Brittle Collapse of a Massive Concrete Element During Handling: Experimental and Numerical Investigation

This paper investigates the brittle failure of a massive concrete block produced for the breakwater re-construction at Augusta’s harbor. Despite compliance with the C35/45 compressive strength class, in-adequate compaction and curing reduced the tensile strength, leading to collapse during handling. An extensive experimental campaign assessed mechanical properties, microstructural defects, and chemical composition. Numerical analyses using finite element models confirmed that tensile stresses induced by asymmetric lifting approached or exceeded the material’s tensile strength, triggering failure. Practical recommendations are provided to improve production quality and handling procedures for massive concrete elements in coastal infrastructure.