Tension stiffening approach for interface characterization in recycled aggregate concrete

This study proposes a comprehensive analysis on the structural performance of reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete members. Particularly, it summarizes the results of an experimental investigation aimed at analyzing the tension stiffening behavior of normal and high strength class concretes produced with Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs). The mixtures were proportioned in order to achieve 25 and 65 MPa of compressive strength and, moreover, several recycled-to-natural coarse aggregates replacement ratios were considered: 0%, 25% and 50%. The results derived from this type of test furnish a comprehensive analysis on both the steel-to-matrix interaction and the crack formation and propagation on concrete elements as well as distributed cracking mechanisms. Using a finite difference numerical model, the experimental results are used to back-calculate and identify the steel-to-concrete bond slip law. Also, it is an alternative mean of developing the stress-crack-width law for concrete in tension. The results showed that the use of recycled concrete aggregate does not affect the resulting concrete performance and, therefore, the RCAs can be successfully employed, up to the levels analyzed herein, for the production of structural elements made with normal and high strength class concrete mix.     

Définition et validation expérimentale d'un modèle d'éléments finis de poutres en béton de hautes performances

In this paper, the predictions of non linear finite element analysis of flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams are compared with available experimental data. The elastic-plastic concrete model already used for reinforced normal strength concrete beams is able to predict correctly the full flexural behavior of beams made with high strength concrete. However, the shear retention factor must be notably modified when the nature of concrete changes from normal strength concrete to high strength concrete. The value of shear retention factor must decrease from 0.4 with normal strength concretes to 0.1 with high strength concretes.     

The role of 0–2 mm fine recycled concrete aggregate on the compressive and splitting tensile strengths of recycled concrete aggregate concrete

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of 0–2 mm fine aggregate on the compressive and splitting tensile strengths of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) concrete with normal and high strengths. Normal coarse and fine aggregates were substituted with the same grading of RCAs in two normal and high strength concrete mixtures. In addition, to keep the same slump value for all mixes, additional water or superplasticizer were used in the RCA concretes. The compressive and splitting tensile strengths were measured at 3, 7 and 28 days. Test results show that coarse and fine RCAs, which were achieved from a parent concrete with 30 MPa compressive strength, have about 11.5 and 3.5 times higher water absorption than normal coarse and fine aggregates, respectively. The density of RCAs was about 20% less than normal aggregates, and, hence, the density of RCA concrete was about 8–13.5% less than normal aggregate concrete. The use of RCA instead of normal aggregates reduced the compressive and splitting tensile strengths in both normal and high strength concrete. The reduction in the splitting tensile strength was more pronounced than for the compressive strength. However, both strengths could be improved by incorporating silica fume and/or normal fine aggregates of 0–2 mm size in the RCA concrete mixture. The positive effect of the contribution of normal sand of 0–2 mm in RCA concrete is more pronounced in the compressive strength of a normal strength concrete and in the splitting tensile strength of high strength concrete. In addition, some equation predictions of the splitting tensile strength from compressive strength are recommended for both normal and RCA concretes.     

Effect of Loading Rate on Fracture Energy of High‐Strength Concrete

Abstract: This research deals with the sensitivity of several types of performance‐designed high‐strength concrete to the loading rate. Variations in the composition of the concrete produce the desired performance, for instance having null shrinkage or being able to be pumped at elevated heights without segregation, but they also produce variations in the fracture properties that are reported in this paper. We performed tests at five loading rates spanning six orders of magnitude in the displacement rate, from 1.74 × 10^?5 mm s^?1 to 17.4 mm s^?1. Load‐displacement curves show that their peak is higher as the displacement rate increases, whereas the corresponding displacement is almost constant. Fracture energy also increases, but only for loading rates higher than 0.01 mm s^?1. We use a formula based on a cohesive law with a viscous term [Anales de Mecánica de la Fractura 25 (2008) 793–797] to study the results. The correlation of the formula to the experimental results is good and it allows us to obtain the theoretical value for the fracture energy under strictly static conditions. In addition, both the fracture energy and the characteristic length of the concretes used in the study diminish as the compressive strength of their aggregates increases.     

超高性能混凝土与普通混凝土的黏结抗冻性能

对147个超高性能混凝土与普通混凝土的100mm×100mm×100mm立方体黏结试件进行了冻融循环后的黏结性能研究,测量了冻融后试件的相对动弹性模量、质量损失率以及劈裂抗拉强度,研究了超高性能混凝土中的钢纤维掺量、普通混凝土的强度等级、黏结面形式、试件的浇筑方向等因素对黏结试件抗冻性能的影响。结果表明,冻融循环结束后,所有黏结试件中的超高性能混凝土部分都没有出现损伤,超高性能混凝土可以作为普通混凝土结构的理想外围护材料;随着冻融循环次数的增加,黏结试件的相对动弹性模量逐渐减小,质量损失率先降低后增加,黏结试件的劈裂抗拉强度线性下降;影响黏结试件冻融后劈裂抗拉强度下降速度的关键因素是超高性能混凝土中的钢纤维掺量和黏结面的形式。     

A stochastic second‐order and two‐scale thermo‐mechanical model for strength prediction of concrete materials

A stochastic thermo‐mechanical model for strength prediction of concrete is developed, based on the two‐scale asymptotic expressions, which involves both the macroscale and the mesoscale of concrete materials. The mesoscale of concrete is characterized by a periodic layout of unit cells of matrix‐aggregate composite materials, consisting of randomly distributed aggregate grains and cement matrix. The stochastic second‐order and two‐scale computational formulae are proposed in detail, and the maximum normal stress is assumed as the strength criterion for the aggregates, and the cement paste, in view of their brittle characteristics. Numerical results for the strength of concrete obtained from the proposed model are compared with those from known experiments. The comparison shows that the proposed method is validated for strength prediction of concrete. The proposed thermo‐mechanical model is also employed to investigate the influence of different volume fraction of the aggregates on the strength of concrete. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental testing of wood‐concrete and steel‐concrete composite elements in comparison with numerical testing

The paper presents the results of experimental tests with a numerical comparison of some typical composite element systems. Two different kinds of elements were tested: composite steel‐concrete and composite wood‐concrete elements. Deflections at midspan under monotonously increasing static load on simply supported beams were measured. The affects of different types of composite connections on the results were researched. In numerical tests the structure was modeled with two‐dimensional plane elements. The composite surface was modeled with two‐dimensional contact (interface) elements for the continuous connection simulation and modified beam elements for the discrete connection simulation. The applied material models include the most important nonlinear effects of concrete, steel and wood behavior, as well as the nonlinear behavior of the composite surface at the connection. The achieved results of the developed numerical model were compared with the results obtained through the experimental test.     

Assessment of Pre‐Stress Losses in Instrumented Pre‐Stressed Concrete Beams Using Stochastic Analysis

Abstract: In this study, stochastic analyses of pre‐stress losses in two pre‐stressed concrete beams are carried out, and the results of the analyses are compared with those obtained from the laboratory experimental investigations. The deterministic models given in ACI 209 (with modelling error) are used for predicting the pre‐stress losses. The compressive strength of concrete, water–cement ratio, coarse aggregate–cement ratio, fine aggregate–cement ratio, cement content, initial stress in steel and relative humidity are considered as random variables. Monte Carlo simulation technique is used to determine the statistical properties of pre‐stress losses at different times. From the results obtained, it is noted that while the relaxation strain can be assumed to follow a normal distribution, the frequency distributions of creep and shrinkage strains are not uni‐modal. A relation for estimating total losses is also proposed in the article. The stochastic analysis approach presented in the article would be useful in the assessment of pre‐stress losses in existing pre‐stressed concrete members in a more rational way.     

Performance of metakaolin concrete at elevated temperatures

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of metakaolin (MK) concrete at elevated temperatures up to 800 °C. Eight normal and high strength concrete (HSC) mixes incorporating 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% MK were prepared. The residual compressive strength, chloride-ion penetration, porosity and average pore sizes were measured and compared with silica fume (SF), fly ash (FA) and pure ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concretes. It was found that after an increase in compressive strength at 200 °C, the MK concrete suffered a more severe loss of compressive strength and permeability-related durability than the corresponding SF, FA and OPC concretes at higher temperatures. Explosive spalling was observed in both normal and high strength MK concretes and the frequency increased with higher MK contents.     

不同加载速率下饱和混凝土的劈拉试验研究及强度变化机理

利用大型液压伺服试验机研究了不同加载速率下饱和混凝土与干燥混凝土的劈拉强度变化情况,试验研究表明:在准静态加载时,与干燥的混凝土相比饱和混凝土的劈拉强度有所降低,随着加载速率的升高,饱和混凝土的的动态劈拉强度有较大的提高。通过对干、湿混凝土强度变化的比较表明:孔隙及裂缝中的自由水对混凝土强度有所影响。根据细观层次上、不同加载速率下裂纹中孔隙水压力的作用形式(即低加载率时孔隙水的“楔入”作用和高加载率时的“Stefan效应”),利用断裂力学来探讨不同加载速率下饱和混凝土劈拉强度的变化机理。结果表明:提出的机理可以较好地解释饱和混凝土强度的变化情况。     

Creep behaviour of FRP-reinforced polymer concrete

Polymer concrete is a kind of concrete where natural aggregates such as silica sand or gravel are binded together with a thermoset resin, such as epoxy. Although polymer concretes are stronger in compression than cementitious concrete, its tension behaviour is still weak. The reinforcement of polymer concrete beams in the tension zone with pultruded profiles made of epoxy resin and glass fibers are a good compromise between stiffness and strength. In this paper it is reported an investigation of the creep behaviour of polymer concrete beams reinforced with fiber-reinforced plastics (pultruded) rebars. Four-point bending creep test were performed. An analytical model was applied to verify the experimental results.     

Bond behaviour of high‐strength concrete flexural member under low cyclic fatigue loading

Use of high‐strength concrete can lead to more economical design reducing the material requirements, weight of structure and extended service life of structure. The effect of fatigue loading is more prominent on the structures using high‐strength concrete. Bond between concrete and reinforcing bars is a major factor affecting the performance and sustainability of reinforced concrete structures. Less research is available on the effect of low cyclic fatigue loading on the bond strength of high‐strength concrete. In this research, reinforced concrete beams (1165 × 150 × 225 mm) were tested under low cyclic loading with different stress range levels. It can be concluded that the bond strength of high‐strength concrete is more than for normal‐strength concrete. Low‐cyclic fatigue loading decreased the bond strength under monotonic loading by about 43–45%. Energy dissipation during cycling is found to be good. At higher cycles, energy dissipation decreased because of local damages in front of bar ribs. With the increase in number of cycles, change in slip behaviour was found.     

Comparison between high strength concrete and normal strength concrete subjected to high temperature

Two normal strength concretes and three high strength concretes, with 28-day compressive strengths of 28, 47, 76, 79 and 94 MPa respectively, were used to compare the effect of high temperatures on high strength concrete and normal strength concrete. After being heated to a series of maximum temperatures at 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 1200°C, and maintained for 1 hour, their compressive strengths and tensile splitting strengths were determined. The pore size distribution of hardened cement paste in high strength concrete and normal strength concrete was also investigated. Results show that high strength concrete lost its mechanical strength in a manner similar to or slightly better than that of NSC. The range between 400 and 800°C was critical to the strength loss of concrete with a large percentage of loss of strength. Microstructural study carried out revealed that high temperatures have a coarsening effect on the microstructure of both of high strength concrete and normal strength concrete.     

纤维对超高性能混凝土残余强度及高温爆裂性能的影响

采用普通原材料制备56 d龄期抗压强度为140~160 MPa的空白组超高性能混凝土、钢纤维超高性能混凝土及混杂纤维超高性能混凝土,测定其遭受高温作用后的残余抗压强度和劈裂抗拉强度,并对100%含湿量的混凝土试块进行高温爆裂试验。此外,测定大小2种加热速率对超高性能混凝土高温爆裂行为的影响。结果表明:所配制混凝土的残余抗压强度均随着目标温度的升高呈现先增大再降低的趋势,800℃高温后的残余抗压强度约为常温强度的30%。钢纤维与混杂纤维混凝土的残余劈裂抗拉强度亦呈现先升高再降低的趋势,800℃高温后的残余劈裂抗拉强度分别为常温强度的15.1%和35.4%。空白组混凝土的残余劈裂抗拉强度随着目标温度的升高而单调下降,800℃高温后的强度值约为常温强度的20.3%。7.5℃/min加热速率下,100%含湿量的3种混凝土试块均发生了严重高温爆裂,单掺钢纤维可以改善超高性能混凝土的高温爆裂,但不能避免爆裂的发生,而混杂纤维对超高性能混凝土高温爆裂的改善效果并未显著优于钢纤维。2.5℃/min加热速率下,混杂纤维可避免部分超高性能混凝土试块发生爆裂。      

增大截面法加固高温损伤混凝土柱的试验研究

通过对11根三面加温(800℃)后单面加固的钢筋混凝土小偏心受压试件进行加载试验,分析了不同偏心距、不同强度混凝土加固试件的受力性能,包括试件的承载力、变形规律及破坏特征。结果表明,此类构件的受力性能与普通混凝土加固柱有着显著的差别。试验结果可为分析或设计火灾后增大截面法加固的混凝土结构提供依据。     

Strength and durability of lightweight concrete in hot marine exposure conditions

The paper presents results on strength development and durability of 35 and 50 MPa total lightweight and 50 MPa normal weight concretes exposed to hot marine exposure conditions for a period of two years. An initial water curing of 7 days and subsequent seaside exposure is more beneficial for the strength development of light-weight concrete than it is for normal weight concrete. One day initial curing and subsequent seaside exposure was not very conductive for the strength development of both lightweight and normal weight concretes. The water penetrability of total lightweight concretes was found higher than the normal weight concrete under all the initial curing conditions and on subsequent exposure to the hot-marine environment. In the same vein, the depth of carbonation for the total lightweight concretes was more than that of the normal weght concrete. On the overall, the results suggest that the higher the water penetrability of a given concrete, the more is the penetration of the damaging species like carbon dioxide, sulphate and chloride ions into a concrete.     

Influence of concrete matrix and type of fiber on the shear behavior of self-compacting fiber reinforced concrete beams

Steel fibers are known to improve shear behavior. The Design Codes (Eurocode 2 (EC2), Spanish EHE-08, Model Code 2010 and RILEM approach) have developed formulas to calculate the fiber contribution to shear, mainly focused on standard FRCs, i.e. medium strength concretes with a low content of normal strength steel fibers. However, in real applications other combinations are possible, such as high or medium strength concretes with high strength steel fibers of different lengths and geometry. An experimental program consisting of 12 self-compacting fiber reinforced concrete (SCFRC) I-type beams was carried out. All the beams had the same geometry and fiber content (50 kg/m³), and they were made with two different concrete compressive strength values and five different types of steel fibers and were tested for shear. The main conclusions reached were that the type of fiber substantially affects shear behavior, even when the Design Code formulas indicate similar contributions. The combination of high strength concrete matrixes with low strength fibers does not seem to be efficient. Also, the use of high residual flexural tensile strength values (e.g. f_R3 or f_R4) does not appear to be the most accurate reference value to calculate the beam shear strength in these cases. The present Design Codes consider standard FRCs, but their formulas should be revised for concretes with fibers of different strengths, slenderness and geometry, since these properties substantially affect shear behavior.     

High strength concrete containing natural pozzolan and silica fume

Various combinations of a local natural pozzolan and silica fume were used to produce workable high to very high strength mortars and concretes with a compressive strength in the range of 69–110 MPa. The mixtures were tested for workability, density, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity. The results of this study suggest that certain natural pozzolan–silica fume combinations can improve the compressive and splitting tensile strengths, workability, and elastic modulus of concretes, more than natural pozzolan and silica fume alone. Furthermore, the use of silica fume at 15% of the weight of cement was able to produce relatively the highest strength increase in the presence of about 15% pozzolan than without pozzolan. This study recommends the use of natural pozzolan in combination with silica fume in the production of high strength concrete, and for providing technical and economical advantages in specific local uses in the concrete industry.     

Neural networks analysis of compressive strength of lightweight concrete after high temperatures

When concrete, one of the most important structural materials, is exposed to elevated temperatures generally strength loss is observed. Decrease ratio in the compressive strength depends on many materials and experimental factors. An artificial neural network (ANN) approach was used to model the compressive strength of lightweight and semi lightweight concretes with pumice aggregate subjected to high temperatures. Model inputs were the target temperature, pumice aggregate ratio and heating duration and the output was the compressive strength of pumice aggregate concrete. Data on the compressive strength of pumice aggregate concrete after the effects of high temperatures was obtained from a previous experimental study. The predicted values of the ANN are in accordance with the experimental data. The results indicate that the model can predict the compressive strength with adequate accuracy.     

Three‐dimensional finite‐element simulation of the dynamic Brazilian tests on concrete cylinders

We investigate the feasibility of using cohesive theories of fracture, in conjunction with the direct simulation of fracture and fragmentation, in order to describe processes of tensile damage and compressive crushing in concrete specimens subjected to dynamic loading. We account explicitly for microcracking, the development of macroscopic cracks and inertia, and the effective dynamic behaviour of the material is predicted as an outcome of the calculations. The cohesive properties of the material are assumed to be rate‐independent and are therefore determined by static properties such as the static tensile strength. The ability of model to predict the dynamic behaviour of concrete may be traced to the fact that cohesive theories endow the material with an intrinsic time scale. The particular configuration contemplated in this study is the Brazilian cylinder test performed in a Hopkinson bar. Our simulations capture closely the experimentally observed rate sensitivity of the dynamic strength of concrete in the form of a nearly linear increase in dynamic strength with strain rate. More generally, our simulations give accurate transmitted loads over a range of strain rates, which attests to the fidelity of the model where rate effects are concerned. The model also predicts key features of the fracture pattern such as the primary lens‐shaped cracks parallel to the load plane, as well as the secondary profuse cracking near the supports. The primary cracks are predicted to be nucleated at the centre of the circular bases of the cylinder and to subsequently propagate towards the interior, in accordance with experimental observations. The primary and secondary cracks are responsible for two peaks in the load history, also in keeping with experiment. The results of the simulations also exhibit a size effect. These results validate the theory as it bears on mixed‐mode fracture and fragmentation processes in concrete over a range of strain rates. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.