Issue 67

S. S. E. Ahmad et al., Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 67 (2024) 24-42; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.67.03

The effect of beam width and crack-depth ratio on mode I fracture toughness of RCB: an experimental and numerical study

Seleem S. E. Ahmad Engineering Materials Dept., Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Egypt seleemahmad62@yahoo.com, http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9894-0209 Ghada M.A. Gamiaa Engineering Materials Dept., Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Egypt engineergh49@yahoo.com , https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6290-2330 Abd El-Monem I. El-Kholy Engineering Materials Dept., Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Egypt str.eng.elkholy@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4247-2041

Citation: Ahmad, S. S. E., Gamiaa, G.M.A., El-Kholy, A. I., The effect of beam width, crack-depth ratio and concrete strength on mode I facture toughness of reinforced concrete beams, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 67 (2024) 24-42.

Received: 31.07.2023 Accepted: 05.10.2023 Online first: 28.10.2023 Published: 01.01.2024

Copyright: © 2024 This is an open access article under the terms of the CC-BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

K EYWORDS : Fracture toughness, Plain strain K IC, 3-D ANSYS, Mode I crack, Crack to depth ratio, Minimum area of reinforcing.

I NTRODUCTION

T

he process of fracturing in reinforced concrete structures is complex and involves the existence of both short cracks and long cracks. This behavior was influenced by different factors, such as the process zone ahead of the crack tip and crack closing of steel bars, and is dependent on the heterogeneity of the concrete, as well as the type and properties of the reinforcement . Linear elastic mechanics concept through K 1C is a valuable and precise method for

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