Steel fibre reinforced concrete for elements failing in bending and in shear

Discrete steel fibres can increase significantly the bending and the shear resistance of concrete structural elements when Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) is designed in such a way that fibre reinforcing mechanisms are optimized. To assess the fibre reinforcement effectiveness in shallow structural elements failing in bending and in shear, experimental and numerical research were performed. Uniaxial compression and bending tests were executed to derive the constitutive laws of the developed SFRC. Using a cross-section layered model and the material constitutive laws, the deformational behaviour of structural elements failing in bending was predicted from the moment-curvature relationship of the representative cross sections. To evaluate the influence of the percentage of fibres on the shear resistance of shallow structures, three point bending tests with shallow beams were performed. The applicability of the formulation proposed by RILEM TC 162-TDF for the prediction of the shear resistance of SFRC elements was evaluated. Inverse analysis was adopted to determine indirectly the values of the fracture mode I parameters of the developed SFRC. With these values, and using a softening diagram for modelling the crack shear softening behaviour, the response of the SFRC beams failing in shear was predicted.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Effects of slag content on the residual mechanical properties of ambient air-cured geopolymers exposed to elevated temperatures

This paper presents the effects of various slag contents on the residual compressive strength and physical properties of ambient air-cured fly ash-slag blended geopolymers after exposure to various elevated temperatures up to 800°C. The results showed an increasing trend in the compressive strength of ambient air-cured geopolymers with increase in the slag contents after exposure to 400 and 600°C temperatures. This trend deviated, however, at 800°C. Nevertheless, all the geopolymers showed reductions in control compressive strength at ambient temperature after exposure to elevated temperatures. The reductions were much higher at 600 and 800°C compared to 400°C. All the geopolymers exhibited significant damage in terms of cracking after exposure to a temperature of 800°C compared to 400 and 600°C and significant damage occurred at slag contents of 15–30%. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the above geopolymers also showed higher porosity at 800°C compared to 400 and 600°C. Traces of calcite/calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) peaks are observed in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of fly ash-slag geopolymers, and the intensity of those peaks increased with increases in slag contents. After exposure to elevated temperatures, the calcite/CSH peaks disappeared and new phases of nepheline and gehlenite were formed at 800°C in all the fly ash-slag geopolymers

Shear behavior of prestressed precast beams made of self-compacting fiber reinforced concrete

Even after many years of in-depth research the shear behavior of concrete structures is still a subject for debate. Current Design Codes need to be adapted to new materials and production methods. This paper discusses some still unresolved doubts, based on an experimental program consisting of nine prestressed l-beams of different flange dimensions. Shear evaluation is analyzed in accordance with the Codes under different conditions: a combination of fibers with stirrups, the possible influence of flange width on shear strength and the interaction of fibers with other important parameters such as flange width and longitudinal reinforcement. The results obtained show that fibers act as additional reinforcement to stirrups and also that the Codes are within the safety limits as regards shear ultimate limit state (ULS). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors of this work wish to thank the Research Bureau of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and Plan-E, for funding of Project BIA 2009-12722. We are also grateful for the collaboration of the precast manufacturer PREVALESA S.L.Cuenca Asensio, E.; Serna Ros, P. (2013). Shear behavior of prestressed precast beams made of self-compacting fiber reinforced concrete. Construction and Building Materials. 45:145-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.03.096S1451564

Fracture properties of GGBFS-blended fly ash geopolymer concrete cured in ambient temperature

Fracture characteristics are important part of concrete design against brittle failure. Recently, fly ash geopolymer binder is gaining significant interest as a greener alternative to traditional ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Hence it is important to understand the failure behaviour of fly ash based geopolymers for safe design of structures built with such materials. This paper presents the fracture properties of ambient-cured geopolymer concrete (GPC). Notched beam specimens of GPC mixtures based mainly on fly ash and a small percentage of ground granulated blast furnace slag were subjected to three-point bending test to evaluate fracture behaviour. The effect of mixture proportions on the fracture properties were compared with control as well as OPC concrete. The results show that fracture properties are influenced by the mixture compositions. Presence of additional water affected fracture properties adversely. Fracture energy is generally governed by tensile strength which correlates with compressive strength. Critical stress intensity factor varies with the variation of flexural strength. Geopolymer concrete specimens showed similar load–deflection behaviour as OPC concrete specimens. The ambient cured GPC showed relatively more ductility than the previously reported heat cured GPC, which is comparable to the OPC specimens. Fly ash based GPC achieved relatively higher fracture energy and similar values of KIC as compared to those of OPC concrete of similar compressive strength. Thus, fly ash based GPC designed for curing in ambient condition can achieve fracture properties comparable to those of normal OPC concrete

Performance of plain and slag-blended cements and mortars exposed to combined chloride-sulphate solution

The durability of reinforced concrete structures exposed to aggressive environments remains a challenge to both researchers and the construction industry. This study investigates the hydration, mechanical properties and durability characteristics of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) - blended cements and mortars exposed to a combined sodium chloride - sulphate environment, at temperatures of 20°C and 38°C. The conditions were chosen so as to assess the performance of slag blends under typical temperate and warm tropical marine climatic conditions. Slags, having CaO/SiO2 ratios of 1.05 and 0.94, were blended with CEM I 52.5R at 30% replacement level to study the influence of slag composition and temperature. Parallel control tests were carried out with CEM I 42.5R. Pastes and mortar samples were cast using 0.5 water to binder ratio, pre-cured for 7 days in water before exposure. Flexural strengths were determined once the samples were 7, 28 or 90 days old. Hydration was followed using x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, and calorimetry. Also, sorptivity, gas permeability and chloride diffusion tests were carried out on mortar samples to measure transport and durability characteristics. The results show improved mechanical and transport properties for slag blended cements exposed to environments rich in sodium chloride and sulphate