The Effect of the Interfacial Transition Zone between Aggregate and Mortar to the Overall Performance of a Concrete Structure A comparative study, from micro to macro

DOI: 10.5176/2301-394X_ACE13.23

Authors: Han Ay Lie, Purwanto

Abstract:

The Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) between the aggregate and the mortar in concrete has long been recognized as the "weak link" in the material. Research in this field conducted at the Material Laboratory, Diponegoro University resulted in the normal-tensile and shear behavior of the ITZ, based on newly developed test methods. The load-displacement response of the ITZ in their normal and shear mode was lucidly explained. At further stages, a Finite Element Model (FEM) was developed modeling concrete as a three-phase, rather than a two-phase material by including the ITZ into the model. The results of this integrated method showed that the ultimate stress as well as the stiffness modulus of concrete is strongly influenced by the ITZ. In this paper a numerical analysis to the effect of these deviations to a multi-storey structure, is studied. The results demonstrated that the ITZ influences the structure's performance significantly. Techniques to improving the ITZ in concrete can therefore have a positive impact on the overall structural behavior.

Keywords: component; ITZ; Finite Element; Stiffness Modulus; Load-displacement response