2011 Volume 67 Issue 2 Pages 181-188
The size effect on flexural fatigue strength of concrete was experime ntally investigated. For this purpose, specimens of two sizes were prepared: 150mm x 150mm x 530mm (span=450mm) and 200mm x 450mm x 1800mm (span=1350mm). The stress levels were set at 70%, 80% and 90% of the compressive strength. Experimental results showed that the number of loading cycles at failure increased with the enlargement of specimens. Based on a fracture mechanics approach, with a stress level of 70%, this dependence of flexural fatigue strength on size was explained by the difference in the stress distributions in the sections of small and large sized specimens. A te nsion softening stress region was formed in the section of the small specimen, whereas elastic stress was produced over the full section in the large specimen.