Title: Applicability of Test Specimen Results for the Description of the Behavior of Concrete in a Structure

Author(s): Michael D. Kotsovos and H. K. Cheong

Publication: Journal Proceedings

Volume: 81

Issue: 4

Appears on pages(s): 358-363

Keywords: compressive strength; concretes; cracking (fracturing); deformation;failure; loads (forces); specimens; static loads; stresses; stress-strain rela-tionships;triaxial stresses.

DOI: 10.14359/10691

Date: 7/1/1984

Abstract:
The paper is concerned with an attempt to establish to what extent the behavior of an element of concrete in a structure is realistically described by stress-strain relationships obtained from tests on concrete specimens, such as cylinders, prisms, or cubes, subjected to various states of compressive stress. Although these relationships comprise an ascending and a gradually descending portion, it was found that only the ascending portion up to a certain stress level is sufficient to completely describe the behavior of concrete elements. The stress level is that at which the volume of the specimens becomes a minimum. Such behavior is shown to be due to interaction between adjacent concrete elements. The interaction produces a wholly compressive state of stress in some elements but causes, in turn, compression-tension stress conditions in adjacent elements, resulting in failure of the latter. Collapse of the structure occurs under a load level below or at the level at which the volume of elements subjected to wholly compressive states of stress becomes a minimum.