Title: Experimental behaviour of high-performance concrete in confined tension

Author(s): Fabrice Dupray, Yann Malecot, Laurant Daudeville

Publication: RILEM

Volume: 43

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 699-707

Keywords: High-performance concrete, Tensile properties, Experimental tests, Confined tension, Triaxial extension, Limit states

DOI:

Date: 5/10/2010

Abstract:
Prestressed concrete is commonly used in a wide range of applications, yet on rare occasions spalling problems have been reported for concrete structures prestressed in two directions. The tensile behaviour of concrete may be affected by prestressing; consequently a number of experiments have been performed to reproduce this load combination on laboratory samples. Tests were carried out in a compression-tension triaxial cell suitable for the independent application of a lateral confining pressure, as well as a direct axial tension load. Results reveal a measurable but limited reduction in concrete tensile strength with a confining pressure of a similar magnitude as the prestress (order of magnitude of 10 MPa). Further experiments were conducted at higher confining pressures, in both confined tension and in triaxial extension, in order to generate an overview of limit state behaviour for the studied high performance concrete.