Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fracture measurements on cement paste

  • Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes an investigation into the fracture behaviour of hardened cement paste. Notched specimens of the material were tested to failure in flexure and tension. In the initial flexural tests on beams of fixed overall depth, the stress intensity factor at failure as calculated from linear-elastic fracture mechanics appeared to be a material constant. However, further investigation showed that this factor varied with specimen size, and suggested that linear-elastic fracture mechanics and the concept of fracture toughness are not readily applicable to hardened cement paste, which would appear to be a relatively notch insensitive material whose strength is not greatly reduced by the presence of flaws. A “tied crack” model explains semi-quantiatively the observed behaviour.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. F. Moavenzadeh andR. Kuguel,J. Mats. 4 (1969) 497.

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. H. Brown,Mag. Concr. Res. 24 (81) (1972) 185.

    Google Scholar 

  3. D. J. Naus andJ. L. Lott,A.C.I. J. (1969) 481.

  4. J. F. Knott, “Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics” (Butterworths, London, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  5. K. M. Alexander,Nature 183 (1959) 885.

    Google Scholar 

  6. J. L. M. Morrison,Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. 142 (1939) 194.

    Google Scholar 

  7. W. F. Brown andJ. E. Strawley, A.S.T.M. Special Technical Publication410 (1969) 13.

    Google Scholar 

  8. A. S. Tetelman andA. J. McEvily, “Fracture of Structural Materials” (Wiley, New York, 1967) p. 48.

    Google Scholar 

  9. T. C. Powers, in “The Chemistry of Cements”, Vol. 1, edited by H. F. W. Taylor (Academic Press, London, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  10. D. D. Higgins andJ. E. Bailey, Conference on Hydraulic Cement Pastes, Sheffield (Cement and Concrete Assoc., UK., 1976) p. 283.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgy and Materials Technology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK

    D. D. Higgins & J. E. Bailey

Authors
  1. D. D. Higgins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. E. Bailey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Higgins, D.D., Bailey, J.E. Fracture measurements on cement paste. J Mater Sci 11, 1995–2003 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02403347

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02403347

Keywords

Search

Navigation