Behavior of F shape non-persistent joint under experimental and numerical uniaxial compression test

Sarfarazi, Vahab,Asgari, Kaveh,Zarei, Meisam,Ghalam, Erfan Zarrin Techno-Press 2022 Advances in concrete construction Vol.13 No.2

Experimental and discrete element approaches were used to examine the effects of F shape non-persistent joints on the failure behaviour of concrete under uniaxial compressive test. concrete specimens with dimensions of 200 cm×200 cm×50 cm were provided. Within the specimen, F shape non-persistent joint consisting three joints were provided. The large joint length was 6 cm, and the length of two small joints were 2 cm. Vertical distance between two small joints change from 1.5 cm to 4.5 cm with increment of 1.5 cm. In constant joint lengths, the angle of large joint change from 0° to 90° with increments of 30°. Totally 12 different models were tested under compression test. The axial load rate on the model was 0.05 mm/min. Concurrent with experimental tests, numerical simulation (Particle flow code in two dimension) were performed on the models containing F shape non-persistent joint. Distance between small joints and joint angles were similar to experimental one. the results indicated that the failure process was mostly governed by both of the Distance between small joints and joint angles. The axial loading rate on the model was 0.05 mm/min. The compressive strengths of the samples were related to the fracture pattern and failure mechanism of the discontinuities. Furthermore, it was shown that the compressive behaviour of discontinuities is related to the number of the induced tensile cracks which are increased by increasing the joint angle. In the first, there were only a few acoustic emission (AE) hits in the initial stage of loading, and then AE hits rapidly grow before the applied stress reached its peak. Furthermore, a large number of AE hits accompanied every stress drop. Finally, the failure pattern and failure strength are similar in both approaches i.e., the experimental testing and the numerical simulation approaches.

Experimental and numerical simulating of the crack separation on the tensile strength of concrete

Sarfarazi, Vahab,Haeri, Hadi,Shemirani, Alireza Bagher,Zhu, Zheming,Marji, Mohammad Fatehi Techno-Press 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.66 No.5

Effects of crack separation, bridge area, on the tensile behaviour of concrete are studied experimentally and numerically through the Brazilian tensile test. The physical data obtained from the Brazilian tests are used to calibrate the two-dimensional particle flow code based on discrete element method (DEM). Then some specially designed Brazilian disc specimens containing two parallel cracks are used to perform the physical tests in the laboratory and numerically simulated to make the suitable numerical models to be tested. The experimental and numerical results of the Brazilian disc specimens are compared to conclude the validity and applicability of these models used in this research. Validation of the simulated models can be easily checked with the results of Brazilian tests performed on non-persistent cracked physical models. The Brazilian discs used in this work have a diameter of 54 mm and contain two parallel centred cracks ($90^{\circ}$ to the horizontal) loaded indirectly under the compressive line loading. The lengths of cracks are considered as; 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm, respectively. The visually observed failure process gained through numerical Brazilian tests are found to be very similar to those obtained through the experimental tests. The fracture patterns demonstrated by DEM simulations are mostly affected by the crack separation but the tensile strength of bridge area is related to the fracture pattern and failure mechanism of the testing samples. It has also been shown that when the crack lengths are less than 30 mm, the tensile cracks may initiate from the cracks tips and propagate parallel to loading direction till coalesce with the other cracks tips while when the cracks lengths are more than 30 mm, these tensile cracks may propagate through the intact concrete itself rather than that of the bridge area.

A fracture mechanics simulation of the pre-holed concrete Brazilian discs

Sarfarazi, Vahab,Haeri, Hadi,Shemirani, Alireza Bagher,Nezamabadi, Maryam Firoozi Techno-Press 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.66 No.3

Brazilian disc test is one of the most widely used experiments in the literature of geo-mechanics. In this work, the pre-holed concrete Brazilian disc specimens are numerically modelled by a two-dimensional discrete element approach. The cracks initiations, propagations and coalescences in the numerically simulated Brazilian discs (each containing a single cylindrical hole and or multiple holes) are studied. The pre-holed Brazilian discs are numerically tested under Brazilian test conditions. The single-holed Brazilian discs with different ratios of the diameter of the holes to that of the disc radius are modelled first. The breakage load in the ring type disc specimens containing an internal hole with varying diameters is measured and the crack propagation mechanism around the wall of the ring is investigated. The crack propagation and coalescence mechanisms are also studied for the case of multi-holes' concrete Brazilian discs. The numerical and experimental results show that the breaking mechanism of the pre-holed disc specimens is mainly due to the initiation of the radially induced tensile cracks which are growth from the surface of the central hole. Radially cracks propagated toward the direction of diametrical loading. It has been observed that for the case of disc specimens with multiple holes under diametrical compressive loading, the breaking process of the modelled specimens may occur due to the simultaneous cracks propagation and cracks coalescence phenomena. These results also show that as the hole diameter and the number of the holes increases both the failure stress and the crack initiation stress decreases. The experimental results already exist in the literature are quit agree with the proposed numerical simulation results which validates this simulation procedure.

The effect of compression load and rock bridge geometry on the shear mechanism of weak plane

Sarfarazi, Vahab,Haeri, Hadi,Shemirani, Alireza Bagher Techno-Press 2017 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.13 No.3

Rock bridges in rock masses would increase the bearing capacity of Non-persistent discontinuities. In this paper the effect of ratio of rock bridge surface to joint surface, rock bridge shape and normal load on failure behaviour of intermittent rock joint were investigated. A total of 42 various models with dimensions of $15cm{\times}15cm{\times}15cm$ of plaster specimens were fabricated simulating the open joints possessing rock bridge. The introduced rock bridges have various continuities in shear surface. The area of the rock bridge was $45cm^2$ and $90cm^2$ out of the total fixed area of $225cm^2$ respectively. The fabricated specimens were subjected to shear tests under normal loads of 0.5 MPa, 2 MPa and 4 MPa in order to investigate the shear mechanism of rock bridge. The results indicated that the failure pattern and the failure mechanism were affected by two parameters; i.e., the ratio of joint surface to rock bridge surface and normal load. So that increasing in joint area in front of the rock bridge changes the shear failure mode to tensile failure mode. Also the tensile failure change to shear failure by increasing the normal load.

Numerical simulation of shear mechanism of concrete specimens containing two coplanar flaws under biaxial loading

Sarfarazi, Vahab,Haeri, Hadi,Bagheri, Kourosh 국제구조공학회 2018 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.22 No.4

In this paper, the effect of non-persistent joints was determined on the behavior of concrete specimens subjected to biaxial loading through numerical modeling using particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC2D). Firstly, a numerical model was calibrated by uniaxial, Brazilian and triaxial experimental results to ensure the conformity of the simulated numerical model's response. Secondly, sixteen rectangular models with dimension of 100 mm by 100 mm were developed. Each model contains two non-persistent joints with lengths of 40 mm and 20 mm, respectively. The angularity of the larger joint changes from $30^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$. In each configuration, the small joint angularity changes from $0^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$ in $30^{\circ}$ increments. All of the models were under confining stress of 1 MPa. By using of the biaxial test configuration, the failure process was visually observed. Discrete element simulations demonstrated that macro shear fractures in models are because of microscopic tensile breakage of a large number of bonded discs. The failure pattern in Rock Bridge is mostly affected by joint overlapping whereas the biaxial strength is closely related to the failure pattern.

A new approach for measurement of anisotropic tensile strength of concrete

Sarfarazi, Vahab,Faridi, Hamid R.,Haeri, Hadi,Schubert, Wulf Techno-Press 2015 Advances in concrete construction Vol.3 No.4

In this paper, a compression to tensile load converter device was developed to determine the anisotropic tensile strength of concrete. The samples were made from a mixture of water, fine sand and cement, respectively. Concrete samples with a hole at its center was prepared and subjected to tensile loading using the compression to tensile load converter device. A hydraulic load cell applied compressive loading to converter device with a constant pressure of 0.02 MPa per second. Compressive loading was converted to tensile stress on the sample because of the overall test design. The samples have three different configurations related to loading axis; 0, $45^{\circ}$, $-45^{\circ}$. A series of finite element analysis were done to analyze the effect of hole diameter on stress concentration of the hole side along its horizontal axis to provide a suitable criterion for determining the real tensile strength of concrete. Concurrent with indirect tensile test, Brazilian test and three point loading test were also performed to compare the results from the three methods. Results obtained by this device were quite encouraging and show that the tensile strengths of concrete were similar in different directions because of the homogeneity of bonding between the concrete materials. Also, the indirect tensile strength was clearly lower than the Brazilian test strength and three point loading test.

Z shape joints under uniaxial compression

Sarfarazi, Vahab,Asgari, Kaveh,Mahshoori, Ali Reza Techno-Press 2021 Advances in concrete construction Vol.12 No.2

In this paper, the effects of angle of Z shape non-persistent joint on the compressive behaviour of joint's bridge area under uniaxial compression load have been investigated. Furtheremore experimental test and Particle flow code in two dimension (PFC2D) have been used. concrete samples with dimension of 50 mm×50 mm×100 mm were prepared. Tensile strength of model material was 1 MPa. Within the specimen, three Z shape non-persistent notches were provided. The notch length was 1.5 cm. when two upper and lower notch have horizontal direction, the middle joint angle were 45°, 90° and 135°. When dips of two upper and lower notch was 90°, the middle joint angle were 45°, 90° and 135° degree. When dips of two upper and lower notch was 135 degree, the middle joint angle were 45°, 90° and 135°. Totally, 9 different configuration systems were prepared for Z shape non-persistent joints. Also, 37 models with different Z shape non-persistent notch angle were prepared in numerical model. The axial load with rate of 0.005 mm/s was applied to the model. Results indicated that the failure process was mostly governed by the Z shape non-persistent joint angle. The compressive strengths of the specimens were related to the fracture pattern and failure mechanism of the discontinuities. In addition it was shown that the compresssive behaviour of discontinuities is depend on the number of the induced tensile cracks which are increased by increasing the middle joint angle. The middle joint has significant effect on the failure pattern. In fixed upper and lower joints angles, when the middle joint angle is 90° the failure stress has maximum value. On the other hand, it has minimum value when the middle joint angle was 135°. In fixed middle joint angle, the samples have minimum value when the upper and lower joints angles are 135°. At the end, the failure pattern and strength results of the experiential tests and the numerical simulations were similar.

Experimental and numerical simulating of the crack separation on the tensile strength of concrete

Vahab Sarfarazi,Hadi Haeri,Alireza Bagher Shemirani,Zheming Zhu,Mohammad Fatehi Marji 국제구조공학회 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.66 No.5

Effects of crack separation, bridge area, on the tensile behaviour of concrete are studied experimentally and numerically through the Brazilian tensile test. The physical data obtained from the Brazilian tests are used to calibrate the two-dimensional particle flow code based on discrete element method (DEM). Then some specially designed Brazilian disc specimens containing two parallel cracks are used to perform the physical tests in the laboratory and numerically simulated to make the suitable numerical models to be tested. The experimental and numerical results of the Brazilian disc specimens are compared to conclude the validity and applicability of these models used in this research. Validation of the simulated models can be easily checked with the results of Brazilian tests performed on non-persistent cracked physical models. The Brazilian discs used in this work have a diameter of 54 mm and contain two parallel centred cracks (90° to the horizontal) loaded indirectly under the compressive line loading. The lengths of cracks are considered as; 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm, respectively. The visually observed failure process gained through numerical Brazilian tests are found to be very similar to those obtained through the experimental tests. The fracture patterns demonstrated by DEM simulations are mostly affected by the crack separation but the tensile strength of bridge area is related to the fracture pattern and failure mechanism of the testing samples. It has also been shown that when the crack lengths are less than 30 mm, the tensile cracks may initiate from the cracks tips and propagate parallel to loading direction till coalesce with the other cracks tips while when the cracks lengths are more than 30 mm, these tensile cracks may propagate through the intact concrete itself rather than that of the bridge area.

Simulation of fracture mechanism of pre-holed concrete model under Brazilian test using PFC3D

Vahab Sarfarazi,Hadi Haeri,Alireza Bagher Shemirani 국제구조공학회 2018 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.22 No.6

In the previous studies on the porous rock strength the effect of pore number and its diameter is not explicitly defined. In this paper crack initiation, propagation and coalescence in Brazilian model disc containing a single cylindrical hole and or multiple holes have been studied numerically using PFC3D. In model with internal hole, the ratio of hole diameter to model diameter was varied between 0.03, 0.17, 0.25, 0.33, and 0.42. In model with multiple hole number of holes was different in various model, i.e., one hole, two holes, three holes, four holes, five holes, six holes, seven holes, eight holes and nine holes. Diameter of these holes was 5 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm. The pre-holed Brazilian discs are numerically tested under Brazilian test. The breakage load in the ring type disc specimens containing an internal hole with varying diameters is measured. The mechanism of cracks propagation in the wall of the ring type specimens is also studied. In the case of multi-hole Brazilian disc, the cracks propagation and b cracks coalescence are also investigated. The results shows that breaking of the pre-holed disc specimens is due to the propagation of radially induced tensile cracks initiated from the surface of the central hole and propagating toward the direction of diametrical loading. In the case of disc specimens with multiple holes, the cracks propagation and cracks coalescence may occur simultaneously in the breaking process of model under diametrical compressive loading. Finally the results shows that the failure stress and crack initiation stress decreases by increasing the hole diameter. Also, the failure stress decreases by increasing the number of hole which mobilized in failure. The results of these simulations were comprised with other experimental and numerical test results. It has been shown that the numerical and experimental results are in good agreement with each other.

Numerical simulation of the effect of bedding layer on the tensile failure mechanism of rock using PFC2D

Vahab Sarfarazi,Hadi Haeri,Mohammad Fatehi Marji 국제구조공학회 2019 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.69 No.1

In this research, the effect of bedding layer on the tensile failure mechanism of rocks has been investigated using PFC2D. For this purpose, firstly calibration of PFC2d was performed using Brazilian tensile strength. Secondly Brazilian test was performed on the bedding layer. Thickness of layers were 5 mm, 10 mm and 20 mm. in each thickness layer, layer angles changes from 0° to 90° with increment of 15°. Totally, 21 model were simulated and tested by loading rate of 0.016 mm/s. The results show that when layer angle is less than 15, tensile cracks initiates between the layers and propagate till coalesce with model boundary. Its trace is too high. With increasing the layer angle, less layer mobilizes in failure process. Also, the failure trace is very short. It’s to be noted that number of cracks decrease with increasing the layer thickness. Also, Brazilian tensile strength is minimum when bedding layer angle is between 45° and 75°. The maximum one is related to layer angle of 90°.