SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1979
STP36935S

Failure Mechanism of Concrete

Source

The major objective of this investigation was to observe directly the formation or propagation of microcracks in concrete by use of the scanning electron microscope both before and after application of compressive stress fields.

Concrete, under compression, fails when macrocracks have propagated to the extent that the concrete will not support the applied loads. Many investigators have implied that the failure mechanism of concrete is related to internal microcracking. However, due to the limitations in the techniques employed, the detection of microcracks was somewhat uncertain.

Microcracks were found to exist in concrete prior to application of compressive stress fields in the form of shirnkage microcracks (initial bond microcracks). As the compressive stress field is increased, these microcracks widen and propagate until failure occurs.

Author Information

Derucher, KN
University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
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Details
Developed by Committee: D30
Pages: 664–679
DOI: 10.1520/STP36935S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4743-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-4495-8