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, $K_{Ic}$, the strain energy release rate, $G_{Ic}$, the effective crack length, ac, and the crack tip opening displacement, $CTOD_c$ 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.