Title: Fracture of Rock-Concrete Interfaces: Laboratory Tests and Applications

Author(s): J. M. Chandra Kishen and Victor E. Saouma

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 101

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 325-331

Keywords: concrete; fracture; toughness

DOI: 10.14359/13092

Date: 5/1/2004

Abstract:
The fundamental understanding of the fracture behavior at the rock-concrete interface requires evaluation of the fracture energy, which is an interface material property. As in concrete or rock, fracture at the interface is characterized by a steady degradation of its structure. With increasing degradation of the material (opening of the crack), less stress is transferred across the interface until it is completely separated. The interface undergoes tensile softening. Wedge-splitting tests are performed on the limestone-concrete interface to evaluate the Mode I fracture energy. These experiments are followed by linear and nonlinear fracture-mechanics-based numerical analysis to obtain the fracture toughness. The fracture parameters so obtained are used in the fracture-mechanics-based analysis of a gravity dam for the determination of crack length between the concrete dam and rock foundation.