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Process zone and acoustic-emission measurements in concrete

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Abstract

It is necessary to study the microlevel failure mechanisms of a material in order to improve its quality and to develop a rational constitutive model to describe the material. Nonlinearity and strain-softening behavior of concrete has to be incorporated into any model which can be implemented into efficient design. Acoustic-emission (AE) techniques are useful for obtaining information pertaining to internal cracking and investigating the applicability of a particular material model.

The process of localization of cracks and movement of the fracture process zone was studied using acoustic-emission techniques. The rate of acoustic-emission events and sources of acoustic-emission activity were studied for plain-mortar and model-concrete specimens loaded in direct tension.

The study shows that acoustic-emission events localize to a region near the notch before peak load is attained. The region of activity progresses through the specimen during further loading and subsequent strain softening. Acoustic-emission events were used to locate the fracture-process zone (FPZ), and to check this location against the location of the effective crack tip as evaluated by a modified linear-elastic fracturemechanics model for concrete as well as by microscopical observations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, 60201, Evanston, IL

    A. Maji (Graduate Student)

  2. Center for Concrete and Geomaterials, Northwestern University, 60201, Evanston, IL

    S. P. Shah (SEM Member) is Professor of Civil Engineering and Director)

Authors
  1. A. Maji
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  2. S. P. Shah
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Maji, A., Shah, S.P. Process zone and acoustic-emission measurements in concrete. Experimental Mechanics 28, 27–33 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02328992

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02328992

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