This study addresses the limitations of existing chiseling-specific test equipment, which can operate only at room temperature, thereby hindering quantitative studies of the crushability of phase-change aggregate concrete under complex thermal conditions. To overcome this limitation, the study presents a newly developed test apparatus designed specifically to assess the specific crushing work of phase-change aggregate concrete.

The apparatus consists of three critical components: the specimen area, the crushing device area, and the support structure. To achieve precise temperature control of the specimen, a cast-aluminum electric heating plate is used in conjunction with a highly efficient thermal insulation system, ensuring that the desired temperature is maintained throughout the testing process. The device incorporates a unique synchronous belt lifting-drop hammer impact system that enables uniform crushing operations from multiple directions. This innovative system works in combination with an adaptable rotating central shaft structure, thereby enhancing the device’s effectiveness in conducting crushing actions. The synchronous belt lifting-drop hammer impact system ensures consistent and controlled crushing, while the rotatable central shaft allows flexible positioning of the crushing device to optimize performance.

A series of performance verification tests was conducted to evaluate the overall performance of the device. Phase-change aggregate concrete specimens with varying mix proportions were tested for specific energy of fragmentation under the following temperature conditions: room temperature, 40 ℃, 80 ℃, 120 ℃, 160 ℃, and 200 ℃. Three groups of parallel specimens were tested at each temperature gradient to ensure data representativeness. The results indicate that the device operates stably, is user-friendly, and accurately measures the specific energy of fragmentation of phase-change aggregate concrete under varying temperatures. The test error was controlled within 5%, demonstrating good reliability and repeatability. As the test temperature increases, the specific energy of fragmentation shows a significant downward trend, indicating improved crushability of the material. Below 120 ℃, the decrease in specific energy of fragmentation was moderate, ranging from 15% to 28%. Above 120 ℃, the decline accelerates, significantly enhancing the material’s crushability. At 200 ℃, the specific energy of fragmentation decreased by 57% compared to room temperature, indicating a marked weakening of the mechanical properties of phase-change aggregate concrete in high-temperature environments, thus demonstrating excellent dismantlability. This trend aligns with the phase-change characteristics of phase-change aggregates at elevated temperatures and the corresponding changes in the internal structure of the concrete.

The testing apparatus effectively simulates a range of complex thermal conditions and enables accurate quantitative measurement and data analysis of the specific crushing energy of phase-change aggregate concrete specimens across different temperature environments, thereby significantly improving the stability and accuracy of experimental results. The device addresses the technical gap in quantifying the fracture characteristics of phase-change aggregate concrete under thermal effects, establishing a critical foundation for systematic investigations, mechanism analyses, and performance evaluations of the material’s crushability. It also provides a practical approach and valuable engineering reference for optimizing mechanical tests, developing specialized testing equipment, and standardizing test methods for various specialty concretes, including low-temperature and phase-change-modified materials.