Dynamic Direct Tensile Strength of Concrete

Tensile strength of concrete is of great importance for dams located in areas subjected to seismic loading conditions. Structural analysts compare results from finite element models (FEM) of such structures to the strength of the concrete to determine whether they are able to withstand those loads or require modification to maintain the infrastructure and ensure public safety. The goal of this research was to relate the number of cycles of dynamic tension that concrete can withstand prior to failure as a function of the static tensile strength and loading frequency. No such relationship was determined to exist at the load amplitudes and frequencies used for this research. Equations developed by the Comité Euro-International du Béton (CEB) in the 1990s are better suited for estimating a dynamic increase factor (DIF) rather than assuming a 50% increase in tensile strength.