ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the compression behavior and failure criteria of lightweight aggregate concrete (LAC) under triaxial loading. A total of 156 specimens were tested for three parameters: concrete strength, lateral confining pressure and aggregate immersion time, and their effects on the failure mode of LAC and the triaxial stress-strain relationship of LAC is studied. The research indicated that, as the lateral constraint of the specimen increases, the failure patterns change from vertical splitting failure to oblique shearing failure and then to indistinct traces of damage. The stress-strain curve of LAC specimens has an obvious stress plateau, and the curve no longer appears downward when the confining pressure exceeds 12 MPa. According to the experimental phenomenon and test data, the failure criterion was examined on the Mohr-Coulomb theory, octahedral shear stress theory and Rendulic plane stress theory, which well reflects the behavior of LAC under triaxial compression. For the convenience of analysis and application, the stress-strain constitutive models of LAC under triaxial compression are recommended, and these models correlate well with the test results.
ABSTRACT
In order to study the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) at different ages, 264 standard cubes were designed to test its direct shear strength and cube compressive strength while considering the parameters of age and recycled aggregate replacement ratio. The failure pattern and load-displacement curve of specimens at direct shearing were obtained; the direct shear strength and residual shear strength were extracted from the load-displacement curves. Experimental results indicate that the influence of the replacement ratio for the front and side cracks of RAC is insignificant, with the former being straight and the latter relatively convoluted. At the age of three days, the damaged interface between aggregate and mortar is almost completely responsible for concrete failure; in addition to the damage of coarse aggregates, aggregate failure is also an important factor in concrete failure at other ages. The load-displacement curve of RAC at direct shearing can be divided into elasticity, elastoplasticity, plasticity, and stabilization stages. The brittleness of concrete decreases with its age, which is reflected in the gradual shortening of the elastoplastic stage. At 28 days of age, the peak direct shear force increases with the replacement ratio, while the trend is opposite at ages of 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days, respectively. The residual strength of RAC decreases inversely to the replacement ratio, with the rate of decline growing over time. A two-parameter RAC direct shear strength calculation formula was established based on the analysis of age and replacement rate to peak shear force of RAC. The relationship between cube compressive strength and direct shear strength of recycled concrete at various ages was investigated.
