A New Method for Direct Tensile Testing of Concrete

Different testing methods were used in previous studies to measure the direct tensile strength of concrete. However, these methods experienced several major deficiencies such as stress concentration at the end of the specimens because of inadequate gripping and loading eccentricity and nonuniform fracture plane because of difficulties in aligning and centering the specimens during testing. This study presents the details of a new method of testing concrete under uniaxial tension. The method was developed to overcome the difficulties associated with testing methods adopted in the previous research studies. A full description of the wooden molds used in casting the specimens and the loading arrangements including the end grips, universal joints, and frame in which the specimens were tested under uniaxial tension are presented. As expected, all the tested specimens were fractured at the middle where the cross-sectional area was reduced by 20 %. Also, no crushing failure or slippage was observed at the ends of the tested specimens.