Probabilistic analysis of Mode II fracture of concrete with crushed granite stone fine aggregate replacing sand

This paper reports the results of a probabilistic analysis of Mode II fracture energy of concrete with different percentage replacements of natural river sand with crushed stone fine aggregate (replacement percentage varying from 0 to 100, in the increments of 25%). The experimentally observed values of mean, minimum and maximum G, are compared with their respective values obtained from probabilistic analysis, and the results are found to be in good agreement. From the results of K-S tests performed for different (a/w) ratios and percentage replacements considered it is found that in some cases G(IIF) follows lognormal distribution while in the other cases, this distribution has the smallest value for K-S statistic compared to normal and Weibull distributions. Using this information an equation is proposed for estimation of characteristic Mode II fracture energy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.