Title: Recent Developments in Strength Testing for Concrete Pavement Construction

Author(s): J. Soares, D. Zollinger, and T. Tang

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 181

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 87-110

Keywords: Concrete pavements; cracking (fracturing); cylinders; split cylinder tests; tensile strength

DOI: 10.14359/5516

Date: 3/1/1999

Abstract:
The tensile strength used in the design of concrete structures, such as concrete pavement systems, has typically been determined based on small test specimens such as split tension cylinders and bending beams. It has been well known that strength values obtained from different specimens can be largely different. Naturally, one must question the applicability of strength values obtained from these conventional specimens to an actual structure. This deficiency is encompassed within effects of specimen (or structure) size and geometry on the strength. Given that fracture parameters can be used to determine the tensile strength of concrete structures, a simplified tension test method, based on the size effect law, is presented in this paper to determine fracture parameters. Cylindrical specimens are incorporated in the proposed method since such specimens have the advantage of being easily cast or cored. Special emphasis is given to concrete pavement systems where tensile strength is particularly important since most distresses in concrete pavements are due to tension-induced cracking.