Analytical study on tensile strength of concrete

In the present numerical study, an attempt is made at a comparative analysis, in terms of tensile strength of concrete, among the modulus of rupture test, Brazilian splitting test and concrete direct tension test. In direct test method, two aligned steel bars were placed in a cylindrical specimen to transmit the uniaxial force to the concrete specimen. The tensile strength of concrete affects the behavior of concrete structure. Drawing on this, estimating true tensile strength, as one of the basic properties of concrete, is headed by researchers. The present study intends to analyze tensile strength tests of concrete by means of finite element (FE) method employing ABAQUS software. The accuracy of the FE models is confirmed using outputs of previous experimental studies. Results indicate that although all these tests are usually used to estimate the tensile strength of concrete, modulus of rupture and Brazilian splitting tests investigate better behavior of concrete in tension and the results of which are also more reliable than those of concrete direct tension test. Furthermore, it seems that the steel bars in direct tension test affect the stress distribution.