BIAXIAL COMPRESSION OF CONCRETE - INFLUEN CE OF THE STRESS PATH ON CONCRETE STRAINS

A lot of constitutive laws, based upon different concepts, are used to model concrete behaviour especially when this material is subjected t o multiaxial stresses. For these models, path dependence may or may no t be taken into account. Our studies try to evaluate the influence of stress path on concrete under monotonous biaxial loading. So, ultimate strains of mortar and concrete which have been following stress paths that are as different as possible are compared. Tests have been perfo rmed using two biaxial presses. On the two presses anti-friction syste ms (to avoid confinement) are used and also the same strain measuremen t devices. The results obtained show that there is an influence of the stress path on the strains, but this influence is less important than differences ascribable to the bearing devices.