Title: Prediction of Dynamic Tensile Strength

Author(s): Jaap Weerheijm

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 175

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 215-240

Keywords: biaxial loads; concretes; dynamic loads; fracture properties; impact tests; mathematical models; tensile strength

DOI: 10.14359/5924

Date: 12/1/1998

Abstract:
The mechanical behaviour of concrete is based on the extension of present internal damage, the fracture process. To understand and predict the rate effect on material behaviour, the influence of dynamics on this fracture process should be considered. This idea was followed in the model developed at the TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory (TNO-PML). The damage extension in the real material was represented as crack extension in a fictitious fracture plane using the basic principles of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). This resulted in a good model prediction of the dynamic tensile strength, including the steep strength increase at high loading rates. The model clearly shows that inertia effects govern the mechanism of this steep increase. In this paper the various steps in the modeling process are described, specially focusing on the representation of the characteristic internal damage into a fictitious fracture plane. To illustrate the applicability of the approach it is presented in comparison to results of tensile tests with and without lateral compression.