The estimation of fracture surface energy as a measure of the “toughness” of hardened cement paste

✍ Scribed by K.L. Watson

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1978
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 342 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-8846
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-8846(78)90048-0

✦ Synopsis

Fracture surface energy, obtained by the work of fracture method using notched beams, provides a simple and direct measure of the "toughness" of hardened cement paste that avoids relying on complex analytical procedures which may not be readily applicable to this type of material. Nevertheless, it is necessary to minimise the effect of spurious energy losses on the measured value; it is suggested that this can be achieved by using deep rectangular notches and a large beam span/depth ratio -furthermore, the change in potential energy of the beam, during the measurement of work of fracture, should be taken into account in calculatlng the value of the fracture surface energy.