Application of tension softening diagrams to evaluation of bond propertiesat concrete interfaces

The bond properties at joint interfaces in concrete structures were evaluat ed through tension softening diagrams. For the joint surfaces between old a nd new concrete, the conditions to obtain good bond properties were clarifi ed. The size effect on the flexural bond strength was well predicted throug h numerical analysis with tension softening diagrams. For the interfaces be tween repair materials and substrate concrete, the properties of repair mat erials and the conditions of interfaces were characterized by the shape of the tension softening diagrams and fracture energy. The shrinking and crack ing behavior of repair materials was also investigated through experiments and numerical analysis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.