Experimental Investigation for Splitting-tension Failure and Size Effect of Concrete at Cryogenic Temperature

Concrete materials are applied extensively in cryogenic temperature environment. However,the investigation on the mechanical property of concrete at cryogenic temperature is not enough. To investigate the tensile properties and their size effect law of concrete materials at cryogenic temperature,cube concrete specimens with side lengths of 100 mm,150 mm and 300 mm were designed and the splitting-tensile tests were carried out at four temperature levels(T=20 ℃,-30 ℃,-60 ℃ and -90 ℃). The corresponding failure patterns,load-deformation curves and splitting-tensile strength were obtained. The test results show that coarse aggregate particles within concrete specimens subjected to splitting-tensile loading at cryogenic temperature fail more severely than the counterparts at room temperature. With the decrease in temperature,the splitting-tensile strength of concrete is significantly higher than that at room temperature. The splitting-tensile strength of concrete at cryogenic temperature has obvious size effect. The size effect behavior is more significant with the decrease of temperature. The classical Type-2 size effect law can well describe the size effect of splitting-tensile strength of concrete at cryogenic temperature. © 2023 Cailiao Daobaoshe/ Materials Review. All rights reserved.