Title: Influence of Aggregate on the Fracture Properties of Polyester Polymer Concrete

Author(s): C. Vipulandan and N. Dharmarajan

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 116

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 177-192

Keywords: aggregate gradation; cracking (fracturing); flexural strength; notch sensitivity; polyester resins; polymer concrete; sands; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/2352

Date: 8/1/1989

Abstract:
Fracture behavior of polyester polymer concrete was investigated at room temperature using single edge notched beams loaded in four-point bending. To investigate the effect of particle size distribution on the fracture properties, polyester polymer concrete systems were formulated using both uniform Ottawa 20-30 sand and well graded blasting sand. The notch sensitivity of polyester polymer concrete systems was investigated by varying the notch-to-depth ratio up to 0.7. The results are analyzed to examine the applicability of fracture parameters such as critical stress intensity factor KIC and critical J-integral JIC, to characterize the fracture behavior of polyester polymer concrete. This concrete is a notch sensitive material, and if it contains well-graded aggregate, it has better fracture properties than the uniformly graded aggregate system.