Effects of displacement rate and temperature on the fracture properties of polymer mortars

• Higher fracture energy and toughness were observed for a higher displacement rate.
• Lowering temperature fracture energy and toughness increment.
• A power law well describes the cross-head displacement rate influence.
• A linear equation represents with good accuracy the temperature influence.

Knowing materials properties is imperative to proper design structures. In this study, the fracture properties of epoxy polymer mortars, fracture energy and toughness are investigated when tested at different cross-head displacement rates (ranging from 0.05 mm/min to 100 mm/min) and under different temperatures (ranging from −20 °C to 40 °C).It was observed a rate dependent behavior with higher fracture energy and toughness for a higher cross-head displacement rate and a temperature sensitive behavior with higher fracture energy and toughness for a lower temperature. Simple equations were determined to predict fracture properties.