用能量方法研究混凝土断裂过程区的力学性能

准脆性混凝土自由裂缝前缘断裂过程区的发展与其非线性断裂特征及尺寸效应现象密切相关。它的物理力学行为的量化分析对理解混凝土断裂破坏机理和建立适用于混凝土结构裂缝稳定分析和安全评估断裂准则尤为重要,一直是混凝土断裂力学研究的核心问题。该文依据Hillerborg给出的断裂能定义,给出了计算单位长度断裂过程区发展能量耗散的通用表达式。以三点弯曲梁为例,采用非线性软化本构关系,进一步给出了计算此平均能量耗散的具体步骤及对应的公式。在根据实测的三点弯曲梁的断裂能回归拟合了特征裂缝张开位移w0后,计算了每个试件整个断裂全过程中不同荷载时刻断裂过程区耗能的平均值。结果表明:随着裂缝扩展,断裂过程区能量耗散的变化和试件尺寸无关,可描述断裂过程区混凝土材料的力学性能。     

Size effect in shallow and deep notched quasi-brittle structures

The nominal strength of a quasi-brittle structure is known to vary with its size. If the structure undergoes large stable crack growth prior to failure or if it contains a large pre-existing crack, then the failure load is known to approach the asymptotic limit of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) for large structures from below. In this paper, the size effect is studied on a particular structural geometry containing a crack which can be relatively shallow or deep. The study is conducted within the framework of the fictitious crack model for the fracture of quasi-brittle materials. By allowing for the redistribution of the stresses in the fracture process zone (FPZ), the essential result of the size effect is confirmed. However, it is shown that this result can only be obtained from tests on specimens whose size exceeds a certain minimum value depending on the material, so that at failure the fully developed FPZ is contained wholly within the test specimen. Moreover, the minimum size of the test specimen is shown to increase as the depth of the pre-crack is reduced, thus requiring specimens of very large sizes to obtain valid results from tests on specimens with very shallow pre-cracks. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Boundary effect on concrete fracture and non-constant fracture energy distribution

This paper extends the local fracture energy concept of Hu and Wittmann [29] and [30], and proposes a bilinear model for boundary or size effect on the fracture properties of cementitious materials. The bilinear function used to approximate the non-constant local fracture energy distribution along a ligament is based on the assumption of the proportionality of the local fracture energy to the fracture process zone (FPZ) height and characterises the FPZ height reduction when approaching a specimen back boundary. The bilinear function consists of a horizontal straight line of the intrinsic fracture energy G_F and a declining straight line that reduces to zero at the back boundary. It is demonstrated that using the bilinear model, the size-independent fracture energy G_F can be estimated from the fracture energy data measured on laboratory-size specimens, and the intersection of these two linear functions, defined as the transition ligament, represents the influence of the back boundary on the fracture properties. It is also demonstrated that the specimen size alone is not sufficient to characterise the size effect in the fracture properties observed on laboratory-size specimens.     

Fully-developed FPZ length in quasi-brittle materials

This paper studies the development of fracture processes in quasi-brittle materials. We propose to use the length of the fracture process zone (FPZ) once it is fully developed as a material parameter. This assumption allows us to build an analytical formulation that reproduces the mechanical behavior of any specimen as a cohesive crack advances. Extensive comparisons with experimental results lead us to define a new characteristic length that commensurates with the fully-developed FPZ and that together with the new analytical model, is used to provide a complete and consistent study on the fracture process. In particular, the size-effect deriving from our formulation coincides with the statistical size-effect law of Ba?ant for small and medium sizes, whereas it smoothly converges to size-independent results as size increases. The analytical cohesive formulation developed here is validated against experimental results on various types of normal and high-strength concretes as well as construction ceramics for several experimental set-ups and test scales. Because of its simplicity as compared with numerical models for fracture, this analytical formulation constitutes a powerful tool for studying fracture processes in a wide variety of mechanical configurations. Meanwhile, analytical expression for a fully-developed FPZ length is given for a general type of cohesive law.     

Efficient prediction of deterministic size effects using the scaled boundary finite element method

This paper develops an efficient numerical approach to predict deterministic size effects in structures made of quasi-brittle materials using the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM). Depending on the structure’s size, two different SBFEM-based crack propagation modelling methodologies are used for fracture analyses. When the length of the fracture process zone (FPZ) in a structure is of the order of its characteristic dimension, nonlinear fracture analyses are carried out using the finite element-SBFEM coupled method. In large-sized structures, a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM)-based SBFEM is used to reduce computing time due to small crack propagation length required to represent the FPZ in an equivalent nonlinear analysis. Remeshing is used in both methods to model crack propagation with crack paths unknown a priori. The resulting peak loads are used to establish the size effect laws. Three concrete structures were modelled to validate the approach. The predicted size effect is in good agreement with experimental data. The developed approach was found more efficient than the finite element method, at least in modelling LEFM problems and is thus an attractive tool for predicting size effect.     

An experimental and theoretical comparison of CCNBD and CCNSCB specimens for determining mode I fracture toughness of rocks

The cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc (CCNBD) specimen, suggested by the International Society for Rock Mechanics for testing mode I fracture toughness of rocks, usually yields rather conservative toughness measurements, and the reasons have not been fully explored. In this study, the CCNBD method is compared with the cracked chevron notched semicircular bending (CCNSCB) method in the fracture process zone (FPZ) and its influence on the fracture toughness measurement. Theoretical analysis reveals that the FPZ is longer in the CCNBD specimen than in the CCNSCB specimen using a relatively large support span, the toughness measurement using the former is affected more seriously by the presence of FPZ, and thus the CCNBD method is usually, more or less, conservative compared with the CCNSCB method. These inferences are further validated by experimental results, which indicate that the CCNBD test indeed produces much lower fracture toughness values and even the results of 75‐mm radius CCNBD specimens are still lower than those of 25‐mm radius CCNSCB specimens. Consequently, due to smaller FPZ, the CCNSCB specimen with a relatively large span is more likely to produce comparably accurate or representative toughness value, and it may be more suitable than the CCNBD specimen for the engineering applications that require more representative or less conservative fracture toughness.     

An experimental investigation on the FPZ properties in concrete using digital image correlation technique

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the properties of the fracture process zone (FPZ) in concrete using the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. Based on the experimental results, it is found that the FPZ length increases during crack propagation but decreases after the FPZ is fully developed. The FPZ length at the peak load and the maximum FPZ length increase with an increase in specimen height, but decrease by increasing the notch depth to specimen height ratio. It is also found that the crack extension length at the peak load is about 0.25 times the ligament length.     

A review of the J and I integrals and their implications for crack growth resistance and toughness in ductile fracture

The application of the J and the I-integrals to ductile fracture are discussed. It is shown that, because of the finite size of the fracture process zone (FPZ), the initiation value of the J-integral is specimen dependent even if the plastic constraint conditions are constant. The paradox that the I-integral for steady state elasto-plastic crack growth is apparently zero is examined. It is shown that, if the FPZ at the crack tip is modelled, the I-integral is equal to the work performed in its fracture. Thus it is essential to model the fracture process zone in ductile fracture. The I-integral is then used to demonstrate that the breakdown in applicability of the J-integral to crack growth in ductile fracture is as much due to the inclusion in the J-integral of progressively more work performed in the plastic zone as it is to non-proportional deformation during unloading behind the crack tip. Thus J _R -curves combine the essential work of fracture performed in the FPZ with the plastic work performed outside of the FPZ. These two work terms scale differently and produce size and geometry dependence. It is suggested that the future direction of modelling in ductile fracture should be to include the FPZ. Strides have already been made in this direction.     

Experimental and numerical investigations on fracture process zone of rock–concrete interface

A crack propagation criterion for a rock–concrete interface is employed to investigate the evolution of the fracture process zone (FPZ) in rock–concrete composite beams under three‐point bending (TPB). According to the criterion, cracking initiates along the interface when the difference between the mode I stress intensity factor at the crack tip caused by external loading and the one caused by the cohesive stress acting on the fictitious crack surfaces reaches the initial fracture toughness of a rock–concrete interface. From the experimental results of the composite beams with various initial crack lengths but equal depths under TPB, the interface fracture parameters are determined. In addition, the FPZ evolution in a TPB specimen is investigated by using a digital image correlation technique. Thus, the fracture processes of the rock–concrete composite beams can be simulated by introducing the initial fracture criterion to determine the crack propagation. By comparing the load versus crack mouth opening displacement curves and FPZ evolution, the numerical and experimental results show a reasonable agreement, which verifies the numerical method developed in this study for analysing the crack propagation along the rock–concrete interface. Finally, based on the numerical results, the effect of ligament length on the FPZ evolution and the variations of the fracture model during crack propagation are discussed for the rock–concrete interface fracture under TPB. The results indicate that ligament length significantly affects the FPZ evolution at the rock–concrete interface under TPB and the stress intensity factor ratio of modes II to I is influenced by the specimen size during the propagation of the interfacial crack.     

考虑骨料尺寸的混凝土岩石边界效应断裂模型

该文比较了边界效应模型（BEM）和尺寸效应模型（SEM）在研究材料断裂性能方面的不同。提出了由处于准脆性断裂状态的三点弯曲试件的峰值荷载P_max,同时确定材料参数--断裂韧度K_IC与拉伸强度f_t的理论与方法。由于实验室条件下混凝土试件高度W与骨料最大粒径d_max的比例W/d_max约为5~20,试件的非均质性明显,破坏为准脆性断裂控制。因此,区别于以连续介质力学为基础的应用于准脆性断裂研究的力学模型,该文研究将骨料最大粒径d_max引入相应的断裂模型解析表达式中,由参数组合β d_max来计算结构峰值状态对应的裂缝扩展量,通过离散参数β的不同取值,实现了对材料参数--断裂韧度与拉伸强度的准确预测。基于不同学者的相同尺寸W而不同初始裂缝长度a₀,以及相同初始缝高比a₀/W而不同尺寸W的几何相似的砂浆、混凝土及岩石类材料试件的试验成果（骨料最大粒径d_max从1.2 mm~40 mm变化）,验证了所提理论与方法的合理性。     

Estimation of width of fracture process zone in spruce wood by radial tensile test

Fracture behavior of spruce wood under radial tension was analyzed using nonlinear fracture mechanics as wood is classified as a quasi-brittle material. Stress-strain relationship with a strain-softening branch was obtained by digital image analysis and stress redistribution process, and the energy release rate of serial end-matched specimens was measured by performing a single-edge-notched tension test.The width of the fracture process zone (FPZ) was estimated by comparing two kinds of fracture energies. One was the dispersion energy per unit area to model strain localizations using a discontinuum model of damage theory, by integrating the stress-strain function with the strain-softening branch. The other was the energy release rate to determine crack growth. From this analysis, we determined that the width of the FPZ ranged from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm in the radial direction. However, for a few specimens, the approximate stress-strain function could not be fitted into the stress-strain relationship obtained by the image analysis; it was observed that the fracture planes of these specimens tended to be more or less inclined.     

Size effect: Influence of proximity of fracture process zone to specimen boundary

Size effect on strength of cementitious materials was studied successfully many years ago by a crack-bridging model through detailing the influence of the resistance R-curve behaviour on quasi-brittle fracture. The condition that specimens of different sizes have to be geometrically similar, commonly assumed for size effect study, was proven unnecessary. The present study emphasizing the interaction between the fracture process zone and structure boundary agrees with the crack-bridging analysis, and further points out that physical size itself is not the key mechanism for the apparent size effect.     

The fracture process zone in asphalt mixture at low temperature

The fracture process zone (FPZ) is a key factor to mechanistically characterize material fracture. This study investigates the FPZ of asphalt mixture at low temperature. The fracture process under a semi-circular bend (SCB) test of seven asphalt mixtures that represent a combination of different factors was monitored using an acoustic (AE) system with eight piezoelectric sensors. The size of FPZ was estimated by locating micro-cracks that correspond to 95% AE energy before peak load in the vicinity of the initial crack tip. The experimental data illustrates the significant influence of test temperature on the behavior of the asphalt mixture. Comparison results showed that the size of the FPZ significantly depends on air voids and aggregate type, but is less depend on the asphalt content. It was found that at a very low temperature, different loading rates produced very close FPZ, both for the width and length. No obvious difference was observed on the width of the FPZ for the three different initial notch lengths, whereas the length of the FPZ was found significantly increases with the decrease of the notch length. The size of FPZ was also numerically estimated for one case with the cohesive zone model (CZM) calibrated by experimental data from the same SCB test. The FPZ size obtained with both methods agrees reasonably with each other.     

Size-scale and slenderness influence on the compressive strain-softening behaviour of concrete

In this article the compressive mechanical behaviour of quasi-brittle materials is analysed by means of experimental tests and by using an ad hoc algorithm for numerical simulations based on the Pseudo-traction and the Boundary-element methods. The experimental analysis is carried out on specimens with three different size-scales, three different values of slenderness and two boundary conditions. The numerical analysis was carried out by taking into account the initial random crack distribution, considering the mutual crack interaction, the crack–boundary interaction and the internal friction between the faces of the cracks. The numerical results, in good agreement with the experimental data, highlight the characteristic strain-softening behaviour of quasi-brittle materials, and the influence of size-scale and slenderness on the structural response. By observing the evolution of the crack patterns, it is possible to emphasize, both experimentally and numerically, the transition from crushing to splitting collapse by increasing the specimen slenderness, as well as the transition from ductile to brittle behaviour by increasing the specimen size-scale.     

Measuring toughness and the cohesive stress-displacement relationship by the essential work of fracture concept

The complete fracture behaviour of ductile double edge notched tension (DENT) specimen is analysed with an approximate model, which is then used to discuss the essential work of fracture (EWF) concept. The model results are compared with the experimental results for an aluminium alloy 6082-O. The restrictions on the ligament size for valid application of the EWF method are discussed with the aid of the model. The model is used to suggest an improved method of obtaining the cohesive stress-displacement relationship for the fracture process zone (FPZ).     

Size effect on tensile softening relation

Tensile softening essential to the well-known fictitious crack model should be independent of specimen size and test methods. Commonly observed size effect (SE) on tensile softening relations measured from direct tensile specimens with smooth surface needs to be explained in order to determine the size independent tensile softening behaviour. In this paper, SE on tensile softening from direct tensile tests is elucidated by considering a boundary region where the key tensile softening mechanisms such as aggregate interlocking and frictional pull-out activities are limited in comparison with the inner region where those crack-bridging activities can be fully developed. SE on the tensile softening relation and the closely related specific fracture energy G _f is inevitable if the boundary and inner regions are comparable. The same SE is gradually diminished with the increasing specimen size simply because the relative contribution from the boundary region is reduced in comparison with that from the increasing inner region. In principle, the size independent tensile softening relation and the size independent specific fracture energy G _F in the inner region can be obtained by separating the influence of the boundary region from the test results.     

基于定长裂缝试件的脆性材料尺寸效应实验方法

由于脆性或准脆性材料内各类微缺陷的影响,材料的力学性能,如名义破坏应力,　刚度以及断裂韧性等随试件的大小而改变,具有明显的尺寸效应。通常情况下,描述材料尺寸效应的Ｂａｚａｎｔ尺寸效应律是建立在一系列相似试件的基础上通过实验方法确定的。　本文提出了一种新的用含固定长度裂缝试件测定断裂韧性和有效断裂过程区大小的实验方法和计算公式。与相似试件测定方法相比,实验结果吻合很好。根据本文提出的定长裂缝试件实验方法,在保证与相似试件相同脆性指数范围的前提下,可以用小试件进行测量。     

Scaling of the fracture process zone in rock

The zone of microcracks surrounding a notch tip—the process zone—is a phenomenon observed in fracture of quasi-brittle materials, and the characterization of the process zone is the topic of the paper. Specimens of different sizes with a center notch fabricated from a granite of large grain (Rockville granite, average grain size of 10 mm), were tested in three-point bending. Acoustic emissions were recorded and locations of microcracks were determined up to peak load. The results show that both the length and width of the process zone increase with the increase of the specimen size. Furthermore, the suitability of a proposed theoretical relationship between the length and width of the process zone and specimen size was studied experimentally and numerically. The discrete element method with a tension softening contact bond model was used to investigate the development of the process zone with the specimen size. A synthetic rock composed of rigid circular particles that interact through normal and shear springs was tested in the numerical simulations. It was shown that the limiting specimen size, beyond which no further noticeable increase in the length of the process zone is observed, is significantly larger than the limiting specimen size beyond which the width of the process zone shows no size effect.     

II型III型动态裂纹尖端断裂过程区近似评估方法

动态裂纹尖端断裂过程区轮廓的确定问题仍然是一个没有得到完全解决的问题。基于弹性动力学的理论和复应力函数方法,提出一种伪应力函数方法,用于近似评估动态裂纹尖端应力场。通过与已知应力场计算结果对比,验证了伪应力函数的正确性。利用此近似方法通过Von Mises强度准则和Tresca强度准则,分别确定了不同强度准则条件下、不同裂纹扩展速度下断裂过程区的轮廓。计算结果表明:II型和III型动态裂纹尖端断裂过程区关于裂纹面对称分布,随着裂纹扩展速度增大而增大。当裂纹传播速度接近瑞利波速时,断裂过程区变化加剧。利用Tresca强度准则计算得到的动态裂纹尖端断裂过程区面积比利用Von Mises强度准则计算得到的断裂过程区的面积大。     

Fracture process zone in cementitious materials

The current work is directed to the measurement and prediction of the fracture process zone (FPZ) with the compliance method. The method is renovated with a multi-cutting technique. A new compliance curve C _p is established while FPZ in a damaged specimen is removed stepwise by saw-cutting. The length of FPZ can be well determined from C _p in comparison with the compliance calibration curve. Results of two different mortars evidence that the multi-cutting method is applicable to cementitious materials.A general theory is presented in conjunction with the multi-cutting experiment. The bridging stress transferred within FPZ is evaluated from C _p by the theory. It is proven with a numerical simulation that the strain-softening relation derived from C _p predicts well the global load and displacement relationship. The extension of FPZ at various stages of fracture can also be predicted with the theory if parameters of the strain-softening are available. Both experimental and analytical results affirm the intrinsic connection among FPZ, fracture toughness and fracture energy.