• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.568-574
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• 2001

From measured responses of concrete three-point bend tests, the average values of the responses have been calculated. The fracture behavior of continuously propagating concrete crack has been analyzed from the average responses. The experimental parameters of this study were the initial notch sizes of 25.4㎜ and 6.4 ㎜ and the processing times of 2,000 sec. and 20 sec . The different notch sizes were used for the effects of the size of fracture process zone and specimen geometry, and the processing times for those of initial creep. However the load-point displacement rate in this study did not affect the experimental responses seriously. The average loads were calculated from the average external work of a series of tests, and average crack lengths were determined by using strain gages. Before the peak load, the resistance curve could be determined from the size of fracture process zone, but unstable crack propagation of 88㎜ occurred at the load-point displacement of 0.088∼0.154㎜ after the peak load. The average fracture energy density G$\_$F/$\^$ave/ = 115 N/m occurred during the unstable crack propagation. The fracture process zones were fully developed at the crack length of 111㎜, and the sizes of fracture process zone for initial notches of 25.4㎜ and 6.4㎜ were 86㎜ and 105㎜, respectively. Average fracture energy densities of the resistance curves after full development of fracture process zone were 229 N/m for the initial notch of 25.4㎜ and 284 N/m for 6.4㎜. The values were more than twice of G$\_$F/$\^$ave/.