Tensile stress-strain behaviour of cementitious composites at high loading rates

The influence of loading rate on the tensile stress-strain behaviour of cementitious composites was studied experimentally. The project was undertaken to obtain an insight into the possible relation between internal structure parameters of composites and their loading-rate sensitivity. Five different types of cementitious composites were applied. Composite structure data were obtained by testing porosity and by quantitative observation of fracture surfaces. Direct tensile tests were performed at four different loading rates within the range 0.001–1000 MPa s^–1. The tensile stress-strain behaviour was significantly influenced by the loading rate and structure parameters of composites. The relative tensile strength increase due to an increase of loading rate was found to be higher for composites with higher total porosity. Recorded stress-strain diagrams obtained at various loading rates are presented and discussed with the aid of continuous damage mechanics.