MASONRY FRACTURE MECHANICS THREE POINT BENDING TEST OF BRICK

Xiaosong Xiao¹ ,   Nigel Shrive²

1. D. Student, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T1N 1N4, Canada. E-mail: xiao@ucalgary.ca
2. Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T1N 1N4, Canada. E-mail: shrive@ucalgary.ca

ABSTRACT

Structural elements working in compression fracture with a Mode I type of crack displacement. Mode I fracture analysis has been widely and successfully applied to the failure of metals subject to tension for many years. Since Kaplan extended the applicability of fracture mechanics to concrete, fracture mechanics has become an area of increasing research activity in concrete: many fracture models have been proposed. Few investigators have explored the application of fracture mechanics to masonry structures.

In masonry, three-point bending tests have been proposed on small size specimens. The three bending tests on bricks described here are part of a wider series of tests being preformed to obtain basic fracture data for masonry. Cored and solid bricks were used in the tests. Different notch depths were used ranging from 1/6 to 4/6 in term of notch to depth ratio. The critical stress intensity factor K_IC, and the critical energy release rate G_IC were determined. Cored bricks were formed to have higher values of K_IC than completely solid bricks. KIC increase with increasing brick strength, but did not appear dependent on the notch to depth ratio.

Key words: Masonry, Fracture, Three-Point Bending Test, Stress Intensity Factor, Energy Release Rate

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