Experimental study on dynamic damage evolution of concrete under multi-axial stresses

The effect of stress state on the dynamic compressive strength and the dynamic damage evolution process of concretes are investigated by use of a Spilt Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) and the ultrasonic technique. The columned concrete specimen is encircled by a steel sleeve. The multi-axial loading includes the axial and the radial loadings. The axial loading is supplied by the incidence bar, and the radial ones are produced by the steel sleeve. Analysis of the dynamic damage evolution of the samples is based on the measurement of the changes of ultrasonic wave velocities before and after the impact tests. The waveforms in the test bars, the stress strain curves, the confining pressure of the specimen, the dynamic compressive strength and other information about the samples are obtained during the SHPB experiments. The results of the tests show that the loading rate and stress states of the specimen apparently influence the damage evolution process in concretes. The dynamic damage evolutions are accelerated with the increase of the strain rate and are delayed significantly under the confined pressure.