EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE SHEAR FRACTURE PROCESSES IN CONSTRUCTION JOINTS OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES : Study using micromechanics approach

Abstract

With the aim of examining the shear fracture mechanism in construction joints of concrete structures, shear tests on the specimens of construction joint having different degrees of roughness were conducted. The loading was performed very slowly to monitor the process of crack initiation and propagation using a digital microscope. Shear failure in construction joints of concrete was found in all specimen. The process of crack initiation and propagation of shear fracture were clearly observed by using a digital microscope. Thus the experiments gave a better understanding of the fracture processes in construction joints of concrete on the meso-level and the macro-level using a micromechanics approach.