Fracture Mechanics for Concrete Materials: Testing and Applications

Fracture mechanics concepts are increasingly being used in designing concrete structures and in understanding the fundamental behavior of concrete-like materials. Fracture-mechanics concepts also have the potential for use in designing concrete-FRP composites and in repairing concrete structures. Several of the 15 papers in SP-201, Fracture Mechanics for Concrete Materials, deal with these topics. Determining the fracture properties of concrete materials for various applications requires selecting the proper testing method, and many papers in the volume cover this issue. By reading SP-201, practitioners, researchers, and potential users of fracturemechanics concepts will learn of the recent technological advances, engineering applications, and research results presented.