The tension-softening curve represents material characteristics of tensile crack growth in concrete. To carry out crack growth analysis, the tension-softening curve of the material used in the large scaled structure must be determined from appropriate material tests. In the present…
The tension-softening curve represents material characteristics of tensile crack growth in concrete. To carry out crack growth analysis, the tension-softening curve of the material used in the large scaled structure must be determined from appropriate material tests. In the present study, wedge splitting tests are carried out and the tension-softening curves are obtained by two back analysis programs.It is shown that the tension-softening curves by two different back analysis programs more or less agree. The fracture energy calculated from the load- displacement curves agree with the area .under the tension-softening curve obtained by the back analysis. While the values of the fracture energy scatter more in the small specimen, the average values of the fracture energy do not show clear dependency on the specimen size. With increasing loading rate, the fracture energy tends to increase.