Crack effect on pre-stressed concrete sleeper B70 with fracture mechanics analysis

In this research, the principles of fracture mechanics in concrete, pre-stressed mono block concrete sleeper of B70 is analyzed with numerical and experimental method. Plastic damage nonlinear analysis with Abaqus software and Replica test and image analysis are research methods in numerical and experimental study, respectively. To evaluate fracture mechanics parameters, a pre-stressed concrete sleeper with an initial crack length from 0 to 45 mm and crack width from 0 to 8 mm is being loaded under three-point bending test and has been modeled in FE software, simultaneously. In this study, strength decrease of notched sleeper is evaluated in initial and unstable crack. The results show that notch with small width (sharp notch) is caused strength decrease that it doesn’t show in the strength of materials design. As a result, the strength of materials design as long as responsive that there aren’t any fault or notch in the element. Also, for analysis and design of pre-stressed concrete element like sleeper, it needs accurate inspections about fault or notch existence to estimate capacity and life of sleeper with the fracture mechanics analysis together the strength of materials design.