Experimental and numerical investigation of the debonding interface between an old concrete and an overlay

The paper focuses on debonding propagation along an interface, notably on the major influence of the interlocking between the two faces of the debonding interface. The aim of the study is to obtain the data necessary for relevant and efficient debonding modelling. The work associates experiment and simulation with the purpose of quantifying the interlocking along the interface. The overlay material investigated was a fibre reinforced mortar (FRM). Direct tension tests of notched FRM specimens were firstly conducted to obtain the tensile strength and the residual normal stress—crack width relationship. Its Young's modulus was determined from compression tests. The substrate-overlay interface was investigated by direct tension tests and flexure tests performed on composite substrate-overlay specimens. The direct tension tests provided the interface tensile strength and the relationship between debonding-opening and residual normal tensile stress. Three point flexural static tests informed on the structural behaviour of the interface. The debonding interface propagation was monitored using a video-microscope with a maximum enlargement of ×175. Using the identified and quantified parameters, modelling of the above mentioned static tests was carried out by the finite elements method using CAST3M code developed in France by CEA (Centre for Atomic Energy). The comparison of modelling and experiment results shows a good coherence and proves the important role of interlocking on the debonding mechanism.