Skip to main content
Log in

The concrete cylinder: stress analysis and failure modes

International Journal of Fracture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The rationale for using the circular cylindrical specimen for determining the tensile strength of concrete is reviewed, and the stress fields and fracture modes associated with the familiar splitting test and a pressurized cylinder test are discussed. Special attention is paid to contradictory reports and unresolved issues in the literature as to exactly how the fracture of a concrete cylinder develops and progresses under increasing load.

The effect of a macrocrack on the stress field within a cylinder is introduced as a means of understanding the progressive fracture of a cylindrical specimen. In particular, it is argued that, while the idealized stress field in an unflawed cylinder may explain how and where the first macrocrack develops in a cylindrical specimen, it is the stress field modified by the presence of the macrocrack that must be considered to understand subsequent behavior. This point of view enables us to take a unified view of a variety of different observations about the indirect tensile mode of failure.

The axial tensile failure of a concrete cylinder loaded by radial pressure is also considered in the context of classical elastic stress analysis. Whereas this failure mode has been described as “paradoxical” in the literature, we demonstrate that the induced tensile stress field is indeed of sufficient magnitude to explain the axial failure under radial pressure by an elementary strength of materials argument.

Résumé

On examine les motivations d'utiliser une éprouvette à section cylindrique pour déterminer la résistance à la traction du béton, et on discute des champs de contraintes et des modes de rupture correspondant à l'essai classique de séparation et à l'essai sur cylindres soumis à pression. Les rapports de caractère contradictoire, et les données non résolues figurant dans la littérature, sont examinés en particulier en ce qui regarde la maniére exacte selon laquelle se développe et progresse sous charges croissantes une rupture dans un cylindre en béton.

Un moyen de comprendre la rupture progressive d'une éprouvette cylindrique est d'introduire l'effet d'une microfissure sur le champ de contraintes dans un cylindre. En particulier, on avance que si un champ de contraintes idéal dans un cylindre sans défauts peut expliquer comment et où la première microfissure se développe dans une éprouvette cylindrique, c'est le champ de contraintes modifié par la présence des microfissures qui est à prendre en considération pour comprendre le comportement subséquent.

Cette opinion permet aux auteurs d'adopter une vision globale d'une série d'observations diverses sur un mode de rupture par contraintes indirectes.

On considère également le cas de la rupture par contraintes axiales d'un cylindre de béton sollicité par une pression radiale, dans le cadre d'une analyse classique des contraintes élastiques.

Bien que ce mode de rupture ait été décrit dans la littérature comme paradoxal, on démontre que l'amplitude du champ de contraintes de traction induites est bien suffisante pour expliquer la rupture axiale sous pression radiale, en recourant à une explication basée sur la résistance élémentaire des matériaux.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. American Society for Testing and Materials, in Annual Book of ASTM Standards, vol. 0.042, (1984) 24–29.

  2. American Society for Testing and Materials, in Annual Book of ASTM, Standards, vol. 0.042, (1984) 336–341.

  3. J.M. Raphael, ACI Journal 84 (1984) 158–165.

    Google Scholar 

  4. P.J.F. Wright, Magazine of Concrete Research 7 (1985) 87–96.

    Google Scholar 

  5. A.M. Neville, Properties of Concrete, John Wiley and Sons, New York, (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  6. N. Clayton, Magazine of Concrete Research 30 (1978) 26–30.

    Google Scholar 

  7. N. Clayton and F.J. Grimer, Developments in Concrete Technology—I, F.D. Lydon (ed.), Applied Science Publishers, London (1979) 283–318.

    Google Scholar 

  8. F.J. Grimer and R.E. Hewitt, in Structure, Solid Mechanics and Engineering Design, Proceedings of the Southampton 1969 Civil Engineering Materials Conference, M. Te'eni (ed.) 618–691.

  9. J.N. Goodier, Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 53 (1932) 173–183.

    Google Scholar 

  10. F. Carneiro, “Une nouvelle methode d'essai pour determiner la resistance a la traction du beton.” Reunion des Laboratories d'Essai de Matriaux Paris (June 1947).

    Google Scholar 

  11. V.M. Malhotra and N.G. Zoldners, Journal of Materials 4 (1967) 160–184.

    Google Scholar 

  12. G. de C. Franca and G. Pincus, Journal of Materials 4 (1969) 393–407.

    Google Scholar 

  13. F.L.L. Carneiro and A. Barcellos, International Association of Testing and Research Laboratories for Materials and Structures, RILEM Bulletin 13 (1953) 99–125.

    Google Scholar 

  14. T. Akazawa, International Association of Testing and Research Laboratories for Materials and Structures, RILEM Bulletin 16 (1953) 13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  15. S. Timoshenko and J.N. Goodier, Theory of Elasticity, Second Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  16. M.M. Frocht, Photoelasticity. Vol. II. John Wiley and Sons, New York (1943).

    Google Scholar 

  17. H. Hertz, Zeitschrift fur Mathematik and Physik 28 (1883) 125–128.

    Google Scholar 

  18. J.H. Michell, Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society XXXII (1990) 35–61.

  19. W.-F. Chen and T.-Y.P. Chang, Journal of the Engineering Mechanics Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers 104 (1978) 691–704.

    Google Scholar 

  20. K.L. Seefried, H. Gerund and G. Pincus, Journal of Materials 2 (1967) 703–718.

    Google Scholar 

  21. D.J. Hannant, K.J. Buckley and J. Groft, Materiaux et Constructions 6 (1973) 15–21.

    Google Scholar 

  22. J.A. Hudson, E.T. Brown and F. Rummel, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science 9 (1972) 241–248.

    Google Scholar 

  23. N.B. Mitchell, Materials Research and Standards 1 (1961) 780–788.

    Google Scholar 

  24. A. Rudnick, A.R. Hunter and F.C. Holden, Materials Research and Standards 3, (1963) 283–289.

    Google Scholar 

  25. P.S.B. Colback, Proceedings of the First Congress of the International Society of Rock Mechanics. Lisbon (September 1966).

  26. M.K. Oladimeji, Engineering Fracture Mechanics 19 (1984) 717–738.

    Google Scholar 

  27. D.P. Rooke and D.J. Cartwright, Compendium of Stress Intensity Factors, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Applications of Fracture Mechanics to Cementitious Composites, Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Applications of Fracture Mechanics to Cementitious Composites, Northwestern University, September 4–7, 1984, S.P. Shah (ed.) Martinus Nijhoff Publishers (1985).

  29. Fracture Mechanics of Concrete, F.H. Wittmann (ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  30. A. Hillerborg, M. Modeer and P.-E. Peterssen, Cement and Concrete Research 6 (1976) 773–782.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Z.P. Bazant and B.H. Oh, Materials and Structures 16 (1983) 155–177.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Y.S. Jenq and S.P. Shah, Journal of Engineering Mechanics 111 (1985) 1227–1241.

    Google Scholar 

  33. J.C. Jaeger and N.G.W. Cook, Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics, Methuen & Co., London (1969) 86.

    Google Scholar 

  34. R.P. Ojdrovic and H.J. Petroski, International Journal of Fracture 27 (1985) R75–80.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Petroski, H.J., Ojdrovic, R.P. The concrete cylinder: stress analysis and failure modes. Int J Fract 34, 263–279 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00013082

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00013082

Keywords

Navigation