• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.246-253
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• 2003

Although concrete members are not normally designed to resist direct tension, the knowledge of tensile strength is of value in estimating the cracking load. In general, there are three types of test method for tensile strength ; direct tension test, flexural tension test, and splitting tension test. Though direct tensile strength represents the real tensile strength of concrete, direct tension tests are seldom carried out, mainly because it is very difficult to applicate a pure tension force. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the test methods, effect of aspect ratio, and the size effect on the direct tensile strength. Direct tension test, using bonded end plates, follows RILEM and U.S.Bureau of Reclamation. And other test methods follow ASTM provisions. Four kinds of aspect ratio and two kinds of size effect are tested. Same variables are tested by direct tension test and splitting tension test for comparison between the two test methods. Test results show that direct tensile strength of concrete is more affected by aspect ratio and size than other kinds of strength.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2016

This paper considers the tensile strength of concrete samples in direct, CTT, modified tension, splitting and ring tests using both of the experimental tests and numerical simulation (particle flow code 2D). It determined that which one of indirect tensile strength is close to direct tensile strength. Initially calibration of PFC was undertaken with respect to the data obtained from Brazilian laboratory tests to ensure the conformity of the simulated numerical models response. Furthermore, validation of the simulated models in four introduced tests was also cross checked with the results from experimental tests. By using numerical testing, the failure process was visually observed and failure patterns were watched to be reasonable in accordance with experimental results. Discrete element simulations demonstrated that the macro fractures in models are caused by microscopic tensile breakages on large numbers of bonded discs. Tensile strength of concrete in direct test was less than other tests results. Tensile strength resulted from modified tension test was close to direct test results. So modified tension test can be a proper test for determination of tensile strength of concrete in absence of direct test. Other advantages shown by modified tension tests are: (1) sample preparation is easy and (2) the use of a simple conventional compression press controlled by displacement compared with complicate device in other tests.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.83-93
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• 1999

This paper presents tension stiffening effect of Reinforced concrete members obtained from experimental results on direct tension and bending. From the direct tension test program, crack patterns were investigated with tension softening behaviors of concrete. Tension stiffening effects and losses of strain energy were, also, analyzed from the load-deflection curve with the main experimental variables such as concrete strength, yielding stress and reinforcement ratio of rebar. Tension stiffening effect of RC members increase linearly until the first crack initiate, decrease inversely with number of cracks, and then decrease rapidly when splitting cracks are happened. The tension stiffening effect is shown to be more important at the member of lower reinforcement than that of higher. Therefore, it necessitates to consider the tension stiffening effects at a nonlinear analysis. From the above analysis, a tension stiffening model of concrete is proposed and verified by applying it to bending members. From the numerical analysis by finite element approach, it is shown that the proposed model evaluates a little higher in analyzing at nonlinear region of high strength concrete, but, perform satisfactorily in general.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.323-326
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• 2005

Uniaxial tension test of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bar reinforced concrete prisms was performed. The objective was to investigate the adequate cover thickness of the GFRP rebars. The tension stiffening effect of GFRP bar reinforced concrete was also studied. The test variables included rebar types (conventional steel rebar and two different GFRP rebars) and cover thicknesses (five different cover thicknesses ranging between 1-3db). Normal strength concrete was used. Cracking patterns on concrete surface and cracking loads were careful1y observed during the direct tensile test. The test results indicated that the adequate cover thickness of the GFRP rebars may even be larger than that of the steel rebars and that the cover thickness of 2db commonly specified for the GFRP rebars may not be large enough. The tension stiffening effect of the GFRP rebars was also quantified and documented from the test results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.345-358
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• 2018

Heterogeneous structure and, particularly, low resistance to tension stresses leads to different mechanical properties of the concrete in different loading situations. To solve this problem, the tension zone of concrete elements is reinforced. Development of the cracks, however, becomes even more complicated in the presence of bar reinforcement. Direct tension test is the common layout for analyzing mechanical properties of reinforced concrete. This study investigates scatter of the test results related with arrangement of bar reinforcement. It employs results of six elements with square $60{\times}60mm$ cross-section reinforced with one or four 5 mm bars. Differently to the common research practice (limited to the average deformation response), this study presents recordings of numerous strain gauges, which allows to monitor/assess evolution of the deformations during the test. A simple procedure for variation assessment of elasticity modulus of the concrete is proposed. The variation analysis reveals different deformation behavior of the concrete in the prisms with different distribution of the reinforcement bars. Application of finite element approach to carefully collected experimental data has revealed the effects, which were neglected during the test results interpretation stage.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.353-360
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• 2019

The elastic modulus is an important parameter to characterize the property of rock. It is common knowledge that the strengths of rocks are significantly different under tension and compression. However, little attention has been paid to the bi-modularity of rock. To validate whether the rock elastic moduli in tension and compression are the same, Brazilian disc, direct tension and compression tests were conducted. A horizontal laser displacement meter and a pair of vertical and transverse strain gauges were applied. Four types of materials were tested, including three types of rock materials and one type of steel material. A comprehensive comparison of the elastic moduli based on different experimental results was presented, and a tension-compression anisotropy model was proposed to explain the experimental results. The results from this study indicate that the rock elastic modulus is different under tension and compression. The ratio of the rock elastic moduli under compression and tension ranges from 2 to 4. The rock tensile moduli from the strain data and displacement data are approximate. The elastic moduli from the Brazilian disc test are consistent with those from the uniaxial tension and compression tests. The Brazilian disc test is a convenient method for estimating the tensile and compressive moduli of rock materials.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2000

Potentially significant mechanical improvements in tension can be achieved by the incorporation of randomly distributed, short discrete fibers in concrete. The improvements due to the incorporation fibers significantly influence the composite stress - strain ($\sigma$-$\varepsilon$) characteristics. In general incorporating fibers in a plain concrete has relatively small effect on its precracking behavior. It, however, alters its post-cracking behavior quite significantly, resulting in greatly improved ductility, crack controls, and energy absorption capacity (or toughness). Therefore, a thorough understanding the complete tensile stress - strain ($\sigma$-$\varepsilon$) response of fiber reinforced concrete is necessary for proper analysis while using structural components made with fiber reinforced concrete. Direct tensile stress applied to a specimen is in principle the simplest configuration for determining the tensile response of concrete. However, problems associated with testing brittle materials in tension include (i) the problem related to gripping of the specimen and (ii) the problem of ensuring centric loading. Routinely, indirect tension tests for plain concrete, flexural and split-cylinder tests, have been used as simpler alternatives to direct uniaxial tension test. They are assumed to suitable for fiber reinforced concrete since typically such composites comprise 98% by volume of plain concrete. Clearly since the post-cracking characteristics are significantly influenced by the reinforcing parameters and interface characteristics, it would be fundamentally incorrect to use indirect tensile tests for determining the tensile properties of fiber reinforced concrete. The present investigation represents a systematic look at the failure and toughening mechanisms and macroscopic stress - strain ($\sigma$-$\varepsilon$) characteristics of fiber reinforced concrete in the uniaxial tension test. Results from an experimental parametric study involving used fiber quantity, type, and mechanical properties in the uniaxial tension test are presented and discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.635-640
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• 2000

This paper describes an experimental investigation on the influence of concrete strength on tension stiffening behavior. Total 6 direct tension specimens were tested with variation of concrete strengths such as 260, 620, and 820kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$. These test results were compared with tension stiffening models of CEB-FIP Model Code. It was appeared that, as concrete strength was increasing, CEB-FIP models estimated much more tension stiffening than these test results. As the result, it would be said that the influence of concrete strength on tension stiffening was not properly taken account for in CEB-FIP model.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.423-426
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• 2001

In this paper a large scale direct tension test of plain concrete is represented. Two independently controlled actuators were used to ensure a homogeneous tensile field and to avoid secondary flexural stresses. Fracture energies evaluated by a classical prediction equation and this test are compared. The result indicated that the classical prediction equation is not adequate to predict the fracture energy of large sized specimens. From this test, it was determined that the fracture energy obtained from large scale direct tension tests is significantly higher than the one obtained in wedge splitting tests on laboratory sized specimens. But the tensile strength was about half the value determined from splitting tensile strength test with cylindrical specimens.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.287-292
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• 2003

The large-scale direct tension tests of plain concrete were performed and then the complete load-CMOD(crack mouth opening displacement) curves with a stable postpeak descending part were presented. Two independently controlled actuators were used to ensure a homogeneous increasing of CMOD in both notches of a specimen and to avoid secondary flexural stresses. It was compared the fracture energies from the test results with them from a classical prediction equation by Bazant and Oh (983), The results are indicated that the fracture energies from these large-scale direct tensile tests are large as 1.5-2 times on average against them from the Bazants prediction equation. But the tensile strength for large-size specimens was about half of the values determined from the splitting tensile strength tests for 10 by 20mm cylindrical specimens due to size effect.