Macroscopic and microscopic fracture features of concrete used in coal mine under chlorine salt erosion

The microscopic morphology and pore structure characteristics of concrete with composite admixtures(fly ash and mineral powder) after chlorine salt erosion were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and mercury injection porosimetry(MIP), providing the basis for the design and maintenance of concrete shafts in coal mines. The above-mentioned characteristics were compared with the macroscopic characteristic of concrete fractures under uniaxial compression. The results show that the macroscopic fracture characteristics of concrete under uniaxial compression change from longitudinal split fracture and oblique section shear fracture to conjugate cant fracture, and the degree of breakage increases.Interface cracks, cement paste cracks, spherical surface cracks, and aggregate cracks appear in concrete under uniaxial compression. In the early stages of corrosion, the original cracks which are obvious are repaired. When the corrosion becomes more serious, cement paste cracks appear, and the number of harmful holes increases while the number of harmless holes decreases. This study also reveals the relationship between the macroscopic properties and microscopic structure of concrete under chloride salt erosion. Finally, the paper preliminarily discussed the relationship between the macroscopic properties and mesoscopic characteristics of concrete under chlorine salt erosion.

Influence of construction interfaces on dynamic characteristics of roller compacted concrete dams

To study the influence of construction interfaces on dynamic characteristics of roller compacted concrete dams(RCCDs),mechanical properties of construction interfaces are firstly analyzed. Then, the viscous-spring artificial boundary(VSAB) is adopted to simulate the radiation damping of their infinite foundations, and based on the Marc software, a simplified seismic motion input method is presented by the equivalent nodal loads. Finally, based on the practical engineering of a RCC gravity dam, effects of radiation damping and construction interfaces on the dynamic characteristics of dams are investigated in detail. Analysis results show that dynamic response of the RCC gravity dam significantly reduces about 25% when the radiation damping of infinite foundation is considered. Hot interfaces and the normal cold interfaces have little influence on the dynamic response of the RCC gravity dam.However, nonlinear fracture along the cold interfaces at the dam heel will occur under the designed earthquake if the cold interfaces are combined poorly. Therefore, to avoid the fractures along the construction interfaces under the potential super earthquakes,combination quality of the RCC layers should be significantly ensured.

Peeling behavior and spalling resistance of CFRP sheets bonded to bent concrete surfaces

In this paper, the peeling behavior and the spalling resistance effect of carbon fiber reinforced polymer （CFRP） sheets externally bonded to bent concrete surfaces are firstly investigated experimentally. Twenty one curved specimens and seven plane specimens are studied in the paper, in which curved specimens with bonded CFRP sheets can simulate the concrete spalling in tunnel, culvert, arch bridge etc., whereas plane specimens with bonded CFRP sheets can simulate the concrete spalling in beam bridge, slab bridge and pedestrian bridge. Three kinds of curved specimens with different radii of curvature are chosen by referring to practical tunnel structures, and plane specimens are used for comparison with curved ones. A peeling load is applied on the FRP sheet by loading a circular steel tube placed into the central notch of beam to debond CFRP sheets from the bent concrete surface, meanwhile full-range load-deflection curves are recorded by a MTS 831.10 Elastomer Test System. Based on the experimental results, a theoretical analysis is also conducted for the specimens. Both theoretical and experimental results show that only two material parameters, the interfacial fracture energy of CFRP-concrete interface and the tensile stiffness of CFRP sheets, are needed for describing the interfacial spalling behavior. It is found that the radius of curvature has remarkable influence on peeling load-deflection curves. The test methods and test results given in the paper are helpful and available for reference to the designer of tunnel strengthening.

Influence of Boundary Effect on Fracture of Concrete

The recently-developed boundary effect concept and the associated asymptotic model are used to analyze size-dependent fracture of concrete specimens.It is shown that the dependence of concrete fracture on specimen size,crack and/or ligament length is due to the same mechanism,i.e.the interactions between the crack tip fracture process zone and specimen's boundaries.By introducing an equivalent crack length ae,dimension dependent fracture becomes equivalent to fracture of a large plate with a small edge crack,and therefore,follows the same relationship of the 'net' nominal strength σn versus ae.As a result,the size dependent fracture can be predicted using the data measured on different types of specimens.To demonstrate the flexibility and effectiveness of the asymptotic boundary effect model,previously published results of three test series are analyzed.Excellent agreement has been found.Implications of the successful prediction are discussed.

Computational modeling of fracture in concrete: A review

This paper presents a review of fracture modeling of concrete.The complex material,such as concrete,has been widely used in construction industries and become trending issue in the last decades.Based on comprehensive literature review,there are two main approaches considered to-date of concrete fracture modeling,such as macroscopic and micromechanical models.The purpose of this review is to provide insight comparison from different techniques in modeling of fracture in concrete which are available.In the first section,an overview of fracture modeling in general is highlighted.Two different approaches both of macroscopic and micromechanical models will be reviewed.As heterogeneity of concrete material is major concern in micromechanical-based concrete modeling,one section will discuss this approach.Finally,the summary from all of reviewed techniques will be pointed out before the future perspective is given.