Fatigue in Concrete under Low-Cycle Tensile Loading Using a Pressure-Tension Apparatus

Abstract

Fatigue due to low-cycle tensile loading in plain concrete was examined under different conditions using the pressure-tension apparatus. A total of 22 wet or dry standard concrete cylinders (100 mm × 200 mm) were tested. By definition, low-cycle loading refers to the concept of multiple load cycles applied at high stress levels (i.e., a concrete structure subjected to seismic loading). Results suggest that concrete samples subjected to low-cycle tensile loading will fail after a relatively low number of cycles of loading and at a lower magnitude of stress compared to the maximum value applied during cyclic loading. Furthermore, non-destructive testing was employed in order to ascertain the extent of progressive damage inflicted by tensile loading in concrete specimens. It was found that ultrasonic pulse velocity is a viable technique for evaluating the damage consequential of loads applied to concrete, including that resultant from low levels of tensile stress (i.e., as low as 10% of its maximum tensile capacity). Additionally, finite element analysis was performed on a modeled version of the pressure-tension apparatus with a sample of concrete, which has yielded similar results to the experimental work.