Click here to access/download;Manuscript;Advances in Pantographic Structures.pdf Click here to view linked References Francesco dell'Isola et al.

In this contribution, an experimental campaign based on unconfined and actively confined pull-out tests is presented to investigate the bond stress-slip behavior. This campaign aims at underlining passive (concrete cover) and active (external pressure) confinement effects on the maximal bond stress. Experimental results are associated to a numerical approach in order to predict the evolution of the bond strength. Equations are finally proposed that distinguish splitting failure (function of the concrete tensile properties) and pull-out failure (function of the compressive concrete properties).

Refractory castables are utilized in hazardous environments and thus their reliability should be accurately evaluated to avoid incidents. This work aims to measure the fracture energy of a high-alumina refractory with mullite-zirconia aggregates at 600°C. Wedge Splitting Tests were performed on 5 samples with different sintering temperatures. Images were acquired and analyzed via Digital Image Correlation (DIC). Notch Opening Displacements were used to evaluate the fracture energy at room and high tempartures. For the studied material, a 50°C increase in the sintering temperature increased about 30% the fracture energy of the material, which is also higher at 600°C when compared to room temperature measurements.