• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.605-623
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• 2015

A coupled experimental and numerical study of shear fracture in the edge-notched beam specimens of quasi-brittle materials (concrete-like materials) are carried out using four point bending flexural tests. The crack initiation, propagation and breaking process of beam specimens are experimentally studied by producing the double inclined edge notches with different ligament angles in beams under four point bending. The effects of ligament angles on the shear fracturing path in the bridge areas of the double edge-notched beam specimens are studied. Moreover, the influence of the inclined edge notches on the shear-fracture behavior of double edge-notched beam specimens which represents a practical crack orientation is investigated. The same specimens are numerically simulated by an indirect boundary element method known as displacement discontinuity method. These numerical results are compared with the performed experimental results proving the accuracy and validity of the proposed study.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.5
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• pp.601-609
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• 2020

In this article, the Strain Energy Density (SED) averaged over a well-defined control volume at a notch edge was applied in combination with the Equivalent Material Concept (EMC) to assess the fracture behaviors of some keyhole-notched specimens made of a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE-PE80) material under mixed-mode loading conditions. An experimental program was performed and 54 new experimental data were totally provided. Additionally, different loading mode ratios were regarded by changing the inclination angles of the notches with respect to the applied load directions. The results obtained from the determined criteria were in good agreement with those of the experimental data.