Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5014231 | Engineering Fracture Mechanics | 2016 | 15 Pages |
Abstract
In this paper, the fracture process zone (FPZ) is investigated on unnotched and notched beams with different notch depths. Three-point bending tests have been realized on plain concrete under crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) control. Crack growth is monitored by applying the acoustic emission (AE) technique. The comparison with a numerical model is also realized by using a mesoscopic approach. Such an approach is of particular interest in the analysis of interactions between the cementitious matrix and aggregates. Several AE parameters are examined during the entire loading process, and show that the relative notch depth influences the AE characteristics, the process of crack propagation, and the brittleness of concrete. The numerical load-CMOD curves show that the mesoscopic modelling reproduces well the notch effect and concrete failure. In order to improve our understanding of the FPZ, the width and length of the FPZ are followed based on the AE source locations maps in parallel with the numerical damage fields. An important energy dissipation is observed at the crack initiation in unnotched beams.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Authors
J. Saliba, M. Matallah, A. Loukili, J.P. Regoin, D. Grégoire, L. Verdon, G. Pijaudier-Cabot,