scholarly journals Coupling Effect of Salt Freeze-Thaw Cycles and Carbonation on the Mechanical Performance of Quick Hardening Sulphoaluminate Cement-Based Reactive Powder Concrete with Basalt Fibers

Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1142
Author(s):  
Guoping Huang ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Feiting Shi

The effect of salt freeze-thaw cycles coupled with carbonation on the mechanical performance of quick hardening sulphoaluminate cement-based reactive powder concrete combined with basalt fibers was investigated. The ratios of basalt fibers in sulphoaluminate cement-based reactive powder concrete (SAC-RPC) were 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% by the volume of concrete. The mechanical strengths (compressive strength, flexural strength and bonding strength) of SAC-RPC were investigated after curing for 5 h, 1 d, 14 d and 28 d, respectively. Meanwhile, the mechanical strengths of resultant concrete were detected, when different NaCl freeze-thaw cycles and carbonation were adopted. Results showed that the addition of basalt fibers could effectively improve the mechanical strengths, especially the flexural strength of SAC-RPC. The dosage of 3.0% was the threshold value affected mechanical strengths. The flexural, compressive and bonding strengths of SAC-RPC were higher than 8.53 MPa, 34 MPa and 3.21 MPa, respectively. The mass loss and mechanical strengths loss of SAC-RPC increased in the form of quadratic function with the increasing number of NaCl freeze-thaw cycles and varied in the form of quadratic decreasing function. Meanwhile, the effect of carbonation on the mechanical strengths of SAC-RPC can be ignored. Additionally, the coupling effect of salt freeze-thaw cycles and carbonation could accelerate the attenuation of concrete strength. The mechanical strengths loss demonstrated a decreased quadratic function with the increasing volume of basalt fibers.

Coatings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1227
Author(s):  
Xinghua Hong ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Feiting Shi

This paper aimed to investigate the coupling effects of NaCl freeze–thaw cycles and cyclic loading on the mechanical performance and permeability of sulphoaluminate cement reactive powder concrete (RPC). Firstly, the compressive and flexural strengths of sulphoaluminate cement RPC were investigated. Then, the chloride ion permeability, mechanical strengths (compressive and flexural strengths) and mass loss were determined. Results indicated that the increased steel fibers content and curing age played positive roles in the mechanical strengths. The threshold values of steel fibers and curing age were 3.0% and 14 days. Sulphoaluminate cement RPC with early curing age (5 h) showed relatively high mechanical strengths: flexural strength (8.69~17.51 MPa), and compressive strength (34.1~38.5 MPa). The mass loss, the chloride migration coefficient, and the compressive strength loss increased linearly with NaCl freeze–thaw cycles. Meanwhile, the flexural strength loss increased with the exponential function. The relative dynamic modulus of elasticity of specimens decreased linearly with the increased freeze–thaw cycles. Finally, it was observed from this paper, cyclic loading demonstrated negative roles on the mechanical strengths and resistance to chloride penetration.


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1238
Author(s):  
Zhangjie Cai ◽  
Hui Wang

The influence of sulphoaluminate cement and the dosage of polypropylene fibers on the basic mechanical strengths (compressive and flexural strengths) of reactive powder concrete (RPC) cured for 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d is studied in this research. The content of sulphoaluminate cement ranges from 0% to 100% and the dosages of polypropylene fibers are 0%~3.5%, respectively. Moreover, the mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strengths), the relative dynamic elastic modulus (RDEM) and the chloride permeability of specimens with 50% sulphoaluminate cement and different dosages of polypropylene fibers are determined after the specimens are exposed to different NaCl freeze–thaw cycles. The water–binder ratio in this study is 0.25, and the sand-to-binder ratio is 1.25. Results show that the relationship between the mechanical strengths of RPC at early curing ages (lower than 7 d) and the sulphoaluminate cement content is a linear function with a positive correlation. However, when the curing age reaches 14 d, the compressive and flexural strengths decrease in the form of a linear function with the addition of sulphoaluminate cement. The correlation between the mechanical strengths and polypropylene fiber volume is a positive quadratic function. However, the mass loss rate and flexural strength loss rate increased in the form of a quadratic function, and RDEM shows a negative quadratic function with the freeze–thaw cycles. Moreover, the compressive strength loss rate increases linearly with the freeze–thaw cycle. The addition of polypropylene fibers can effectively improve the freeze–thaw resistance of cement mortar with an assembly unit of ordinary cement and sulphoaluminate cement.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Grzeszczyk ◽  
Aneta Matuszek-Chmurowska ◽  
Eva Vejmelková ◽  
Robert Černý

The paper presents the test results of basalt fiber impact on a compressive and flexural strength, resistance to abrasion and porosity of Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC). The reasons for testing were interesting mechanical properties of basalt fibers, the significant tensile strength and flexural strength, and in particular the resistance to high temperatures, as well as a relatively small number of RPC tests performed with those fibers and different opinions regarding the impact of those fibers on concrete strength. The composition of the concrete mix was optimized to obtain the highest packing density of particles in the composite, based on the optimum particle size distribution curve acc. to Funk. Admixture of basalt fibers was used in quantity 2, 3, 6, 8 and 10 kg/m3, length 12 mm and diameter 18 µm. A low water-to-binder ratio, i.e., from 0.24, was obtained through application of a polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer. The introduction of up to 10 kg/m3 of basalt fibers to RPC mix was proved to be possible, while keeping the same w/c ratio equal to 0.24, with a slight loss of workability of the concrete mix as the content of fibers increased. It was found that the increase of the fiber content in RPC to 10 kg/m3, despite the w/c ratio was kept the same, caused reduction of the concrete compressive strength by 18.2%, 7.8% and 13.6%, after 2, 7, and 28 days respectively. Whereas, the flexural strength of RPC increased gradually (maximum by 15.9%), along with the fiber quantity increase up to 6 kg/m3, and then it reduced (maximum by 17.7%), as the fiber content in the concrete was further increased. The reduction of RPC compressive strength, along with the increase in basalt fibers content, leads to the increase of the total porosity, as well as the change in pore volume distribution. The reduction of RPC abrasion resistance was demonstrated along with the increase of basalt fibers content, which was explained by the compressive strength reduction of that concrete. A linear relation between the RPC abrasion resistance and the compressive strength involves a high determination coefficient equal to 0.97.


2010 ◽  
Vol 160-162 ◽  
pp. 498-502
Author(s):  
Zhi Gang Yan ◽  
Tie Yi Zhong ◽  
Ming Zhe An ◽  
Wen Yu Ji

In order to study the mechanical performance of Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) used for structure engineering, 38 series of RPC specimens are fabricated, cured, tested and analyzed. There are 5 sets of specimens are fabricated for each actual site structure engineering. The compressive strength, flexural strength and elastic modulus are tested according to the specimens and the compressive strength is tested with different age time. All the specimens are steam cured with the same situation as the structure. According to the test result, the compressive strength of RPC is up to 80MPa 3days after it is cast and the compressive strength is higher than 120MPa 15days later. The average flexural strength of RPC is 19.4MPa and the elastic modulus is 45.15GPa. The tested results show that the mechanical performance of RPC can satisfy the engineering requirement. The mixing proportion and the curing system can be used for engineering design and construction.


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 286
Author(s):  
Chuanlin Wang ◽  
Guojie Xue ◽  
Xianbo Zhao

 This research studied the influence of three types of open (short-straight, long-straight, semicircular) and three different shapes of closed steel fibers (triangular, rectangular, circular) with different fiber contents by volume (0, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) on the working and mechanical performance of reactive powder concrete (RPC). The results indicated that (1) the number of steel fibers and the enclosed area formed by closed steel fibers would remarkably impact the performance of RPC; (2) the semicircular fiber improves RPC’s strength the most among the three open shapes; (3) the short-straight fiber works more effectively than the closed steel fibers; (4) the circular fiber works the most efficiently in improving RPC’s mechanical performance while the triangular ones have the least effect among the three closed steel fibers; (5) both the closed and open steel fibers improve their compressive strength more than their flexural strength; (6) the closed steel fiber works more efficiently in improving the flexural strength but less efficiently in improving the compressive strength; (7) the open steel fibers enhance the mechanical performance of RPC via their anchoring performance while the closed steel fibers work by confining the concrete; (8) the hybrid utilization of steel fibers improves RPC’s mechanical performance to a higher level via combing the advantages of open and closed steel fibers.


Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is the ultra-high strength concrete made by cementitious materials like silica fumes, cement etc. The coarse aggregates are completely replaced by quartz sand. Steel fibers which are optional are added to enhance the ductility. Market survey has shown that micro-silica is not so easily available and relatively costly. Therefore an attempt is made to experimentally investigate the reduction of micro-silica content by replacing it with fly-ash and mechanical properties of modified RPC are investigated. Experimental investigations show that compressive strength decreases gradually with addition of the fly ash. With 10 per cent replacement of micro silica, the flexural and tensile strength showed 40 and 46 per cent increase in the respective strength, though the decrease in the compressive strength was observed to be about 20 per cent. For further percentage of replacement, there was substantial drop in compressive, flexural as well as tensile strength. The experimental results thereby indicates that utilisation of fly-ash as a partial replacement to micro silica up to 10 per cent in RPC is feasible and shows quite acceptable mechanical performance with the advantage of utilisation of fly-ash in replacement of micro-silica.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanbing Liu ◽  
Shiqi Liu ◽  
Shurong Wang ◽  
Xin Gao ◽  
Yafeng Gong

Basalt fibers are widely used in the modification of concrete materials due to its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. In this study, the basalt fibers were used to modify reactive powder concrete (RPC). The effect of four mix proportion parameters on the working and mechanical properties of basalt fiber reactive powder concrete (BFRPC) was evaluated by the response surface methodology (RSM). The fluidity, flexural and compressive strength were tested and evaluated. A statistically experimental model indicated that D (the silica fume to cement ratio) was the key of interactions between factors, affecting other factors and controlling properties of BFRPC. The increase in basalt fiber content had a remarkable effect on increasing the flexural and compressive strength when D = 0.2. The addition of basalt fiber obviously improved the mechanical properties of RPC. While when D = 0.4, the decrease of fiber content and the increase of quartz sand content could increase the compressive strength.


2011 ◽  
Vol 250-253 ◽  
pp. 548-553
Author(s):  
Dong Lin ◽  
Yu Fei Yuan ◽  
Zi Yun Wen

In ordinary processing condition, using small amount (2%) of polymer to modify reactive powder concrete (RPC), the performance of modified and unmodified RPC was studied for their corrosion resistance with water-dip-in, acid-dip-in and sulphate solution-dip-in tests and was verified by the strength loss rate. The results show that not only the corrosion resistance but also the strength, especially the flexural strength, has been improved obviously after the polymer modification. The mechanism has been studied with SEM and EDS analysis.


2010 ◽  
Vol 150-151 ◽  
pp. 779-782
Author(s):  
Qing Xin Zhao ◽  
Zhao Yang Liu ◽  
Jin Rui Zhang ◽  
Ran Ran Zhao

By means of the three-point bending impact equipment, with the measurement of ultrasonic velocity, the impact behavior and damage evolution of reactive powder concrete (RPC) with 0, 1%, 2% and 3% volume fraction of steel fiber were tested. The results showed that steel fiber significantly improved the compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural toughness and impact toughness of RPC matrix. The compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural toughness of RPC with 3% steel fiber increased by 40.1%, 102.1%, and 37.4 times than that of plain concrete, respectively, and simultaneously, the impact toughness of RPC with 3% steel fiber was 93.2 times higher than that with 1% steel fiber. RPC with 2% and 3% steel fiber dosage both had relatively high compressive strength, flexural strength and flexural toughness; however, compared with the sample with 2% steel fiber dosage, the impact toughness of RPC with 3% steel fiber dosage increased by more than 10 times. Therefore, taking economy and applicability into consideration, if we mainly emphasis on the compressive strength, flexural strength and flexural toughness, RPC with 2% steel fiber is optimal. While if impact toughness is critical, RPC with 3% steel fiber would be the best choice.


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