Tensile Failure in Concrete by Spallation

by J. K. Gran, SRI Int, Menlo Park, United States,
L. Seaman, SRI Int, Menlo Park, United States,
Y. M. Gupta, SRI Int, Menlo Park, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Mechanics Computing in 1990's and Beyond

Abstract:

Plate impact experiments were performed on concrete specimens to study tensile failure at high strain rates. For tensile stress pulse durations of 1.5 and 2.2 ms the threshold stress for the onset of cracking was 30.5 MPa, that is, about ten times the static tensile strength. Full separation was achieved at 40 and 32.5 MPa, respectively, for the two pulses. These experiments were simulated numerically with a finite difference wave propagation code containing a brittle microfracture model that includes a nucleation rate process, gradual growth of the microcracks, elastic opening of the cracks, and corresponding modifications of the stress-strain relations. With model parameters based on the aggregate size distribution, static strength, and fracture kinetics, simulations of the impacts were able to reproduce the observed damage levels satisfactorily.

Subject Headings: Numerical models | Cracking | Tensile strength | Structural failures | Stress strain relations | Failure analysis | Concrete

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