Softening response of concrete in direct tension

Title of Thesis: Softening Response of Concrete in Direct Tension Teresa Cintora, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, 198-7 7 Thesis directed by: Dr. Methi Wecharatana, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Due to the increased attention in nonlinear fracture mechanics and numerical methods of cementitious material, it has become necessary to have a reliable investigation of the post-peak softening response of concrete under direct uniaxial loading. But due to the brittleness of the material previous researchers have encountered great difficulty in obtaining complete data regarding the load-deformation behavior. This study uses a strain-controlled testing method and therefore the post-peak curve can be more easily obtained. Based on these results a unique formula for the normalized load vs. deformation curve has been proposed to be applied in fracture analysis applications.