Xiaosong Xiao¹ and N.G. Shrive²

1. Project Engineer, HNTB Corporation, 7900 International Drive, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55425, USA xiaouc@yahoo.com
2. Killam Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, shrive@ucalgary.ca

ABSTRACT

Engineering materials contain flaws such as cracks, pores, voids and fissures. Compressive failure of brittle materials is characterized by multiple cracks propagating parallel to the direction of compressive stress. These cracks develop through mode I cracking from the pre-existing flaws in the material. In this paper, a method that was used to study compressive fracture of masonry through a single crack is reported. Pre-set cracks with different shapes of crack tip were placed in specimens, which were then subjected to compression. Both masonry and concrete specimens were tested. Comparisons were conducted between compressive fracture with a single crack and with multiple cracks.

KEYWORDS: Compression, Fracture

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