased with higher crack inclination angles. Furthermore, at the same crack inclination angle, ENDB specimens cracked earlier than SENB specimens.

Characteristics of soil moisture transport in the aeration zone of subsidence areas under the disturbance of coal seam mining

High-intensity coal mining has induced a series of ecological and environmental problems issues, including surface subsidence, the development of ground cracks, and the deterioration of vegetation. The disruption of water circulation systems induced by mining, such as perched groundwater, groundwater of aeration zone, and phreatic water, is the root cause of vegetation withering. The aeration zone serves as a crucial nexus in the process of water cycling and exerts a significant influence on soil fertility. To explore the characteristics of soil moisture transport in subsidence areas under the mining disturbance, on-site monitoring of the size and morphology characteristics of subsidence areas and ground cracks was conducted in typical mining areas in Inner Mongolia, China. Subsequently, a typical soil moisture transport model was constructed in subsidence areas, the soil moisture transport patterns under the influence of different types of subsidence and cracks were analyzed, and the influence law of soil damage on soil moisture transport in the aerated zone was clarified. The results indicate that (1) Based on the occurrence and distribution characteristics of subsidence cracks, the subsidence area can be divided into tension zone, compression zone, and neutral zone; the ground cracks are divided into permanent tension cracks and dynamic cracks. (2) The drought stress effect of soil in the subsidence area is significant. Under the influence of soil structure variation, the water-holding capacity of the soil in the subsidence area decreases, and the soil moisture dissipation is strong. The soil moisture transport rate in the aeration zone of the subsidence area is ranked as follows: tension zone > neutral zone > compression zone. (3) Ground cracks can exacerbate the soil moisture transport rate in the aeration zone. After 15 d of crack appearance, the soil moisture transport reaches a relatively stable state, and the soil moisture transport rate in the surface layer of the crack is the fastest, and the loss of soil moisture is the most significant. The crack effect is not significant beyond 100 cm from the crack. This study provides a theoretical and data support for soil and vegetation remediation in mining subsidence areas.

Investigation on mixed mode I/II crack propagation in nitrate ester plasticized polyether propellant: Experimental and numerical study

The fracture of solid propellant is predominantly attributed to the existence of mixed mode cracks, so it is essential to investigate the the fracture behavior of solid propellant with mixed mode I/II crack. This paper presents fracture characteristics of nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) propellant under different crack inclination angles (β = 30°–90°). Based on the combination of a drawing machine and a high-speed camera, the mechanical response, crack propagation velocity and crack-path morphology were investigated. The critical equivalent stress intensity factor Keqc was calculated to assess the fracture toughness of the NEPE propellant, and a potential simplified criterion related to the stress intensity factor was proposed. The experimental results demonstrated that the NEPE propellant with mixed mode I/II crack exhibited blunting fracture phenomena during crack propagation, resulting in fluctuating crack propagation velocity. As the crack inclination angle decreases, the fracture toughness of the NEPE propellant increases and then decreases, and the value of Keqc reaches its maximum at β = 45°. Furthermore, numerical studies based on bond-based peridynamic (BBPD) were performed by modeling the crack propagation process of the NEPE propellant, including the crack phase field diagram and the load–displacement curve of the NEPE propellant. The simulation results were then compared with the experiments.

Study on the interaction mechanism of laser-generated Rayleigh waves and subsurface inclined cracks

Abstract In this paper, the finite element method was used to study the reflected and transmitted waves of laser-generated Rayleigh waves from subsurface inclined cracks, the propagation paths and mode conversion mechanisms of different characteristic waves are determined. The Rayleigh wave will interact with the crack top tip and propagate back and forth along the crack surface, and be converted to shear waves at the crack top tip. The shear waves will mode-convert to Rayleigh waves at the free surface when the incidence angle of the shear wave is larger than 60°. Moreover, for the Rayleigh wave interacting with the crack bottom tip, when the crack inclined angle is less than 60°, some Rayleigh waves will travel along the crack surface to the crack top tip. When the crack inclination angle is greater than 60°, in addition to the Rayleigh waves propagating upwards along the crack surface, some Rayleigh waves convert to shear waves at the crack bottom tip and then incident on the free surface of the workpiece. Experiments were carried out to validate some of the Rayleigh wave propagation paths. The experimental results matched the theoretical arrival time well, thus verifying the reliability of the analytical wave path. The results are helpful for the quantitative detection of subsurface inclined cracks using laser ultrasonic techniques.

Study on fracture characteristics of surrounding rock of twin tunnels under various crack inclination and location conditions

In some practical projects, two neighboring tunnels are often constructed in natural rock bodies that have a significant number of fractures with unpredictable inclination angles and locations. To study dynamic fracture characteristics of the surrounding rock mass of the twin tunnels containing a crack with different crack inclinations and crack locations, an experimental model of a cracked twin tunnel was designed and proposed, dynamic experimental analyses were carried out by using a traditional split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) device and digital image correlation (DIC) method, followed by simulation conducted by using LS-DYNA code. The findings indicate that the spandrels and corners of the twin tunnels nearest the pre-cracks are more vulnerable to failure under dynamic loads, resulting in tunnels joining the ends of the pre-cracks. With various crack inclinations and crack locations, the initial cracks are typically produced at the roof and floor of the tunnel, as well as at the points of the pre-cracks. The specimen's kind of crack and its emergence site are connected. Crack inclination and location have little influence on the maximum displacement value in the twin tunnels. The study's findings could offer a fresh theoretical direction for evaluating the stability of twin tunnels when there are numerous joints and flaws.

Study on crack propagation mechanism and acoustic-thermal sensitivity analysis of pre-cracked weakly cemented rock

As the intensity and depth of coal mining gradually increase, environmental disturbances become more complex, and the degree of crack development in weakly cemented surrounding rocks continues to increase. In order to study the influence mechanism of crack angle on the fracture mechanism and acoustic − thermal precursor information of weakly cemented rocks, visual biaxial loading tests were conducted on pre-cracked weakly cemented rocks based on a transparent servo loading device, combined with digital speckle correlation method (DSCM), acoustic emission (AE), and infrared thermal imaging (ITI). The research results indicate that as the inclination angle of cracks increases, the initial strength, peak strength, and elastic modulus of rocks exhibit a logarithmic relationship of first decreasing and then increasing. When the inclination angle of the crack increases from < 30° to > 75°, the failure mode of weakly cemented rocks changes from shear to tension. The propagation path of deformation localization is consistent with the propagation trajectory of surface cracks, and the extension length and time of tensile cracks are longer than those of shear cracks. The acoustic − thermal sensitivity of weakly cemented rocks with crack inclination angle of > 45° is higher than that with crack inclination angle of ≤ 30°. The research results contribute to further understanding and mastering the mechanism of crack initiation and propagation in weakly cemented rocks containing joints, and provide theoretical guidance for engineering methods to control the deformation of weakly cemented surrounding rocks.

Study on the dynamic fracture behavior of anisotropic CCNBD shale specimens under different impact angles

Drilling and fracturing are the key technologies for shale gas extraction, while most of the loads generated during rock drilling or fracturing are dynamic. In this study, dynamic impact experiments were conducted on the cracked chevron-notched Brazilian disc shale specimens with different chevron-notched crack (CNC) inclinations (β) and layer inclinations (α) by the split Hopkinson pressure bar. The results show that the dynamic peak load and dissipated energy increases with the increase of β, α, and strain rate, but their changing trends are different. The generation and expansion of cracks during the specimen failure process are mainly affected by β. As β increases, the failure type of the specimen can be divided into pure mode I fracture, mode I-II mixed fracture, pure mode II fracture, mixed tension-shear failure, and Brazilian splitting failure. The increase in strain rate will lead to a decrease in the time for crack initiation and propagation as well as an increase in secondary cracks. In addition, the mode I fracture toughness (KⅠC) and mode II fracture toughness (KⅡC) both grow with the increase of α and strain rate. The KⅡC predicted by the generalized maximum tangential stress criterion (GMST) exhibits more accurate.

Study on the influence mechanism of interfacial inclination angle on the mechanical behavior of coal and concrete specimens

In recent years, the proposed distributed underground reservoir technology has attracted a lot of attention from experts and scholars in the field of engineering. This technology not only avoids the waste of mine water resources, but also realizes the rational utilization of coal mine underground space, and promotes the green and sustainable development of coal mining. As a storage facility of the underground reservoir, the stability of the coal-concrete composite structure will directly affect the long-term safe operation of the underground reservoir. In light of this situation, this study conducted uniaxial compression and acoustic emission experiments on coal-concrete specimens with interface inclinations of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° to investigate the impact of interface inclination on coal-concrete specimen stability. The test results show that the stress-strain curve passes through three stages: compression, elastic deformation, and deformation failure. The peak stress, peak strain, and elastic modulus exhibit a “U”-shaped distribution with varying angles, reaching a minimum at 60°. Crack analysis using RA-AF reveals that tension cracks predominate at 0°-30°, while shear cracks predominate at 45°-90°. The application of the Mohr-Coulomb criterion to coal-concrete specimens is discussed, and a derivation of the formula for calculating the ultimate principal stress is provided. The research in this paper provides a theoretical reference for the structural design and parameter selection of underground reservoir dams in coal mines.

Mechanical behavior of mixed-mode I-II fracture in deep laminated shale based on finite discrete element method

Fracture patterns in deep-textured shales play a pivotal role in determining the structural stability of engineering constructions and optimizing energy utilization. This study utilizes a numerical model of a semicircular bending (SCB) specimen developed through the finite discrete element method to unveil the mixed fracture mechanical characteristics inherent in deep-textured shales. The investigation delves into the influence of prefabricated crack inclination, texture inclination, and texture strength on mixed fracture toughness, with the specimen’s damage process elucidated by analyzing the evolution of the acoustic emission distribution. The findings disclose the following insights: (1) An increase in the inclination of the texture leads to a concomitant rise in the tortuosity and length of the crack, followed by subsequent decreases. Elevating the inclination of the prefabricated crack reduces the requisite load force for specimen damage and significantly mitigates crack deflection. (2) Textured shale specimens manifest four distinct damage modes: penetrating extension, deflection extension, tangential extension, and mixed extension. The reduction in texture strength amplifies the probability of mixed extension and concurrently augments the shear damage rate of the specimen. (3) Mixed fracture toughness displays a linear decrease with crack inclination and a linear increase with texture strength. (4) The toughening mechanism of textured shales is categorized into three classes: separation along the texture, fracture path deflection, and texture cracking. The preeminent controlling effects on toughening mechanisms, in descending order of strength, are texture strength > texture inclination > prefabricated crack inclination.

Shear strength of steel-concrete composite walls (aspect ratio 2.0) with steel U-SECTION boundary element

A steel-concrete composite wall with steel U-section boundary elements was developed for enhanced structural performance and constructability. In the present study, cyclic lateral loading tests were performed to investigate the shear strength of the proposed walls. Test parameters were the type of boundary reinforcement (rebars or steel U-sections), sectional area of steel U-sections, and type (horizontal rebars, steel plate beams, or steel faceplates) and spacing of web reinforcement. The test results showed that the boundary steel U-sections restrained diagonal tension cracking and shear sliding in the web. Further, the steel U-sections restrained cracking and crushing of the boundary concrete, confining the boundary zone. For this reason, the shear strength of the composite wall was 35 % greater than that of the counterpart reinforced concrete wall with conventional boundary reinforcement. The use of steel plate beams and steel faceplates further increased shear strength. Existing reinforced concrete design methods underestimated the shear strength of the composite walls, neglecting the contribution of steel U-sections. The tested shear strengths exceeded the web crushing strengths of ACI 318, even though the horizontal web reinforcement ratio was less than the code-based maximum ratio.