Study on size effects and failure precursor characteristics of concrete crack propagation behavior based on digital image correlation and acoustic emission technology

IF 4.3 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Structures Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-12 DOI:10.1016/j.istruc.2026.111357

Xinxin Zhao , Siwei Wang , Shuyi Li , Chao Xu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of size on the deformation, damage, and failure modes of concrete through uniaxial compression tests combined with strain gauges, digital image correlation (DIC), and acoustic emission (AE) technologies. The results revealed that, under uniaxial compression, specimens of different sizes exhibit nonuniform deformation. The axial deformation of the 300- and 550-mm specimens was mainly concentrated at the top, whereas that of the 450-mm specimen was concentrated in the middle. Lateral deformation analysis was conducted to identify crack propagation zones. The critical stress threshold at the damage stage decreased as the specimen size increased and stabilized when L/D ≥ 2.0. Abrupt changes in the AE parameters characterize the crack damage stress threshold and can serve as a precursor indicator for specimen failure. The Rise time/maximum amplitude (RA)–average frequency (AF) distribution and b-value analysis revealed that small specimens tended to fail through tensile cracking, whereas large specimens exhibited shear failure. The combined use of DIC and AE enabled the capturing of the entire failure process of concrete, from microcrack initiation to macroscopic fracture. Small specimens exhibited high AE activity and substantial fragmentation, whereas large specimens exhibited a trend toward localized failure. The shear crack propagation height for the 550-mm specimen was 330 mm, consistent with the results obtained from layered strain measurements. As the specimen size increased, both the localized deformation initiation stress (σ_A) and peak stress (σ_f) decreased, and the σ_A/σ_f ratio also decreased, σ_A can serve as a precursor indicator for structural failure. The findings of this study provide theoretical support for concrete damage evaluation and early fracture warning.

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基于数字图像相关和声发射技术的混凝土裂纹扩展行为尺寸效应及破坏前兆特征研究

本研究通过结合应变计、数字图像相关（DIC）和声发射（AE）技术的单轴压缩试验，研究了尺寸对混凝土变形、损伤和破坏模式的影响。结果表明：在单轴压缩下，不同尺寸的试件均表现出不均匀变形；300 mm和550 mm试件的轴向变形主要集中在顶部，而450 mm试件的轴向变形集中在中部。进行横向变形分析，识别裂纹扩展区域。损伤阶段的临界应力阈值随着试样尺寸的增大而减小，在L/D≥ 2.0时趋于稳定。声发射参数的突变表征了裂纹损伤应力阈值，可以作为试样破坏的前兆指标。上升时间/最大振幅(RA) -平均频率（AF）分布和b值分析表明，小试件倾向于通过拉伸开裂破坏，而大试件则表现为剪切破坏。DIC和AE的结合使用可以捕捉混凝土从微裂缝萌生到宏观断裂的整个破坏过程。小试件表现出较高的声发射活性和大量破碎，而大试件则表现出局部破坏的趋势。550-mm试样的剪切裂纹扩展高度为330 mm，与层状应变测量结果一致。随着试样尺寸的增大，局部变形起始应力（σA）和峰值应力（σf）减小，σA/σf比值减小，σA可以作为结构破坏的前兆指标。研究结果为混凝土损伤评估和早期断裂预警提供了理论支持。

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来源期刊

Structures Engineering-Architecture

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

17.10%

发文量

1187

期刊介绍： Structures aims to publish internationally-leading research across the full breadth of structural engineering. Papers for Structures are particularly welcome in which high-quality research will benefit from wide readership of academics and practitioners such that not only high citation rates but also tangible industrial-related pathways to impact are achieved.