ABSTRACT
Because of the testing simplicity, the Three Point Bend Test (TPBT) recommended by R I L E M Technical Committee 50-FMC ( R I L E M 1985) is widely used for the determination of fracture properties. However, most experiments were performed on relatively small beams seldomly exceeding 200 mm in depth, and, the self-weight compared to the fracture area of T P B beams is large. The effect of self-weight on fracture properties must be carefully considered in the evaluation of fracture properties using the T P B T . Additionally, although the T P B beam can be handled in the laboratory, it does not lend itself either to the fabrication on the building site or to the use of material drilled from existing structures. These drawbacks led to the formation of Subcommittee B within R I L E M T C 89-FMT with the main
task to propose a testing method as an alternative to the T P B T . Simple "compact" specimen shapes such as cubes and cylinders should be used in such an alternative testing method, and the test should easily be carried out in a "normally equipped" civil and materials engineering laboratory.
