The applied fracture mechanics model, when both elastic and inelastic deformations were considered, always over-estimated the post-peak behavior. However, the post-peak behavior was successfully predicted when the model was modified to consider only elastic deformation. The analysis indicated that little toughening action took place during the fracture process and the fracture process zone at the crack tip was small relative to plain concrete and mortar. This was due to the highly brittle fracture nature associated with pre-determined weak crack path and relatively smooth crack surfaces. Using the relationship between degree of bond and bond strength, and the established fracture model, it was possible to describe the fracture behavior for an ideal perfect bond. As the degree of bond approaches 100%, bond strength increases but the work of fracture does not improve as a simple function of increase in the degree of bond.
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign