Title:
Simple Method for Determining Material Fracture Parameters From Peak Loads
Author(s):
Tianxi Tang, Chengsheng Ouyang, and Surendra P. Shah
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
93
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
147-157
Keywords:
beams (supports); concretes; cracking (fracturing); finite element method; tension; tests; Materials Research
DOI:
10.14359/1413
Date:
3/1/1996
Abstract:
A simple method (peak load method) for determining material fracture parameters K s lc and CTOD c of the two-parameter fracture model is proposed in this paper. To apply this method, one only needs to measure peak loads of three or more distinctive specimens. For specimens of the same geometry, they may be the same in size but different in notch length, or the same in notch length but different in size. A detailed calculation procedure is provided. This method is verified by an experimental program, and confirmed by analysis of some existing data of three-point bend beam tests. It is found that the values obtained from the split-tension cylinders with the peak load method closely match the values obtained from the three-point bend beams with either the peak load method or the compliance method, previously recommended by RILEM. The successful use of split-tension cylinders reveals great potential of the peak load method in testing specimens cored from an existing structure so as to evaluate performance of the structure from the viewpoint of fracture mechanics.