Tensile failure of ordinary concrete – Brazilian test

FACT FILE

  • CONCRETE TYPE
    Ordinary Portland Cement
  • SPECIMEN SIZE
    100 mm diameter x 255 mm
  • ULTIMATE LOAD
    175 kN
  • MAXIMUM DISPLACEMENT
    2.3 mm

Produced with funding from CONSTRUCT and filmed at Imperial College London.

This film shows the Brazilian test, which is designed to measure the tensile strength of concrete. Tests such as this one are the standard way of measuring the tensile strength of concrete. This test is intended to show students:

  • Concrete is brittle in tension
  • Concrete has a low tensile strength compared to its compressive strength
  • Application of a compressive force can cause cracks to open up in a perpendicular direction

At the end of the video a graph of vertical load versus vertical deflection shows the point at which brittle failure occurs.

This experiment is an indirect tensile test. The compressive force applied along the top and bottom side of the cylinder causes a tensile crack to open up in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the compressive force. It is difficult to carry out a direct tensile strength test on a concrete cylinder.

It could be carried out using the same apparatus as used for the concrete cylinder compression tests, setting the machine to operate in reverse; however the sample needs to be glued to the platens at the top and bottom so that the tensile force can be applied to the sample. Not only is this tricky to do, the platens tend to affect the behaviour of the concrete. Compare the strength of concrete in tension with the strength of concrete in compression by seeing the film ‘Cylinder (ordinary concrete) – compression failure’.

Compare the strength of concrete in tension with the strength of steel reinforcement in tension by seeing the film ‘Reinforcement (high-tensile steel) – tensile failure’.

You can use the data in the graph shown at the end of the film to calculate the tensile failure strength of concrete, and compare it with compressive strength of the same mixture.

Interactive Models

Cantilever Beam

A cantilever is a beam that is anchored at only one end. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs. Use this Push Me Pull Me app to see how

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