Effect of Crack-Depth Ratio on Double-K Fracture Parameter of Reinforced Concrete

In order to study the influence of the crack-depth ratio on reinforced concrete fracture parameters and the resistance of the reinforcing bar to crack propagation in concrete, the fracture tests were carried on by using four groups three-point bending specimens with initial crack-depth ratios of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 in this paper. An analytical model was presented to calculate fracture toughness of reinforced concrete by analyzing crack propagation process of the three-point bending beams. The formula of calculating effective crack length of reinforced concrete was established. The research results show that the double-K criterion can be used for describing crack propagation process of reinforced concrete by introducing fracture toughness, which is suitable for reinforced concrete. Initiation fracture toughness and unstable fracture toughness of reinforced concrete slowly increase with the increase of crack-depth ratio, which is different from the properties of ordinary concrete. The reinforced can improve the ductility of concrete obviously and inhibit the rate of crack propagation well.