Analytical study of break-off tests onconcrete

Since in-situ concrete strength can estimate the existing concrete strength more realistically, nowadays more attention is paid to determine concrete strength in place. The break-off test has been suggested as a partially destructive test for determining the in-situ concrete compressive strength. In this test, a mechanical manometer applies load to cylindrical concrete specimen in parallel to the finished surface and causes fracture at the base of the break-off test specimen. By using this test method, limited investigations have been performedabout strength property of concrete by a number of scientists. The present study intends to analyze fracture zone stress distributions by means of finite element method using ABAQUS software. Concrete modeling is done by threedimensional isoparametric elements. The analysis demonstrates that the nearly location of fracture zone is predictable with contours of damage in tension and compression have been indicated by concrete damaged plasticity, one of the material models is available for concrete in ABAQUS. In addition, ultimate load is obtained for four mixtures and compared to experimental results. Furthermore, some parametric studies are done for different dimensions of core.

Keywords:

reak-off test , finite element analysis , tensile damage , compressivedamage