Tangential strain-based criteria for mixed-mode I/II fracture toughness of cement concrete

Experimental and theoretical works are performed on the mixed-mode I/II brittle fracture of cement concrete tested by edge cracked semicircular bend specimens. Theoretical background of the traditional fracture criteria including strain energy density, maximum tangential stress, and maximum tangential strain (MTSN) are introduced. The ability of each fracture criterion in prediction of the fracture test data is investigated. The comparison between the evaluations by the traditional criteria and the experimental data shows that none of them are capable of successfully estimating the fracture resistance of cement concrete. An enhanced version of the MTSN criterion is then employed to predict the test data. It is demonstrated that the extended MTSN criterion can successfully predict the test data in a higher accuracy than traditional criteria. © 2017 Wiley Publishing Ltd.