This contribution brings overview of mechanical properties of greywacke with focus on fracture mechanics parameters. Investigated rock type is clastic sediment, relatively widespread in Moravia region. The rock type is significantly utilized in construction industry. For purposes of this study, Kobeřice quarry was selected as sampling locality. Mechanical properties were investigated by deformation controlled 3-point bending test. Chevron notch was created on specimens in order to study fracture mechanics parameters. Moreover, deformation controlled uniaxial compression tests were carried out, as well. Specimens were equipped with strain gauges; thus, elastic modulus and the Poisson’s ratio could be determined. Splitting tensile test was employed in order to determine tensile strength. Mean value of fracture toughness KIC was determined to 1.85 MPa·m0.5. Mean value of uniaxial compressive strength was observed at level of 211 MPa and tensile strength reached 19.4 MPa. Hence, the tested greywacke was considered as high strength rock. Brittle type of failure occurred during the tests. The obtained results were compared with values reported for clastic sediments from several localities in the Czech Republic. Moravian greywacke reached significantly high strength in comparison to other clastic sedimentary rocks and can be considered as valuable raw material for purposes of construction industry.

This paper concerns research into the importance of the interfacial transition zone around inclusions of selected materials in fine-grained cement-based composite. Tests were performed on eight sets of prismatic test specimens. The sets differed in the inclusion materials used, which were placed at midspan above the initial central edge notch. The first was a reference set without any inclusion, the second contained a steel inclusion, four more contained different types of rock inclusion, the seventh contained an inclusion of extruded polystyrene, and the last contained a space of the same dimensions as that occupied by the inclusions in sets 2 to 7. The test specimens were subjected to three-point bending fracture tests at the age of (usually) 28 days. The fracture response was analysed by means of fracture mechanics theory, and apparent mechanical fracture parameters (modulus of elasticity, fracture toughness and fracture energy) were evaluated. The conclusion shows that a possible relationship exists between the differences in the mechanical fracture parameters of specimens with/without an inclusion and the existence of the interfacial transition zone.

In this paper, the attention is paid to the investigation of the influence of high temperature acting on specimens made from specially designed cement-based composite. The experimental programme was carried out on six sets of beam specimens with the dimensions of 20 × 40 × 200 mm. The specimens were loaded to a pre-set temperature of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 °C and then the temperature was kept for 60 minutes. When the temperature loading had been done, the specimens were left to cool down to the ambient temperature. After that, the ultrasonic pulse method was used to determine the degree of damage of temperature loaded specimens. The measured data obtained by this non-destructive method are in high correlation with values of informative compressive strength of the composite obtained after the temperature loading of specimens.

This paper concerns an investigation into the effects of high temperatures acting on specimens made from specially designed fine-grained cement-based composite with spherical glass aggregate. The experimental programme was carried out on four sets of beam specimens with the dimensions 20 × 40 × 200 mm. The specimens were thermally loaded to pre-set temperatures of 100, 200 and 400 °C, after which these temperatures were maintained for 60 minutes (one of the sets contained three reference specimens which were placed in a laboratory at a temperature of 20 °C and were not exposed to heat). After the temperature loading had been performed, the specimens were left to cool down to ambient temperature. After that, fracture tests were used to determine the degree of damage caused to the specimens by temperature loading. Three-point bending tests were conducted on the previously loaded beam specimens, which were notched to provide them with an initial stress concentrator using a diamond blade saw before testing. The depth of the initial edge notch on the bottom side of the specimen was approximately 1/3 of the total specimen depth. The span length was 180 mm. Fracture response was evaluated via load versus deflection diagrams. The monitored parameters were modulus of elasticity, effective fracture toughness and specific fracture energy. Informative compressive strength values were also determined. Selected specimens were investigated using X-ray micro-tomography (micro-CT).

This paper presents the results of fracture tests conducted on nine concrete specimens from drill-cores taken from three selected objects located at the former Transgas Gas Control Center in Prague. The specimens were provided with a chevron notch before being tested in three-point bending. The evaluation included arithmetic mean values and basic statistics for the static modulus of elasticity, fracture toughness and specific fracture energy of the assessed concrete specimens.