Title: Influence of Constituents of Concrete on Its Tensile Strength and Shear Strength

Author(s): Satish B. Desai

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 101

Issue: 1

Appears on pages(s): 29-38

Keywords: compressive strength; mixture proportion; shear strength; splitting tensile strength

DOI: 10.14359/12995

Date: 1/1/2004

Abstract:
Research in concrete technology has promoted mixture proportion with the efficient use of aggregate, binders with optimum cement content, and industrial by-products as binder components; for example, pulverized fuel ash and slag cement. Compared with the normally used portland cement concrete, concrete elements made with specially designed mixtures are expected to have enhanced durability, which is attributable to improvement in their microstructure, reduction in voids, and increase in resistance to ingress of moisture and gases. This paper examines whether such attributes of different concretes could also improve their engineering properties; for example, increase the ratio of splitting tensile strength to compressive strength, better bond between steel and concrete, and, in the end, enhanced shear strength. It is also proposed to examine whether splitting tensile strength could be used, in place of the compressive strength, as a parameter in the design rules for estimating the nominal shear strength of concrete.