Fracture mechanics characterization of mortar nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes

The objective of this paper is to provide a fracture mechanics characterization of mortar nanocomposites reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The critical stress intensity factor, KIc, the strain energy release rate, GIc, the effective crack length, ac, and the crack tip opening displacement, CTODc are determined using three-point bend specimens. It was established that reinforcement of mortar with MWCNTs provides excellent improvement in the above fracture mechanics quantities.