Influence of confinement on high strength concrete behavior

An experimental program has been made in order to study the confined concrete behavior when its strength changes from traditional values to high strength values and with confinement levels ranging from 0% to values higher than 4%. The specimen shape and size have also been included as variables. With the data experimentally achieved, the parameters that define the stress-strain curve for concrete were adjusted using a statistical methodology that gives us suitable approximation levels. A stress-strain curve model is proposed, which lets us know precisely the confined concrete behavior up to high strain levels and analyze the material ductility. The achieved improvement, thanks to the confinement, was quantified regarding the parameters that define the concrete behavior, particularly the maximum strength, the strain at the peak and the ductility.

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Résumé Un programme expérimental a été développé pour étudier le comportement du béton confiné avec une teneur en armature transversale de 0% à 4%. L'étude analyse des bétons de résistance entre 25 MPa et 100 MPa. D'autres variables ont été la forme et la dimension des éprouvettes. Avec les résultats expérimentaux obtenus on a réalisé une analyse statistique pour définir les paramètres de la courbe Contrainte-déformation avec une bonne corrélation. On a proposé un modèle de courbe Contrainte-déformation qui montre le comportement du béton à hautes performances confiné jusqu'à des niveaux de déformation très élevés, et qui permet l'analyse de la ductilité du matériau. Les performances obtenues grace au confinement ont été quantifiées d'après les paramètres qui définissent le comportement du béton, en particulier de sa résistance, de la déformation au pic et sa ductilité.

     

Adequately FRP confined reinforced concrete columns under axial compressive monotonic or cyclic loading

The study presents the experimental behavior of reinforced concrete square section specimens, externally confined by carbon or glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) sheets. The columns are subjected to axial compressive monotonic or repeated load-unload cycles gradually increasing up to failure. The research focuses on columns with longitudinal bars which are critical to premature buckling while examining their effect on lower limit cases of strengthening through FRP confinement. Experiments include also plain concrete FRP confined columns and columns with bars adequately supported by transverse steel reinforcement for comparison. External FRP strengthening covers a wide range of volumetric mechanical FRP confinement ratios allowing comparative investigations. A significant variation in the behavior of FRP confined concrete comes up when bars are unstable, for a light external strengthening scheme as well as for monotonic or cyclic loading. The lower limits proposed by existing recommendations for adequate FRP confinement strengthening of columns are examined.     

Influence of curing regimes on compressive strength of ultra high performance concrete

The present paper is aimed to identify an efficient curing regime for ultra high performance concrete (UHPC), to achieve a target compressive strength more than 150 MPa, using indigenous materials. The thermal regime plays a vital role due to the limited fineness of ingredients and low water/binder ratio. By activation of the reaction kinetics, the effectiveness of the binder is enhanced which leads to improvements in mechanical as well as durability properties. The curing cycle employed are ambient air curing, water curing and hot air curing. The specimens were exposed to thermal regime at (90°C/150°C/200°C) for duration of 24, 48 or 72 hours at the age of 3rd and 7th day followed with air curing or water curing till 28 days. The results showed a marked difference in compressive strength ranging from 217 to 142 MPa with change in curing regimes. The samples when thermally cured at the age of 3rd and 7th day produced an average ultimate strength of 217–152 MPa and 196–150 MPa, respectively.     

Influence of overlap configuration on compressive behavior of CFRP-confined normal- and high-strength concrete

This paper presents the findings of an experimental investigation on the effect of overlap configuration on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-confined normal- and high-strength concrete. A total of 33 specimens were prepared and tested under monotonic axial compression. All specimens were cylinders with 152 mm diameter and 305 mm height and confined by CFRP tubes. Two different concrete mixes were examined, with average compressive strengths of 52.0 and 84.7 MPa. The effect of overlap configuration was examined by manufacturing the specimens with different properties at the overlap region including overlap length, continuity and distribution. Axial and lateral behavior was recorded to observe the axial stress–strain relationship and hoop strain behavior for concentric compression. Ultimate axial and lateral conditions are tabulated and stress–strain curves have been provided. Detailed plots of hoop strain development and lateral confinement pressure at ultimate are presented. The results indicate that FRP overlap length has no significant influence on strain enhancement ratio (ε_cu/ε_co), but an increase in overlap length leads to a slight increase in strength enhancement ratio (f′_cc/f′_co), with these observations equally applicable to both continuously and discontinuously wrapped specimens. The results also indicate that continuity of the FRP sheet in the overlap region has some influence on the effectiveness of FRP confinement. Furthermore, it was observed that the distribution of FRP overlap regions for discontinuously wrapped specimens can influence the axial compressive behavior of these specimens in certain overlap configurations. Finally, it is found that the distribution of lateral confining pressure around specimen perimeter becomes less uniform for specimens with higher concrete strengths and those manufactured with overlap regions that are not evenly distributed.     

Influence of FRP wrapping techniques on the compressive behavior of concrete prisms

Results of an experimental investigation on the compressive behavior of concrete prisms with square cross-section, externally wrapped with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) sheets are presented. The effects of the following parameters were analyzed: local reinforcement at the corners and continuous layers; horizontal and vertical discontinuous strips; number of continuous layers—length of specimens.An analytical model is proposed to determine the maximum bearing capacity of compressed concrete members with square cross-section and externally wrapped with FRP for the different configurations examined, and also able to consider the strength reduction with the length increase of concrete members. Analytical results are then compared with the experimental data available in the literature, showing good agreement.     

Behavior of square and rectangular ultra high-strength concrete-filled FRP tubes under axial compression

This paper presents results of an experimental program undertaken to investigate the behavior of square and rectangular ultra high-strength concrete (UHSC)-filled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes (UHSCFFTs) under axial compression. The effects of the amount of confinement, cross-sectional aspect ratio and corner radius were investigated experimentally through the tests of 24 concrete-filled FRP tubes (CFFTs) that were manufactured using unidirectional carbon fiber sheets and UHSC with 108 MPa average compressive strength. As the first experimental investigation on the axial compressive behavior of square and rectangular UHSCFFTs, the results of the study reported in this paper allows a number of significant conclusions to be drawn. Of primary importance, test results indicate that sufficiently confined square and rectangular UHSCFFTs can exhibit highly ductile behavior. The results also indicate that confinement effectiveness of FRP tubes increases with an increase in corner radius and as sectional aspect ratio approaches unity. It is found that UHSCFFTs having tubes of low confinement effectiveness may experience significant strength loss along the initial portions of the second branches on their stress–strain curves. Furthermore, it is observed that the behavior of UHSCFFTs at this region differs from their normal-strength concrete counterparts and is more sensitive to the effectiveness of confining tube. The second half of the paper presents the performance assessment of the existing FRP-confined concrete models in predicting the ultimate conditions of the HSC and UHSCFFTs. The results of this assessment demonstrate that the existing models provide unconservative estimates for specimens with higher concrete strengths. To address this, a new model that was developed on the basis of a comprehensive experimental test database and is applicable to both NSC and HSC of strengths up to 120 MPa is proposed. The model comparisons demonstrate that the proposed model provides significantly improved predictions of the ultimate conditions of FRP-confined HSC compared to the existing models.     

Critical parameters for the compressive strength of high-strength concrete

This study investigates the influence of several material properties underlying the failure mechanism of high-strength concrete (HSC) under uniaxial compression. An experimental-numerical characterization of a single inclusion block (SIB) – an idealized composite comprising of a granite cylindrical core embedded within a high-strength mortar (HSM) matrix – is first carried out. Parametric studies are next conducted with the calibrated SIB model, to identify the critical parameters governing the failure of the idealized composite. The qualitative understanding obtained from the SIB is then utilized to design a series of experiments, exploring the extent of influence of the identified critical parameters on the compressive strength of HSC. Complementary experimental data in literature are also examined. For the range of specimens considered, it is found that the lateral strain capacity of mortar matrix has the most influence on the compressive strength of HSC.     

Influence of edge sharpness on the strength of square concrete columns confined with FRP composite laminates

This paper presents the experimental and analytical results of the study carried out to investigate the influence of the radius of the cross-sectional corners (edges) on the strength of small scale square concrete column specimens confined with FRP composite laminates. The experimental part of the study was achieved by testing 20 specimens under uniaxial compression. Depending on the selected radius of the edges, the section varied from square to circular. Intermediate radii were about 1/6, 1/4, and 1/3 of the side dimension. The sharpest square specimens had a corner radius of 5 mm to make composite application easier and to avoid a premature rupture of the composite. The results show that smoothening the edges of square cross-section plays a significant role in delaying the rupture of the FRP composite at these edges, and the efficiency of FRP confinement is directly related to the radius of the cross-section edges. A modified analytical model is presented to predict the strength of FRP-confined square as well as circular sections. The predicted results are found to be in excellent agreement with the measured ones.     

Behavior and modeling of confined concrete cylinders in axial compression using FRP rings

This study suggests a secondary dense lateral reinforcement for reinforced concrete (RC) columns that are located between the primary lateral reinforcement and concrete surface, which are used to delay the buckling of longitudinal reinforcement and increase the ductility of RC columns. ‘Dense’ means that the spacing of the lateral reinforcement is smaller than the maximum gravel size. This study conducted axial compressive tests on concrete cylinders confined by dense reinforcement in order to improve the effectiveness of the dense lateral reinforcement. FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) rings were used for the reinforcement since they are corrosion resistant. The dense reinforcing method with FRP rings can successfully increase the peak strength of the concrete and the failure strain. The stress–strain curves of the confined concrete became almost bilinear with hardening behavior, which were similar to that of the concrete confined by the jackets of FRP sheets. This study also provides models of stress–strain in an axial direction and lateral strain. Based on the models, this study analyzes the confining effectiveness of the FRP rings on concrete.     

高强箍筋约束超高性能混凝土柱轴压性能

通过5根高强箍筋约束超高性能混凝土(Ultra high performance concrete,UHPC)柱及4根普通箍筋约束UHPC柱的轴心受压试验,对其承载力、破坏形态、钢筋应变及应力-应变曲线进行了研究,并结合延性、韧性指数分析了体积配箍率、箍筋强度、箍筋间距及形式对约束UHPC轴压性能的影响。结果表明:所有约束柱均表现为延性破坏,高强箍筋可减轻约束UHPC的破坏程度;高体积率、小间距、形式复杂的高强箍筋约束UHPC,约束效率高,承载力及变形能力提高显著,轴压性能较理想;体积配箍率对轴压性能的影响程度大于箍筋强度;影响体积配箍率变化的因素中,箍筋间距对改善约束性能的贡献最大,依次是箍筋形式和直径;高强箍筋可有效约束UHPC,在提高约束UHPC强度、变形性能及残余承载力方面明显优于普通箍筋;纵筋微曲会加速保护层剥离,密配高强箍筋能有效延迟纵筋屈曲,显著提高约束性能;纵筋微曲会削弱高强箍筋对核心UHPC的约束效果,建议采用高强纵筋与高强箍筋组合。在试验的基础上给出了能较准确预测箍筋约束UHPC柱承载力的计算式。      

传感器测试FRP约束混凝土轴压短柱的核心区应力

提出了一种使用水泥基压电陶瓷传感器测试混凝土轴压短柱应力的新方法。将压电传感器埋入混凝土矩形短柱核心区,测试了纤维增强复合材料约束前后混凝土短柱的轴向动态疲劳载荷,建立了传感器输出信号与混凝土短柱核心区应力之间的数值模型,并将理论计算应力值与由模型推导出的应力值进行对比。结果表明:模型推导应力值与理论计算应力值基本吻合,验证了使用压电传感器测试动态载荷作用下混凝土短柱应力这一新方法的可行性。     

新型超高强Al-Zn-Mg-Cu合金热压缩变形行为及微观组织特征

利用Gleeble-1500热模拟试验机对新型超高强Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr-Sc合金进行高温热压缩实验,研究该合金在变形温度370～460℃、应变速率0.001～10s^-1条件下的流变应力以及变形过程中的显微组织。结果表明:流变应力在变形初期随着应变的增加迅速增大,出现峰值应力后逐渐下降并达到稳态,流变应力随着应变速率的增大而增大,随着变形温度的升高而下降;流变应力可以采用双曲正弦形式的关系来描述,通过线性拟合计算出该材料的形变激活能等参数,获得流变应力的本构方程。随着变形温度升高和应变速率降低,原始晶粒变形程度显著增加,再结晶分数明显上升。     

废弃瓷砖粉对超高性能混凝土的抗压强度影响规律与机制

超高性能混凝土极低的水胶比和较高的水泥用量,使其在广泛应用中面临着水泥基体高自收缩和高成本等问题,而使用工业副产品或废弃物取代部分水泥是有效的解决方法之一。废品瓷砖已成为一种大宗工业废弃物,应用瓷砖粉在超高性能混凝土中可有效地解决水泥的高消耗和废弃瓷砖的堆积问题。因此,使用瓷砖粉取代水泥质量的10wt%、15wt%、20wt%和25wt%来制备新型绿色低碳超高性能混凝土,主要研究了瓷砖粉对超高性能混凝土抗压强度的影响规律,并采用修正Andreasen堆积模型、XRD分析、TG/DTG、SEM观察探讨了瓷砖粉对超高性能混凝土的改性机制,同时对瓷砖粉超高性能混凝土的环境足迹和成本进行了分析。研究结果表明,瓷砖粉的掺入对超高性能混凝土各龄期抗压影响在±10%以内,但对7~28天和28~60天的抗压强度发展影响显著,在25wt%掺量时抗压强度增长率分别达到了104.6%和51.8%。这主要是由于瓷砖粉的掺入提高了超高性能混凝土的堆积密实度,发生二次水化反应并生成了低钙硅比的水化硅酸钙凝胶,提高了水泥的水化程度,降低了界面过渡区的宽度。并且由环境影响和成本计算可知,瓷砖粉可有效降低超高性能混凝土的能耗、CO₂排放量和成本。      

Effect of steel and synthetic fibers on flexural behavior of high-strength concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars

Six high-strength concrete beam specimens reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars were constructed and tested. Three of the beams were reinforced with carbon FRP (CFRP) bars and the other three beams were reinforced with glass FRP (GFRP) bars as flexural reinforcements. Steel fibers and polyolefin synthetic fibers were used as reinforcing discrete fibers. An investigation was performed on the influence of the addition of fibers on load-carrying capacity, cracking response, and ductility. In addition, the test results were compared with the predictions for the ultimate flexural moment. The addition of fibers increased the first-cracking load, ultimate flexural strength, and ductility, and also mitigated the large crack width of the FRP bar-reinforced concrete beams.     

New formulation for compressive strength of CFRP confined concrete cylinders using linear genetic programming

This paper proposes a new approach for the formulation of compressive strength of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) confined concrete cylinders using a promising variant of genetic programming (GP) namely, linear genetic programming (LGP). The LGP-based models are constructed using two different sets of input data. The first set of inputs comprises diameter of concrete cylinder, unconfined concrete strength, tensile strength of CFRP laminate and total thickness of utilized CFRP layers. The second set includes unconfined concrete strength and ultimate confinement pressure which are the most widely used parameters in the CFRP confinement existing models. The models are developed based on experimental results collected from the available literature. The results demonstrate that the LGP-based formulas are able to predict the ultimate compressive strength of concrete cylinders with an acceptable level of accuracy. The LGP results are also compared with several CFRP confinement models presented in the literature and found to be more accurate in nearly all of the cases. Moreover, the formulas evolved by LGP are quite short and simple and seem to be practical for use. A subsequent parametric study is also carried out and the trends of the results have been confirmed via some previous laboratory studies.     

FRP筋/珊瑚混凝土柱轴心受压承载力

对8根塑料纤维增强树脂复合材料(FRP)筋/珊瑚混凝土轴心受压柱和1根钢筋/珊瑚混凝土轴心受压柱进行了承载能力试验,试验参数包括配筋率、箍筋间距、长细比和筋材种类。结果表明:相同配筋率下,FRP筋/珊瑚混凝土柱和钢筋/珊瑚混凝土柱的破坏机制不同,但受力性能良好;相同构件尺寸下,增大纵筋直径导致纵筋与混凝土保护层的黏结性能降低;减小箍筋间距有利于提高构件的延性;长细比越大的构件承载力越低。然后,基于筋材压缩性能试验的数据分析及参考文献的对比探讨,建议碳纤维增强树脂复合材料(CFRP)筋名义屈服强度取值为0.34f_y(f_y为筋材的极限抗压强度),对应的理论值与试验结果相近,从而提出适用于CFRP筋/珊瑚混凝土柱的理论计算,为工程实践提供参考依据。      

Flexural ductility of high-strength concrete columns with minimal confinement

The use of high-strength concrete (HSC) instead of normal-strength concrete (NSC) in columns has the advantage of allowing the column size to be reduced and is thus becoming popular. However, since HSC is more brittle than NSC, its use could result in undesirable brittle failure. To evaluate the ductility of columns, nonlinear moment–curvature analysis taking into account the stress-path dependence of the steel reinforcement is required. Based on such analysis, a parametric study has been conducted to investigate the effects of various factors on the ductility of columns. The results revealed that the effect of concrete strength is dependent on the axial stress level (axial load to area ratio) and axial load level (axial load to capacity ratio). At the same axial stress level, the use of HSC has little or basically no adverse effect on the ductility but if the same axial load level is maintained to reduce the column size, the use of HSC would significantly reduce the ductility. Finally, two formulas for direct evaluation of the ductility of columns are developed.     

Prediction of compressive strength of concrete

The paper, which summarises a survey and an analysis of empirical strength laws, was undertaken with a view to formulating a strength law interrelating the water-cement ratio-which determines the porosity of the hardened cement-paste-and Powers's Gel/Space ratio, giving the relative strength of the cement stone. Accordingly, a graphical procedure is given for predicting the strength of ordinary concretes for a given water-cement ratio and lean air-entrained concretes for a given “equivalent” water-cement ratio. Compressive strength may also be predicted by means of numerical formulae.