Mezouara, Hicham ; Fahad, Mohammed ; Zniker, Houcine ; Echebba, El Mehdi ; Zimou, Jamal ; Feddal, Ikram
The precise characterization of mechanical properties is essential to ensure the durability and safety of civil engineering infrastructures, particularly pavements. However, indirect tensile tests (IT-CY) on cylindrical specimens are sensitive to uncertainties related to non-uniform load distributions at the specimen-platen interface, which strongly influence the stress fields and the measurement of the stiffness modulus. ; This study employs finite element modeling (FEM) using the Abaqus software under the assumption of linear elastic behavior to analyze the impact of three load distribution profiles - uniform, sinusoidal, and parabolic - on the radial, tangential, and shear stress components in cylindrical specimens subjected to diametral compression, with a fixed contact angle of 15[degrees]. ; The simulations reveal significant variations: the uniform distribution generates high stress concentrations (up to 40 MPa in radial stress near the contact zones) and pronounced heterogeneity, thereby influencing the determination of the material`s stiffness modulus. In contrast, the sinusoidal and parabolic profiles promote a smoother stress transition, reducing peak stresses by up to 60% and concentrating the stresses along the vertical diameter. ; A comparative analysis with experimental results from previous studies supports these observations. Overall, the findings emphasize the critical role of contact conditions in minimizing experimental artifacts and reducing uncertainty in stiffness modulus evaluation. While based on a linear elastic framework, the results provide general mechanical insights that may contribute to the optimization of indirect tensile test protocols and the improvement of pavement design methodologies.
Zielona Góra: Uniwersytet Zielonogórski
IJAME, volume 31, number 3 (2026)
Biblioteka Uniwersytetu Zielonogórskiego
Nov 4, 2026
Nov 4, 2026
0
https://zbc.uz.zgora.pl/publication/115094
Mezouara, Hicham Zniker, Houcine Feddal, Ikram El Kouifat, Mohammed Khalil El Hasnaoui, Mohamed Jurczak, Paweł - red.
El Kouifat, Mohammed Khalil Zniker, Houcine Feddal, Ikram Ouaki, Bennaceur Jurczak, Paweł - red.
Werner, C. Gorla, Rama Subba Reddy Jurczak, Paweł - red.
Abiala, I.O. Gbadeyan, J.A. Jurczak, Paweł - red.
Nandi, N. Roychowdhury, A. Dutta, S.C. Jurczak, Paweł - red.
Romanowicz, Marek Jurczak, Paweł - red.
Kamiński, Marcin Supeł, Łukasz Jurczak, Paweł - red.