Parameters identification of polymer concrete using a fracture mechanics test method and full-field measurements

In the present work it is proposed an easy-to-implement alternative procedure to identify not only the fracture properties but also the mean elasticity modulus E and Poisson’s ratio ν of arbitrary polymer concretes. Only one test using a standard single-edge-cracked three-point bend specimen is necessary. Digital image correlation (DIC) method is used to obtain the full-field displacement close to the crack tip. The mean properties (E, ν) are determined by fitting analytical expressions for the displacement field to the experimental data. The adequacy of the proposed methodology is checked by comparing the material parameters obtained using the proposed procedure with the ones obtained through standard procedures.