Fracture toughness of high-performance concrete on three-point bending notched beams at elevated temperature

摘要

High-performance concrete (HPC) are advanced materials used in advances applications such as tunnels or nuclear power plant in which they can be accidentally submitted to severe stress or thermal conditions. The present study deals with the material response to thermal loading conditions. The main objective of this research is the characterization of the fracture toughness under Mode I at high temperature of high performance mortars by using notched specimens in three-point bending test in accordance with the RILEM recommendations. The mechanical loading is applied to the specimens while heated at various temperatures ranging from 25 to 900°C in isothermal conditions. The maximum applied load is found to be maximum at 300°C temperature and then to decrease sharply at higher temperatures. Analysis of SEM micrographs undertaken on the heated specimens after mechanical tests helps in the understanding of the material macroscopic behaviour. The evaluation of the material toughness during the hot testing is undertaken through analytical approach based on Fracture Mechanics. Lastly, the stress intensity factor as well as the energy of fracture evolves similarly versus temperature as the maximum applied load.