Papers by Author: Christopher K.Y. Leung

Abstract: This paper studies the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the mechanical properties and durability of polymer latex-modified cement mortar. Latex-modified cementitious materials possess many advantages. However, reduction of mechanical properties due to the introduction of an amorphous structure within the cement composite has limited its application. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalised with carboxyl group (MWCNTs-COOH), ranging from 0% to 0.15% by weight, are added into mortar modified with 0.6 wt.% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) latex. Mechanical properties including compressive strength and flexural strength are measured. Water absorption test and rapid chloride diffusion test are performed to assess durability performance. Results indicate considerable increase of compressive strength and flexural strength, as well as improvement in durability, by the addition of MWCNTs-COOH. With Scanning Electron Microscopy conducted on both the latex solution and cement composite, the microstructural changes resulted from MWCNT addition are revealed.

Abstract: Pseudo-ductile cementitious composites (PDCC) are a new type of special discontinuous random-fibers reinforced cementitious composites with high tensile ductility achieved by the uniform formation of multiple cracks along the length of the specimen. In the present study, rubber particle was introduced into the cementitious composites as the artificial flaw. The tensile properties, compressive strength, water permeability and shrinkage of PDCC with various volume contents and size of rubber particles were measured. The test results show that incorporation of rubber particle will reduce the compressive strength and first cracking strength of PDCC. With increased size and volume of rubber particles, the compressive strength is increased. To achieve maximum tensile ductility, optimum rubber content and size should be employed. Water permeability is found to be similar for various PDCC mixes with or without rubber addition. The content of rubber particle plays a significant role on the dry shrinkage of PDCC, while the particle size only has a slight effect.

Abstract: In this paper, a novel constitutive model of concrete has been proposed by introducing a new parameter, namely, cracking Poisson’s ratio (νcr), to account for the effect of localization due to cracking. By fitting the curve between the dimensionless strain (ε/εpr) and cracking Poisson’s ratio (νcr), νcr can be expressed as an 3rd order polynomial function of dimensionless longitudinal strain (ε/εpr). The constitutive model for the softening regime can then be proposed with the parameters of dimensionless strain and cracking Poisson’s ratio. Finally, Validity of the proposed model is verified by the test results of cylinder specimens of C30.

Abstract: Ultra-high toughness cementitious composite (UHTCC) exhibits the pseudo-hardening feature when subjected to tensile load and has high tensile strain capacity of normally up to 3%. Also, UHTCC has a unique cracking behavior. From cracking up to ultimate tensile strain capacity, the crack width in UHTCC could be still kept below 100m. This paper presents the utilization of UHTCC to replace a layer of concrete surrounding the main flexural reinforcement in ordinary RC beam to improve flexural performance especially beam durability as UHTCC displays high toughness and shows multiple fine cracks. Analytical closed-form formulae for flexural capacity, curvature and deformation of UHTCC/RC composite beam derived based on the elastic beam theory is presented first. Subsequently, experimental results of two groups of different reinforcement ratios of UHTCC/RC beams and control RC beams tested under flexural loading to verify the feasibility of analytical formulae as well as to examine the performance improvement of UHTCC/RC composite beam over the control beam is presented. Moment-curvature curves and load-mid span displacement curves for the tested beams are compared with the theoretical analysis. A good agreement between experimental and analytical results is found. The experimental results show that the use of a layer of UHTCC in RC beams can enhance both flexural capacity and ductility. The improvement is not significant with the increase in reinforcement ratio; however, the maximum crack width under service load even in the case of lightly reinforced beams can be limited within 0.1mm.

Abstract: Recent advancements in concrete science and technology have made possible the development of high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) with excellent mechanical properties and long-term durability. However, the costs of these materials are many times that of conventional concrete and the construction of complete structures with them is hard to justify. The strategic application of high performance materials, in selected parts of concrete structures, can bring along higher performance/cost and wider acceptance of the material in practice. This paper will investigate several examples of selective HPFRCC application, including the fabrication of permanent formwork for durability enhancement, the replacement of steel reinforcements at the anchorage zone of post-tensioned members to relieve the steel congestion problem as well as the development of simple and narrow joints for pre-cast concrete members. Based on the experimental results obtained so far, the selected use of HPFRCC in concrete structures appears to have good potential for practical applications.

Abstract: The wear resistance of epoxy-based nanocomposites reinforced with octadecylamine-modified clay was studied. Two testing methods, including the ball-on-disc abrasion test and the nanoscratch test, were used to measure the macro- and micro-wear behaviors. The ball-on-disc abrasion test suggests that the short- and long-term wear behaviors of neat epoxy and 5wt% nanoclay composites were similar, although the wear resistance as measured by the volume of material removed was greater for the clay nanocomposite than for the neat epoxy. The incorporation of nanoclay into the epoxy showed little effect on the coefficient of friction.

Abstract: The high pseudo-ductility of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) makes it a particularly effective material to resist the propagation of cracks. In applications where failure is due to cracking initiated by localized stresses, the application of ECC around the stress concentrated region should result in significant improvement in the ultimate failure load. In this investigation, we will study the use of ECC in (i) the anchorage zone of post-tensioned concrete members, and (ii) the region around embedded anchor bolts in concrete blocks. For the first application, the replacement of concrete with ECC at the anchorage zone is found to be very effective in increasing the load capacity under concentrated compression. Based on our test results, ECC can actually replace all or part of the conventional steel stirrups in resisting splitting failure at the anchorage zone. For embedded anchor bolts, the placement of a small ECC disc above the steel bolt can effectively delay the propagation of cone-shape failure and increase the pull-out force. Through the present experimental program, we have illustrated the advantage of strategically applying ECC in critical region of structural components, to improve performance without significant increasing the material cost.

Abstract: The fracture resistance and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRPs) containing organoclay-filled epoxy resin are studied. The XRD analysis and TEM examination revealed well-dispersed organoclay in the epoxy matrix displaying a mixture of exfoliation and intercalation. There was a significant improvement in flexural modulus and a marginal reduction in flexural strength of epoxy matrix due to the incorporation of organoclay. The quasi-static fracture toughness of epoxy increased nearly 60% with the addition of 3wt% clay, but there was a 45% drop in impact fracture toughness with 1wt% clay. When CFRPs were fabricated with the clay-modified epoxy resin, both the flexural modulus and strength of the hybrid composites showed negligible changes due to a few wt% of organoclay in the matrix. The interlaminar crack growth stability and the corresponding mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of the hybrid composites with organoclay improved substantially compared to those with carbon fibres only. The hybrid composites typically presented rough matrix surface associated with pinning and crack tip bifurcation, whereas the composite made from neat epoxy showed a smooth river line structure which is characteristic of brittle epoxy. The correlation between the composite interlaminar fracture properties and the toughness of modified matrix is discussed.