title: Experimental and numerical study on tensile strength of concrete under different strain rates.
abstract: The dynamic characterization of concrete is fundamental to understand the material behavior in case of heavy earthquakes and dynamic events. The implementation of material constitutive law is of capital importance for the numerical simulation of the dynamic processes as those caused by earthquakes. Splitting tensile concrete specimens were tested at strain rates of 10(-7) s(-1) to 10(-4) s(-1) in an MTS material test machine. Results of tensile strength versus strain rate are presented and compared with compressive strength and existing models at similar strain rates. Dynamic increase factor versus strain rate curves for tensile strength were also evaluated and discussed. The same tensile data are compared with strength data using a thermodynamic model. Results of the tests show a significant strain rate sensitive behavior, exhibiting dynamic tensile strength increasing with strain rate. In the quasistatic strain rate regime, the existing models often underestimate the experimental results. The thermodynamic theory for the splitting tensile strength of concrete satisfactorily describes the experimental findings of strength as effect of strain rates.
authors.affiliation: College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China ; State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.
authors.forename: Fanlu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: CCCC Tunnel Engineering Company Limited, Beijing 100088, China.
authors.forename: Zhanhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Geotechnical Research Institute of Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D003252:Construction Materials / Q000592:standards; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013718:Tensile Strength; D016474:Weight-Bearing