Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone

Due to the shortage of construction aggregates carbonate rock aggregates – including mainly limestone aggregates – have long been used in structural concrete in many countries worldwide. On the other hand, earlier tests on the shear fracture toughness of concretes with limestone aggregates was very...

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Main Authors: Grzegorz Ludwik Golewski, Xinyue Xi, Yuanxun Zheng, Jingbo Zhuo, Peng Zhang, Rafał Panek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Case Studies in Construction Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525009817
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author Grzegorz Ludwik Golewski
Xinyue Xi
Yuanxun Zheng
Jingbo Zhuo
Peng Zhang
Rafał Panek
author_facet Grzegorz Ludwik Golewski
Xinyue Xi
Yuanxun Zheng
Jingbo Zhuo
Peng Zhang
Rafał Panek
author_sort Grzegorz Ludwik Golewski
collection DOAJ
description Due to the shortage of construction aggregates carbonate rock aggregates – including mainly limestone aggregates – have long been used in structural concrete in many countries worldwide. On the other hand, earlier tests on the shear fracture toughness of concretes with limestone aggregates was very limited and even abandoned for many years. From above reasons in this paper completely new fracture toughness tests performed according to the Mode II fracture for limestone concretes with different grain size distribution. Two types of aggregate grain were used, with maximum grain sizes of 8 mm (LM-1 series concrete) and 16 mm (LM-2 series concrete). During the experiments the critical stress-intensity factor (KIIc) and critical unit work of failure (JIIc) were determined. Moreover, the size width of microcracks (Wc) in the ITZ area were examined. Based on the conducted studies it was found that higher values of fracture mechanics parameters were noted as the grain sizes of the aggregate used increased. The increases of fracture mechanics parameters were noticeably greater in the LM-2 concrete compared to the results for the LM-1 concrete, specifically by 27 % for KIIc and 35 % for JIIc. On the other hand increasing the aggregate size from 2 to 8 mm to 8–16 mm led to a 33 % reduction in Wc of limestone concretes. The novelty of the research undertaken resulting from the fact that exploring the properties of concretes with limestone aggregates using Mode II fracture is an important aspect of evaluating the durability and safety of concrete structures subjected mainly to shear forces.
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spelling doaj-art-22b10f70c50f4cc7af50d12a40cfd2362025-08-23T04:48:27ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-12-0123e0518310.1016/j.cscm.2025.e05183Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestoneGrzegorz Ludwik Golewski0Xinyue Xi1Yuanxun Zheng2Jingbo Zhuo3Peng Zhang4Rafał Panek5Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Department of Structural Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 40 str., Lublin 20-618, Poland; Corresponding author.School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent and Resilient Structures for Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Department of Structural Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 40 str., Lublin 20-618, PolandDue to the shortage of construction aggregates carbonate rock aggregates – including mainly limestone aggregates – have long been used in structural concrete in many countries worldwide. On the other hand, earlier tests on the shear fracture toughness of concretes with limestone aggregates was very limited and even abandoned for many years. From above reasons in this paper completely new fracture toughness tests performed according to the Mode II fracture for limestone concretes with different grain size distribution. Two types of aggregate grain were used, with maximum grain sizes of 8 mm (LM-1 series concrete) and 16 mm (LM-2 series concrete). During the experiments the critical stress-intensity factor (KIIc) and critical unit work of failure (JIIc) were determined. Moreover, the size width of microcracks (Wc) in the ITZ area were examined. Based on the conducted studies it was found that higher values of fracture mechanics parameters were noted as the grain sizes of the aggregate used increased. The increases of fracture mechanics parameters were noticeably greater in the LM-2 concrete compared to the results for the LM-1 concrete, specifically by 27 % for KIIc and 35 % for JIIc. On the other hand increasing the aggregate size from 2 to 8 mm to 8–16 mm led to a 33 % reduction in Wc of limestone concretes. The novelty of the research undertaken resulting from the fact that exploring the properties of concretes with limestone aggregates using Mode II fracture is an important aspect of evaluating the durability and safety of concrete structures subjected mainly to shear forces.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525009817Concrete compositeLimestone aggregateMode II fractureCritical stress-intensity factor (KIIc)Critical unit work of failure (JIIc)Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)
spellingShingle Grzegorz Ludwik Golewski
Xinyue Xi
Yuanxun Zheng
Jingbo Zhuo
Peng Zhang
Rafał Panek
Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Concrete composite
Limestone aggregate
Mode II fracture
Critical stress-intensity factor (KIIc)
Critical unit work of failure (JIIc)
Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)
title Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone
title_full Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone
title_fullStr Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone
title_full_unstemmed Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone
title_short Experimental evaluation of Mode II fracture and microstructure of matrix-aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone
title_sort experimental evaluation of mode ii fracture and microstructure of matrix aggregate bond of concrete with crushed limestone
topic Concrete composite
Limestone aggregate
Mode II fracture
Critical stress-intensity factor (KIIc)
Critical unit work of failure (JIIc)
Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ)
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525009817
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