The Fire Exposure Effect on Hybrid Reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete Columns

This paper offers an experimental investigation of the fiber reinforced reactive powder concrete columns' behavior after exposure to fire and improvements made to improve column resistance against fire. This study is mainly aimed to study the experimental behavior of hybrid reinforced columns produced by reactive concrete powder (RPC) and exposure to the flame of fire at one side and subjected to eccentric load. The experimental methodology consists of sixteen RC columns that organized into four groups based on the variables used in this research: (SF) steel fibers, (PP) polypropylene fibers, (HB) hybrid fibers, (PPC-SF) hybrid cross-section (steel fiber reactive powder concrete core with polypropylene fiber reactive powder concrete cover). All columns were tested under 60 mm eccentric load and the burn columns were exposed to fire for different duration (1, 1.5 and 2) hours. The results indicated that (SF-RPC, PP-RPC, HB-RPC, PPC-SFRPC) columns exposed to a fire flame for the period 2 hours, lost from their load capacity by about (54.39, 40.03, 34.69 and 30.68) % respectively. The main conclusion of this paper is that the best fire resistance of the column obtained when using a hybrid cross-section (steel fiber reactive powder concrete core with polypropylene fiber reactive powder concrete cover)

Behavior of One – Way Concrete Slabs with Edge Beams Reinforced/Strengthened by CFRP Rods under Uniformly Distributed Load

This research presents an experimental investigation on the flexural behavior of eight one-way concrete slabs with edge beams under uniformly distributed load. The models are reinforced or strengthened using CFRP rods and two control models reinforced by deformed steel bars.The dimensions of one-way slab is 1.05 m width, 1.25 m length and 0.1 m thick., while each edge beam is of length 1.25m and depth 0.2m by width 0.1m. Different reinforcement ratios were used. The models were tested under universal testing machine and supported at corners on four stiff steel columns. The models were tested up to failure to study their flexural behavior including load-deflection curves, crack patterns and mode of failure. Among the conclusions obtained, the models reinforced by CFRP rods can attain flexural strength higher than those reinforced by deformed steel bars of same amount. This increase is about (38-44%)

Effects of Steel Fibers Geometry on the Mechanical Properties of SIFCON Concrete

This research aims to shed light on the effect of steel fiber shape, length, diameter, and aspect ratio on the mechanical properties of slurry infiltration fiber reinforced concrete (SIFCON). This study comprised of casting and testing three groups of SIFCON specimens with 6% fiber volume fraction. The first group was reinforced with micro steel fiber, other reinforced by hook end steel fibers, while the last group of specimens reinforced by mixing two shape of steel fiber as hybrid fiber (3% micro steel fiber +3% hook end steel fiber). Silica fume was used as a partial replacement (10%) by weight of cement. 3.7% super plasticizer was used to make the slurry liquid enough to penetrate through the fiber network, while the w/c ratio kept constant at 0.33. It was found from the results achieved that the compressive strength, static modulus of elasticity, splitting tensile strength and toughness are extremely affected by the geometry of fibers because the network of fibers formed and their density depends on the size and shape of fibers. Where the values of micro steel fibers are far outweighing the values of hooked end fibers. It was also deduced from empiricism results that combining long and short fibers gives excellent results

Experimental Study on the Behavior of Axially Loaded Reinforced Concrete Square Columns Strengthened with SIFCON Shell

Slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) is an advanced generation of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) with higher fiber content. SIFCON offers excellent potential for use in areas that require high ductility and impact resistance, particularly when designing seismic retrofits and repairing or strengthening structural reinforced concrete members. This study investigated the behavior of square normal strength concrete (NSC) columns of grade M35 strengthened with SIFCON shell and compared them with unstrengthen NSC. The effect of different SIFCON shell thicknesses (2 and 3) cm, fiber type and volume fraction (4 and 6%), and tie spacing (8 and 16) cm were studied. The fiber types employed were polypropylene and hooked-end steel fiber. Eleven columns were cast and tested for the current investigation in two groups, where the first group (control specimens) consists of two unstrengthen NSC columns and one square NSC column strengthened with a 2 cm SIFCON shell with a 6% steel fiber ratio. The second group comprises eight NSC columns strengthened with a hybrid fiber SIFCON shell. The NSC square columns had dimensions of (8x8x80) cm. 3 cm SIFCON shell thickness was observed to evolve the strengthen columns' load-carrying capacity and energy absorption. The maximum load achieved is about 223% as compared with unstrengthened NSC columns. The energy absorption was about 16 times that of the control. At the same time, the stiffness of strengthened columns is less than that of NSC columns

Behavior of One – Way Concrete Slabs with Edge Beams Reinforced/Strengthened by CFRP Rods under Uniformly Distributed Load

This research presents an experimental investigation on the flexural behavior of eight one-way concrete slabs with edge beams under uniformly distributed load. The models are reinforced or strengthened using CFRP rods and two control models reinforced by deformed steel bars.The dimensions of one-way slab is 1.05 m width, 1.25 m length and 0.1 m thick., while each edge beam is of length 1.25m and depth 0.2m by width 0.1m. Different reinforcement ratios were used. The models were tested under universal testing machine and supported at corners on four stiff steel columns. The models were tested up to failure to study their flexural behavior including load-deflection curves, crack patterns and mode of failure. Among the conclusions obtained, the models reinforced by CFRP rods can attain flexural strength higher than those reinforced by deformed steel bars of same amount. This increase is about (38-44%)

Experimental investigation of two-way concrete slabs reinforced by perforated steel plates under concentrated load

This research experimentally investigates the effect of using the perforated steel plate instead of steel bars as a reinforcing system in two-way concrete slabs. The study consists of casting four slabs using self-compacting concrete. Three slabs are reinforced by a perforated steel plate and one slab is reinforced by traditional bar reinforcement. The amount of steel in both types of reinforcement is equal. The slabs are tested under a monotonic concentrated load at their middle point. The results show a significant enhancement in behavior. The ultimate load increased about 43% to 76%, depending on the size of the openings. Moreover, the final crack width in all slabs reinforced by a perforated steel plate was smaller than in the slab reinforced by a traditional steel bar. The results of this study may be used in future research to introduce a method that will lead to an improvement in the overall behavior of two-way concrete slabs

Experimental Study on the Behavior of Axially Loaded Reinforced Concrete Square Columns Strengthened with SIFCON Shell

Slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) is an advanced generation of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) with higher fiber content. SIFCON offers excellent potential for use in areas that require high ductility and impact resistance, particularly when designing seismic retrofits and repairing or strengthening structural reinforced concrete members. This study investigated the behavior of square normal strength concrete (NSC) columns of grade M35 strengthened with SIFCON shell and compared them with unstrengthen NSC. The effect of different SIFCON shell thicknesses (2 and 3) cm, fiber type and volume fraction (4 and 6%), and tie spacing (8 and 16) cm were studied. The fiber types employed were polypropylene and hooked-end steel fiber. Eleven columns were cast and tested for the current investigation in two groups, where the first group (control specimens) consists of two unstrengthen NSC columns and one square NSC column strengthened with a 2 cm SIFCON shell with a 6% steel fiber ratio. The second group comprises eight NSC columns strengthened with a hybrid fiber SIFCON shell. The NSC square columns had dimensions of (8x8x80) cm. 3 cm SIFCON shell thickness was observed to evolve the strengthen columns' load-carrying capacity and energy absorption. The maximum load achieved is about 223% as compared with unstrengthened NSC columns. The energy absorption was about 16 times that of the control. At the same time, the stiffness of strengthened columns is less than that of NSC columns

Rehabilitation of Corrosion-Defected RC Beam-Column Members Using Patch Repair Technique

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of patch repair to rehabilitate corrosion-defected reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column members when exposed to bending moments and axial forces. Ten RC beam-column members were tested under combined constant axial force and four-point transverse load up to failure. Two levels of the constant axial force were applied at either 15 kN or 30 kN (i.e., 25% or 50% of the ultimate design load of the control specimen). The accelerated corrosion process was used to get steel reinforcement corrosion inside the concrete of three levels, 0% and approximately 5% and 20%, according to Faraday’s law. The patch repair technique of cleaning or replacing corroded steel bars and replacing the damaged concrete cover with new mortar was used in this study. The experimental results of the corrosion-defected specimens showed a significant deterioration in the structural performance and the integrity by reducing ultimate capacity, stiffness, serviceability, and ductility. Additionally, the effect of increasing axial force was recorded clearly by reducing the adverse effect of corrosion, especially for defected specimens with high corrosion level. The deterioration of corrosion reinforcement could be overcome when using a patch repair technique, which restored the undamaged state and was shown clearly by using a patch repair technique with replacing corroded steel bars

RPC Effect of Crude Oil Products on the Mechanical Characteristics of Reactive-Powder and Normal-Strength Concrete

This study includes detailed information on the mechanical characteristics of the hardened concrete mix for normal concrete (NSC) and reactive powder concrete (RPC) after exposure to crude oil products. Two types of crude oil products (kerosene and gas oil) were investigated after exposure for a period of 180 days. The experimental program consisted of three sets of NSC and RPC specimens; after curing all concrete specimens for 28 days and 2 days to dry in the air, the first set of specimens was immersed in kerosene for 180 days and the second set was immersed in gas oil for the same age, while the third set was left in the air as a reference set (cured normally for 28 days and tested at the age of 180 days). The results showed that the mechanical characteristics of the RPC mix were not highly affected after exposure to each type of crude oil products, where it lost about (3.41–6.32 %) compared with reference RPC mix. While the NSC mix lost about (13.82–21.95 %) of its mechanical characteristics compared with reference NSC mix after exposure to crude oil products for the same period