Abstract:The experimental investigation and analysis are presented for exploring the intrinsic link between compressive deformational response and crack behavior of the mortar specimens. Images of the crack propagation on the surface of specimens are recorded synchronously during compressive deformation, and then processed to obtain the cracking process. The identified cracks are then analyzed quantitatively to obtain the measurement of the cracking degree by using the methods in which the effect of the direction of cracking is considered. Theoretical analyses are made for obtaining the intrinsic relation between cracking and non-linear deformational response in conjunction with the experimental observations. The obtained relation provides an effective way to measure the evolution of deformation property of the material caused by damage under compression throughout the measurement of cracking on the surface of the specimen.