Fracture mechanics of concrete: Material characterization and testing

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XII

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2. Mechanics of material damage in concrete

   • G. C. Sih

   Pages 1-29

3. Evaluation of concrete fracture

   • A. DiTommaso

   Pages 31-65

4. Fracture toughness testing of cement and concrete

   • S. Mindess

   Pages 67-110

5. Dependence of concrete fracture toughness on specimen geometry and on composition

   • S. P. Shah

   Pages 111-135

6. Microcracking in concrete

   • F. O. Slate, K. C. Hover

   Pages 137-159

7. Interferometry in scattered coherent light applied to the analysis of cracking in concrete

   • P. Jacquot

   Pages 161-194

8. Back Matter

   Pages 195-202

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In this volume on the mechanics of fracture of Portland cement concrete, the general theme is the connection between microstructural phenomena and macroscopic models. The issues addressed include techniques for observation over a wide range of scales, the influence of .microcracking on common measures of strength and de formability , and ultimately, the relationship between microstructural changes in concrete under load and its resistance to cracking. It is now commonly accepted that, in past attempts to force-fit the behavior of concrete into the rules of linear elastic fracture mechanics, proper attention has not been paid to scale effects. Clearly, the relationships among specimen size, crack length and opening, and characteristic material fabric dimensions have been, in comparison to their counterparts in metals, ceramics, and rocks, abused in concrete. Without a fundamental understanding of these relationships, additional testing in search of the elusive, single measure of fracture toughness has spawned additional confusion and frustration. No one is in a better position to document this observation than Professor Mindess.

• cracks
• damage
• fracture
• fracture mechanics
• mechanics

`The present volume, which summarizes the recent results, is thus a very welcome addition to the literature. ...presents an outstanding exposition of the current research and the latest results. ...highly recommended to researchers, teachers, and graduate students in the field of fracture mechanics, and it should prove useful to concrete engineers as well.'
Journal of Applied Mechanics, 53:477 (1986)

• University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

  A. Carpinteri

• Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

  A. R. Ingraffea

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