Measuring the Size‐Independent Fracture Energy of Concrete

Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis Department, Escuela Te´cnica Superior de Ingenieri´a, University of Seville, Camino de losDescubrimientos s/n E-41092 Seville, SpainABSTRACT: The fracture energy of concrete is an important parameter in the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of concretestructures, so it is considered as a material property. However, the most universal test method for measuring the specific fracture energy ofconcrete (RILEM work-of-fracture) has been a subject of intense debate among researchers. The values have been found to vary with the sizeand shape of the test specimen. In this study, an experimental comparative analysis of the size-independent fracture energy obtained by twomain methods has been carried out. One of these is based on the local fracture energy model of Hu et al. The second is based on thecurtailment of the tail of the P–d curve by Elices et al. Therefore, the relationship between both methods is highlighted. It is shown that bothmethods give almost identical results.KEYWORDS: concrete, local fracture energy, size-independent fracture energy, test methods

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