Influence of steel fiber types on residual mechanical properties and explosive spalling of hybrid fiber reinforced ultra-high performance concrete: Optimization and evaluations

To investigate the influence of steel fiber on improving the high-temperature resistance of hybrid fiber-reinforced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), four types of UHPC specimens were prepared. The residual strength and fracture energy of all UHPCs were determined after exposure to varying high temperatures, and internal temperature in the specimens were also measured. Additionally, explosive spalling tests were performed on specimens with different moisture contents. The results indicate that the residual mechanical properties of UHPC initially increase and subsequently decrease as the target temperature increases. Notable differences in thermal conductivity were observed among the tested UHPC specimens. As the moisture content of the specimens increased, the likelihood and severity of explosive spalling in the specimens increased. Corrugated high-strength steel fibers, measuring 35 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter, are highly effective at preventing explosive spalling of UHPC, and high-temperature treated recycled steel fiber from tires also exhibits better performance than other two types of steel fiber. High tensile strength of steel fiber and its distinctive corrugated appearance can be the primary contributing factors. Furthermore, two established computational models which demonstrated a significant level of congruence were employed for evaluating explosive spalling and anti-spalling properties of UHPC specimens. This suggests that cracking resistance provided by steel fiber plays an important role in preventing the explosive spalling of UHPC, emphasizing the importance of exploring specific steel fiber based on its appearance and tensile strength

Influence of Chloride-Ion Adsorption Agent on Chloride Ions in Concrete and Mortar

The influence of a chloride-ion adsorption agent (Cl agent in short), composed of zeolite, calcium aluminate hydrate and calcium nitrite, on the ingress of chloride ions into concrete and mortar has been experimentally studied. The permeability of concrete was measured, and the chloride ion content in mortar was tested. The experimental results reveal that the Cl agent could adsorb chloride ions effectively, which had penetrated into concrete and mortar. When the Cl agent was used at a dosage of 6% by mass of cementitious materials in mortar, the resistance to the penetration of chloride ions could be improved greatly, which was more pronounced when a combination of the Cl agent and fly ash or slag was employed. Such an effect is not the result of the low permeability of the mortar, but might be a result of the interaction between the Cl agent and the chloride ions penetrated into the mortar. There are two possible mechanisms for the interaction between the Cl agent and chloride ion ingress. One is the reaction between calcium aluminate hydrate in the Cl agent and chloride ions to form Friedel’s salt, and the other one is that calcium aluminate hydrate reacts with calcium nitrite to form AFm during the early-age hydration of mortar and later the NO2− in AFm is replaced by chloride ions, which then penetrate into the mortar, also forming Friedel’s salt. More research is needed to confirm the mechanisms

Mechanical Properties and Anti-Spalling Behavior of Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Recycled and Industrial Steel Fibers

Experimental investigations on the mechanical properties of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) incorporating two types of recycled steel fiber processed from waste tires and three types of industrial steel fiber were carried out for comparison. Mechanical properties of UHPC include compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, fracture energy, and elastic modulus. Their explosive spalling behaviors under high temperatures were also investigated. The results show that all types of steel fiber exhibit a beneficial effect on the mechanical properties and the anti-spalling behavior of UHPC, except that recycled steel fiber with rubber attached (RSFR) has a slightly negative effect on the compressive strength of UHPC. Compared to industrial steel fibers, recycled steel fibers have a more significant influence on improving the splitting tensile strength and fracture energy of UHPC, and the improvement of RSFR was much higher than that of recycled steel fiber without rubber (RSF). UHPC that incorporates industrial hooked-end steel fiber (35 mm in length and 0.55 mm in diameter) exhibits the best resistance to explosive spalling, and the second is the RSF reinforced UHPC. The positive relationship between the fracture energy and the anti-spalling behavior of steel fiber reinforced UHPC can be presented. These results suggest that recycled steel fiber can be a toughening material and substitute for industrial steel fibers to be used in ultra-high performance concrete, especially RSFR

Numerical analysis of heating rate effect on spalling of high-performance concrete under high temperature conditions

High-performance concrete (HPC) is vulnerable to spalling under high temperature conditions and it has been found that the heating rate can exert a tremendous effect on spalling of HPC. To prevent HPC from spalling, the heating rate effect should be understood. However, quantitative analyses are still lacking and the heating rate effect has not been well interpreted so far. In this paper, a numerical analysis of the heating rate effect on spalling of HPC is presented. Based on the experimental results reported in the literature, the spalling behavior of cubic HPC specimens under fire heating and slow heating with a heating rate of 5 °C/min is modeled. With a meso-level thermo-chemo-hydro-mechanical analysis, the temperature gradient induced thermal stress and the mechanical effect of build-up vapor pressure are investigated. The results show that, at different heating rates, the spalling mechanisms are different. Finally, possible manners and mechanisms of spalling are discussed.Materials and Environmen

Experimental Research on Fire Resistance of Reactive Powder Concrete

An experimental investigation was conducted on fire resistance of reactive powder concrete (RPC), mainly on explosive spalling occurrence and residual mechanical properties exposed to high temperature. The residual mechanical properties measured include compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, and fracture energy. RPC was prepared using cement, sand, silica fume, steel fiber, and polypropylene fiber. After subjected to high temperatures from 200 to 600°C, the residual mechanical properties were determined. RPC spalled considerably under high temperature. After exposure to high temperatures from 200 to 400°C, mechanical properties were enhanced more or less, which can be attributed to further hydration of cementitious materials activated by elevated temperature. Compressive strength started to decrease after exposure to 400°C, but tensile splitting strength and fracture energy started to decrease after exposure to 200°C. Incorporating hybrid fiber (polypropylene fiber and steel fiber) is a promising way to enhance resistance of RPC to explosive spalling, which should be a main objective for improving its fire resistance

Mechanical Properties of Recycled Aggregate Concrete at Low and High Water/Binder Ratios

This paper presents an experimental research on mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) at low and high water/binder (W/B) ratios. Concrete at two W/B ratios (0.255 and 0.586) was broken into recycled concrete aggregates (RCA). A type of thermal treatment was employed to remove mortar attached to RCA. The RAC at a certain (low or high) W/B ratio was prepared with RCA made from demolished concrete of the same W/B ratio. Tests were conducted on aggregate to measure water absorption and crushing values and on both RAC and natural aggregate concrete (NAC) to measure compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, and fracture energy. The mechanical properties of RAC were lower than those of NAC at an identical mix proportion. Moreover, the heating process caused a decrease in compressive strength and fracture energy in the case of low W/B ratio but caused an increase in those properties in the case of high W/B ratio. The main type of flaw in RCA from concrete at a low W/B ratio should be microcracks in gravel, and the main type of flaw in RCA from concrete at a high W/B ratio should be attached mortar

Mechanical Properties of Recycled Aggregate Concrete at Low and High Water/Binder Ratios

This paper presents an experimental research on mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) at low and high water/binder (W/B) ratios. Concrete at two W/B ratios (0.255 and 0.586) was broken into recycled concrete aggregates (RCA). A type of thermal treatment was employed to remove mortar attached to RCA. The RAC at a certain (low or high) W/B ratio was prepared with RCA made from demolished concrete of the same W/B ratio. Tests were conducted on aggregate to measure water absorption and crushing values and on both RAC and natural aggregate concrete (NAC) to measure compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, and fracture energy. The mechanical properties of RAC were lower than those of NAC at an identical mix proportion. Moreover, the heating process caused a decrease in compressive strength and fracture energy in the case of low W/B ratio but caused an increase in those properties in the case of high W/B ratio. The main type of flaw in RCA from concrete at a low W/B ratio should be microcracks in gravel, and the main type of flaw in RCA from concrete at a high W/B ratio should be attached mortar

The effects of air entrainment and pozzolans on frost resistance of 50-60 MPa grade concrete

An experimental investigation was conducted using an air-entraining agent and pozzolans such as silica fume and fly ash, to meet the design strengths 50 and 60 MPa, as well as frost resistance to 300 cycles of freezing and thawing. Among a series of concretes of grade 50 or 60 MPa, only a small part could resist 300 cycles of freezing and thawing. It was demonstrated that frost resistance might be independent on strength of concrete. By means of mercury intrusion porosimeter, the pore structure characteristics of six concretes were identified. Air entrainment, no matter whether the pozzolans were used, caused an increase in cumulative pore volume, and also an increase in the mean pore size. It is revealed that, as to concrete at a 0.32 water/binder ratio, air entrainment should be a main approach to enhance frost resistance, although the pozzolans could be used to increase long-term strength of concrete. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved