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A novel experimental method for measuring the direct tensile strength of concrete

  • Oussama Merabet

    Oussama Merabet, born in 1995, graduated with Master degree in Civil Engineering from the university of Yahia Fares, Medea, Algeria, in 2019. Currently, he is a PhD student at the university of SaadDahlab, Blida, Algeria, and his research areas are civil engineering materials, mechanical properties of cementitious materials.

    , Mohamed Bentchikou

    Mohamed Bentchikou is currently working at University of Médéa, Algeria as Associate Professor. He achieved his PhD at The Laboratory of Construction Materials (LMC) of EPFL (ÉcolePolytechniqueFédérale de Lausanne) in Switzerland and wrote his PhD thesis at National Polytechnic School of Algiers (ENP), finishing in 2008. His focus is on designing innovative materials for thermo acoustical insulation applications and recycling for building construction usesbeside the design of devices for mechanical and thermal testing materials.

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    , Nasreddine Amoura

    Dr. Nasreddine Amoura, studied mechanical engineering at the National Polytechnic school of Algiers. After his Master thesis, he obtained his PhD from the University of technology of Compiegne, France. Since 2010, he has been associate professor at the mechanical department of the Medea University, Algeria. His work focuses on fracture mechanics.

    and Ahmed Elshafie

    Ahmed Elshafie received his BSc and MSc from the Department of Civil Engineering from Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. In 2003, he received his PhD in water resources management and planning from Department of Civil Engineering, Cairo University. Presently he is a Professor with Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya. His research interest is related to artificial intelligence techniques with their applications to several engineering applications giving emphasis to hydrological process, environmental and water resources, dam and reservoir operation and multi-sensor system integration.

Published/Copyright: March 18, 2024
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Abstract

This study deals with the development of a load-converting device designed for measuring the direct tensile strength of the concrete. In this regard, a new testing technique based on a novel testing device and modified cylindrical (Ø 100 × 200) molds for the preparation of concrete samples is explained. The embedded rod method was adopted to transmit the uniaxial tensile load to the specimens using the universal compression machine and the current converting device. In order to examine the reliability of the suggested test method, a comparison with indirect tensile methods (splitting and three-point loading flexural tests) was made. The results show that the tensile strength of the tested specimens is lower for the direct tensile test obtained by the proposed test setup than for the flexural test and closer to the strength results obtained from the splitting test. As expected, all the specimens tested using the introduced test method demonstrated a sudden and unique fracture in the middle portion. Additionally, no slippage of embedded bars was noticed during the test.


Corresponding author: Mohamed Bentchikou, Laboratory of Mechanic Physics and Mathematical Modeling (LMP2M), Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Technology, Université Dr Yahia Fares of Médéa, Pole Universitaire De Ouzera, 26000, Médéa, Algeria, E-mail:

About the authors

Oussama Merabet

Oussama Merabet, born in 1995, graduated with Master degree in Civil Engineering from the university of Yahia Fares, Medea, Algeria, in 2019. Currently, he is a PhD student at the university of SaadDahlab, Blida, Algeria, and his research areas are civil engineering materials, mechanical properties of cementitious materials.

Mohamed Bentchikou

Mohamed Bentchikou is currently working at University of Médéa, Algeria as Associate Professor. He achieved his PhD at The Laboratory of Construction Materials (LMC) of EPFL (ÉcolePolytechniqueFédérale de Lausanne) in Switzerland and wrote his PhD thesis at National Polytechnic School of Algiers (ENP), finishing in 2008. His focus is on designing innovative materials for thermo acoustical insulation applications and recycling for building construction usesbeside the design of devices for mechanical and thermal testing materials.

Nasreddine Amoura

Dr. Nasreddine Amoura, studied mechanical engineering at the National Polytechnic school of Algiers. After his Master thesis, he obtained his PhD from the University of technology of Compiegne, France. Since 2010, he has been associate professor at the mechanical department of the Medea University, Algeria. His work focuses on fracture mechanics.

Ahmed Elshafie

Ahmed Elshafie received his BSc and MSc from the Department of Civil Engineering from Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. In 2003, he received his PhD in water resources management and planning from Department of Civil Engineering, Cairo University. Presently he is a Professor with Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya. His research interest is related to artificial intelligence techniques with their applications to several engineering applications giving emphasis to hydrological process, environmental and water resources, dam and reservoir operation and multi-sensor system integration.

Acknowledgment

The authors extend their sincere gratitude to Mr. Fouad Mokeddem and Mr. ImadMokeddem for their contributions in fabricating the components of the testing device. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Sofiane Mouloud, Head of the Laboratory for Science and Technology at the University of Médéa, for his assistance in conducting the experimental program.

  1. Research ethics: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.

  2. Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  3. Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  4. Research funding: None declared.

  5. Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

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Published Online: 2024-03-18
Published in Print: 2024-05-27

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