Papers by Keyword: High-Performance Concrete (HPC)

Abstract: The present study evaluates the mechanical-microstructural characteristics of the densified high-performance concrete (HPC) incorporating high volume fly ash (FA). The densified mixture design algorithm (DMDA) technology was applied to design the concrete proportions. The effects of various FA contents on both fresh and hardened concrete were investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the microstructure of the concrete samples. The effectiveness of using DMDA in mix deign was also discussed in this study. As the experimental results, the FA content was found to affect the concrete properties significantly. The maximum compressive strength value of 65.1 MPa was obtained at the concrete samples containing 40% FA. Additionally, the 40% FA samples exhibited a denser microstructure as compared to the others. Generally, all of the tested concrete samples exhibited good performance in terms of workability, strength development, water absorption, and porosity. The results of this study further show the effectiveness of using DMDA technology in proportioning of the concrete mixture.

Abstract: The reinforcement of concrete with composite technical textile creates a tensile load-bearing capacity. It allows the elimination of steel reinforcement and minimisation of concrete cover. Based on this, the concrete cover is designed with respect to the cohesion of reinforcement with concrete. By using of textile reinforcement very thin structures could be created. The aim of this paper was to determine the interaction conditions of carbon and basalt composite reinforcement in a matrix of epoxy resin with high performance concrete (HPC). The tensile strength of used composite reinforcement and the other mechanical parameters of HPC were determined by experimental tests. Experiments copied the production method of technical textiles. These two combinations of materials present the influence on the design of the structures with textile reinforcements.

Abstract: Currently, high performance concrete (HPC) is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its great mechanical parameters. As in the case of ordinary power concrete (OPC) it is necessary to improve the load bearing capacity with using of reinforcement. The present age calls for using of very thin structures for reasons of both environmental parameters and visual quality. Based on this fact, reinforcement start to use durable composite materials, such as technical textiles made of them. Element of HPC with this type of reinforcement is called textile reinforced high performance concrete (TRHPC). It is impossible to use the traditional approach for usually used steel reinforcement if we want to design these extra-thin structures. Modeled structures are very sensitive for input parameters and the development of standards for TRC material lags. The present study is focused on the different method of approach for the determination of tensile modulus of composite reinforcement. Three used methods are compared with each other using numerical analysis of four point bending test of façade element for one type of used reinforcement. Curves from numerical analysis are finally compared with the curve from real experiment and based on this the final evaluation is generated.

Abstract: This article deals with influence of the ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) in the mixture of high performance concrete. It is a powder active addition used in concrete which is characterized certain cementitious properties. Influence of this addition was experimentally verified. In the first series, partial replacement of cement by GGBS was tested. In the second series, GGBS was added to the original reference mixture. Studied parameters were compressive strength, tensile strength and workability. The tests have shown that a partial replacement of the cement by GGBS is possible for achieving the desired workability or if we need to reduce the price of concrete.

Abstract: With the improvement of concrete materials and the emergence of new materials, adding silica fume to high-performance concrete (HPC) has been one of the important ways in concrete technology. In this paper, through experimental study on the mechanical performance of HPC with 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% silica fume replacing cement for different water-binder ratio, along with polycarboxylates high performance water-reducing admixture, silica fume has large effects on 28d compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength of the HPC. Meanwhile, due to the different level of water-binder ratio, the relationship between split tensile strength, flexural strength and compressive strength is also obvious linear.

Abstract: High performance concrete (HPC) consisting of low water-binder (w/b) ratio and supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) is more prone to shrinkage cracking if subjected to external deformation restraint. The effectiveness of using lightweight fine aggregate (LWA) for autogenous shrinkage reduction is being studied along with implications on salt frost durability. HPC consisting of 0.33 w/b ratio and cementitious replacement level up to 50% by slag cement and natural sand replacement level by LWA of up to 50% is investigated. Results indicate that these concretes exhibit excellent salt frost resistance provided the HPC is sufficiently air entrained. The mitigation of autogenous shrinkage by LWA is analyzed by comparing the spacing of LWA particles in cement paste and the flow distance of retained moisture in LWA to the adjacent paste.

Abstract: An experimental investigation was conducted on behavior of high performance steel-fiber concrete subjected to high temperature, in terms of explosive spalling and permeability. A series of concretes incorporated steel fiber at various dosages were prepared, and further processed to have a series of moisture contents. Explosive spalling tests were conducted on control plain concrete and steel fiber concrete. After explosive spalling tests, each of the specimens that didn’t encounter spalling was sawn into two pieces. Crack observations and permeability tests were conducted on the sawn surfaces. The results prove that steel fiber is efficient to avoid spalling concrete under high temperature. The permeability increases significantly after thermal exposure, while it also exhibits an ascending trend with the increase of moisture content. Therefore it is concluded that steel fiber can play a positive effect on explosive spalling of high performance concrete under high temperature, as well as on permeability after thermal exposure.

Abstract: The synergy of hybrid fibers allows for an enhanced concrete composite performance at a lower fiber volume fraction as compared to other types of fiber-reinforced concrete. This paper outlines the development process and properties of a new concrete composite termed high-performance green hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HP-G-HyFRC). Steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers were used as discontinuous reinforcement of the composite. Up to 60% of cement by mass was replaced by industrial wastes comprising slag and fly ash. At water-binder ratio of 0.25 and with the presence of coarse aggregates, careful proportioning of the mix constituents allows for a composite that is highly flowable. At a combined fiber volume fraction of only 1.65%, the composite also exhibits a deflection hardening behavior which is known to be beneficial for both serviceability and durability of structures. The composite was proposed to be used in an innovative double skin façade (DSF) system consisting of 30 mm air gap in between two thin HP-G-HyFRC skins with no main reinforcing rebars. It was shown that the DSF system alone allows for about 7.6% reduction of cooling energy in buildings.

Abstract: High-performance concrete (HPC) will undergo severe damage under fire conditions. It is well known that vapor pressure induced by high temperatures plays an important role in the damaging process. Therefore, the determination of the moisture distribution evolution in concrete is essential to the damage analysis of heated HPC. This paper presents a numerical method for the prediction of the moisture distribution evolution in HPC under fire conditions. In the method, the vapor pressure and the moisture transport induced by the vapor pressure gradient are analyzed. The effect of the thermal decomposition on the moisture distribution and the effects of the slippage flow and the water saturation degree on the permeability are considered. The proposed method is applied to the moisture distribution analysis of a concrete cube with 90% initial moisture content under fire conditions and can be further used for the analysis of the thermal damage of heated HPC.

Abstract: High performance concrete (hereafter, HPC) is well known by its high compressive strength, strong resistance to deformation and excellent durability. Whereas, HPC is prone to spall when exposed to high temperatures and it probably results in sharp reduction of the fire resistance and loading capacity of HPC elements and structures. This paper presents a summary of research achievements on fire-resistance behavior of HPC in the past 10 years including the mechanical behavior degradation, analysis of spalling mechanism, effect of various types of fiber and other factors influencing the post-fire properties of HPC material as well as structural behavior of HPC elements. Studies on micro-structure of HPC have been carried out, which will help build a more sophisticated recognition of its performance under high temperatures. In spite of the large number of research results, more improvement on HPC material and HPC structures are still needed because of the devastating consequences caused by strength degradation or spalling-to-collapse. Thus in this paper a new idea of HPC-composite structures is proposed, expected to decrease the probability of spalling.