Crack propagation process and lifetime prediction method of concrete-rock interface under constant loading

This study investigated the crack propagation processes and established the lifetime prediction methods of the concrete-rock interfaces under constant loading. Firstly, the constant loading tests were performed under three-point bending loading on the composite concrete-rock beams with three kinds of interfaces, i.e. natural, 4 × 4, and 7 × 7 interfaces, and under three constant load levels, i.e. initial cracking load, 80 % and 97 % of the peak loads. Then, the clip gauge method and digital image correlation method were employed to detect the crack lengths under constant loading. Finally, the effects of constant load levels on fracture properties of the concrete-rock interfaces were analyzed and the crack propagation processes under constant loading were discussed. The results indicated that the clip gauge method was an available and accurate method to detect the crack lengths of the concrete-rock interfaces under constant loading. Crack propagation processes and crack mouth opening processes under constant loading exhibited the three-stage feature, i.e. deceleration stage, uniform stage and acceleration stage. In addition, the logarithms of the constant loading lifetimes showed an approximate linear relationship with the logarithms of the crack mouth uniform opening rates, and a quantitative relationship was established by using the linear regression analysis to establish the lifetime prediction methods. This study proposed a practical method to predict the service life of concrete structure-bedrock interface. When the crack mouth uniform opening stage was recognized, the lifetime of concrete structure-bedrock interface in service can be predicted by substituting the crack mouth uniform opening rate into the pre-established prediction model. This study can provide the theoretical support for the safety assessment of the concrete structure-bedrock interface in service.