Fatigue and fracture properties of concrete mixtures with various water to cement ratio and maximum size of aggregates

Water to cement (w/c) ratio is one of the crucial parameters for the preparation of concrete, which can significantly affect its workability, mechanical property and durability. Thanks to the fast development of superplasticizers, it is now possible to produce a high performance or ultra-high performance concrete with a low w/c ratio and high dosage of superplasticizer. The effect of water to cement ratio and maximum size of aggregates (Dmax) on the fracture mechanical and fatigue properties were investigated through multiple experiments, including compression test, three point bending fracture test and measurements leading to assessment of fatigue behavior via S-N curve.