Abstract
In this study acoustic emission (AE) techniques were employed to investigate the process of fracture formation in large, shear-critical, reinforced concrete beams and to gain improved insight into the mechanisms of shear failure. Large sensor arrays were specially designed to study various aspects of failure by observing the fracturing processes throughout the load history of the beams. Smaller, more concentrated sensor arrays revealed complex spatial and temporal fracture development at the slow quasi-static and spontaneous dynamic stages of propagation. When AE events are related to the micro-structure of concrete through computed tomography images and surface fracture measurements they show that coarse aggregates play important roles in shear fracture propagation in reinforced concrete.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aki K (1979) Characterization of barriers on an earthquake fault. J Geophys Res 84(B11): 6140–6148
ASC (2007) Applied Seismology Consultants. http://www.seismology.org/insite.asp. Cited May 15, 2007
Chen B, Liu J (2004) Effect of aggregate on the fracture behavior of high strength concrete. Constr Build Mater 18(8): 585–590
Colombo S, Main IG, Forde MC (2003) Assessing damage of reinforced concrete beam using “b-value” analysis of acoustic emission signals. J Mater Civ Eng 15(3): 280–286
Colombo S, Forde MC, Main IG, Halliday J, Shigeishi M (2005) AE energy analysis on concrete bridge beams. Mater Struct 38(283): 851–856
Fenwick RC, Paulay T (1968) Mechanisms of shear resistance of concrete beams. J Struct Div-ASCE 94: 2325–2350
Grosse CU, Reinhardt HW, Finck F (2003) Signal-based acoustic emission techniques in civil engineering. J Mater Civil Eng 15(3): 274–279
Hearn SW, Shield CK (1997) Acoustic emission monitoring as a non-destructive testing technique in reinforced concrete. ACI Mater J 94(6): 510–519
Kani MW, Huggins MW, Wittkopp RR (1979) Kani on shear in reinforced concrete. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada
Kazemi MT, Broujerdian V (2006) Reinforced concrete beams without stirrups considering shear friction and fracture mechanics. Can J Civ Eng 33(2): 161–168
Ketcham RA, Carlson WD (2001) Acquisition, optimization and interpretation of X-ray computed tomographic imagery: applications to the geosciences. Comput Geosci 27(4): 381–400
Landis EN, Shah SP (1995) The influence of microcracking on the mechanical behavior of cement based materials. Advn Cem Bas Mat 2(3): 105–118
Mihashi H, Nomura N (1996) Correlation between characteristics of fracture process zone and tension-softening properties of concrete. Nucl Eng Des 165(3): 359–376
Mihashi H, Nomura N, Niiseki S (1991) Influence of aggregate size on fracture process zone of concrete detected with three dimensional acoustic emission technique. Cem Concr Res 21(5): 737–744
Ohnaka M (2004) Rupture in the laboratory. Science 303(5665): 1788–1789
Ohnaka M, Shen L-F (1999) Scaling of the shear rupture process from nucleation to dynamic propagation: implications of geometric irregularity of the rupturing surfaces. J Geophys Res 104(B1): 817–844
Ohtsu M, Okamoto T, Yuyama S (1998) Moment tensor analysis of acoustic emission for cracking mechanisms in concrete. ACI Struct J 95(2): 87–95
Ohtsu M, Uchida M, Okamoto T, Yuyama S (2002) Damage assessment of reinforced concrete beams qualified by acoustic emission. ACI Struct J 99(4): 411–417
Sherwood EG (2008) Shear behaviour of large, lightly-reinforced concrete slabs, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Toronto
Sherwood EG, Bentz EC, Collins MP (2007) Effect of aggregate size on the beam-shear strength of thick slabs. ACI Struct J 104(2): 180–190
Shiotani T, Yuyama S, Li ZW, Ohtsu M (2001) Application of AE improved b-value to quantitative evaluation of fracture process in concrete materials. J Acous Emission 19: 118–133
Thompson BD, Young RP, Lockner DA (2006) Fracture in Westerly granite under AE feedback and constant strain rate loading: nucleation, quasi-static propagation, and the transition to unstable fracture propagation. Pure Appl Geophys 163(5-6): 995–1019
Wu K, Chen B, Yao W (2001) Study of the influence of aggregate size distribution on mechanical properties of concrete by acoustic emission technique. Cem Concr Res 31(6): 919–923
Yoon DJ, Weiss WJ, Shah SP (2000) Assessing damage in corroded reinforced concrete using acoustic emission. J Eng Mech-ASCE 126(3): 273–283
Yuyama S, Li Z-W, Yoshizawa M, Tomokiyo T, Uomoto T (2001) Evaluation of fatigue damage in reinforced concrete slab by acoustic emission. NDT E Int 34(6): 381–387
Yuyama S, Okamoto T, Shigeishi M, Ohtsu M, Kishi T (1999) Proposed standard for evaluating structural integrity of reinforced concrete beams by acoustic emission. Acoustic emission: standards and technology update, ASTM STP 1353: 25–40
Yuyama S, Yokoyama K, Niitani K, Ohtsu M, Uomoto T (2007) Detection and evaluation of failures in high-strength tendon of prestressed concrete bridges by acoustic emission. Constr Build Mater 21(3): 491–500
Zang A, Wagner FC, Stanchits S, Dresen G, Andresen R, Haidekker MA (1998) Source analysis of acoustic emissions in Aue granite cores under symmetric and asymmetric compressive loads. Geophis J Int 135(3): 1113–1130
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Katsaga, T., Sherwood, E.G., Collins, M.P. et al. Acoustic emission imaging of shear failure in large reinforced concrete structures. Int J Fract 148, 29–45 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-008-9174-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-008-9174-x