scholarly journals Optimizing the Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete to Increase Its Resistance to Projectile Impact

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5098
Author(s):  
Anna L. Mina ◽  
Konstantinos G. Trezos ◽  
Michael F. Petrou

This study describes an extensive experimental investigation of various mechanical properties of Ultra-High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC). The scope is to achieve high strength and ductile behaviour, hence providing optimal resistance to projectile impact. Eight different mixtures were produced and tested, three mixtures of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) and five mixtures of UHPFRC, by changing the amount and length of the steel fibres, the quantity of the superplasticizer, and the water to binder (w/b) ratio. Full stress–strain curves from compression, direct tension, and flexural tests were obtained from one batch of each mixture to examine the influence of the above parameters on the mechanical properties. The Poisson’s ratio and modulus of elasticity in compression and direct tension were measured. Additionally, a factor was determined to convert the cubic strength to cylindrical. Based on the test results, the mixture with high volume (6%) and a combination of two lengths of steel fibres (3% each), water to binder ratio of 0.16% and 6.1% of superplasticizer to binder ratio exhibited the highest strength and presented great deformability in the plastic region. A numerical simulation developed using ABAQUS was capable of capturing very well the experimental three-point bending response of the UHPFRC best-performed mixture.

Author(s):  
Alejandro Enfedaque ◽  
Marcos G. Alberti ◽  
Jaime C. Gálvez ◽  
Pedro Cabanas

Fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) has become an alternative for structural applications due its outstanding mechanical properties. The appearance of new types of fibres and the fibre cocktails that can be configured mixing them has created FRC that clearly exceed the minimum mechanical properties required in the standards. Consequently, in order to take full advantage of the contribution of the fibres in construction projects, it is of great interest to have constitutive models that simulate the behaviour of the materials. This study aimed to simulate the fracture behaviour of five types of FRC, three with steel hooked fibres, one with a combination of two types of steel fibres and one with a combination of polyolefin fibres and two types of steel fibres, by means of an inverse analysis based on the cohesive crack approach. The results of the numerical simulations defined the softening functions of each FRC formulation and have pointed out the synergies that are created through use of fibre cocktails. The information obtained might suppose a remarkable advance for designers using high-performance FRC in structural elements.


2018 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 12001
Author(s):  
José D. Ríos ◽  
Héctor Cifuentes

This paper describes the influence of the temperature and the fibre reinforcement on the flexural fatigue behaviour of an ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete. Three-point bending fatigue tests were carried out for an ultra-high-performance concrete subjected to different temperatures ranging from room temperature up to 300 ºC and considering three different types of reinforcement: a) steel fibres, b) hybrid steel and polypropylene fibres and c) non-reinforced (reference matrix). The fatigue behaviour was assessed from the S-N fields obtained through a probabilistic fatigue model developed by Castillo and Fernández-Canteli. The influence of the type of reinforcement on the fatigue behaviour was analysed by SN curves. An analysis of the thermal effects in the fatigue life of the ultra-high-performance concrete has also been carried out. The results showed the most suitable fibre reinforcement among the analysed options to get the best fatigue behaviour in accordance to the exposure temperature.


Author(s):  
Benjamin Erzar ◽  
Christophe Pontiroli ◽  
Eric Buzaud

To evaluate the vulnerability of ultra-high performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) infrastructure to rigid projectile penetration, over the last few years CEA-Gramat has led an experimental and numerical research programme in collaboration with French universities. During the penetration process, concrete is subjected to extreme conditions of pressure and strain rate. Plasticity mechanisms as well as dynamic tensile and/or shear damage are activated during the tunnelling phase and the cratering of the concrete target. Each mechanism has been investigated independently at the laboratory scale and the role of steel fibres especially has been analysed to understand their influence on the macroscopic behaviour. To extend the experimental results to the structural scale, penetration tests on UHPFRC slabs have been conducted by CEA-Gramat. The analysis of this dataset combined with material characterization experiments allows the role of steel fibres to be identified in the different plasticity and damage mechanisms occurring during penetration. In parallel, some improvements have been introduced into the concrete model developed by Pontiroli, Rouquand and Mazars (PRM model), especially to take into account the contribution made by the fibres in the tensile fracture process. After a primary phase of validation, the capabilities of the PRM model are illustrated by performing numerical simulations of projectile penetration into UHPFRC concrete structures. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Experimental testing and modelling of brittle materials at high strain rates’.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 355-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastjan Kravanja ◽  
Radoslav Sovják

Semi-infinite targets of Ultra-High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete with various fibre volume fractions were subjected to the high-velocity projectile impact using in-service bullets. In this study, a variety of empirical and semi-analytical models for prediction of the depth of penetration and mass ejection were evaluated with respect to the experimental results. Models for the depth of penetration and spalling mass ejection were revisited and applied both with deformable and nondeformable projectiles parameters. The applicability of the prediction models was assessed through a statistical comparison of values from models with experimental results. The evaluation of the applicability was made through the newly proposed measure of a relative prediction accuracy for model selection and model estimation, which was verified with established statistical accuracy evaluations, such as accuracy ratio, logarithmic standard deviation and correlation coefficient. The best fit to the experimental readings was provided by newer semi-analytical models, which are incorporating additional concrete parameters beside compressive strength while the majority of older models failed to provide sufficient accuracy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kahanji ◽  
F. Ali ◽  
A. Nadjai

Purpose The purpose of the study was to investigate the spalling phenomenon in ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) beams on exposure to a standard fire curve (ISO 834) under a sustained load. Design/methodology/approach The variables in this study were steel fibre dosage, polypropylene (PP) fibres and loading levels. The research investigated seven beams – three of which contained steel fibres with 2 vol.%, another three had steel fibres with 4 vol.% dosage and the seventh beam had a combination of steel fibres (2 vol.%) and PP fibres (4 kg/m3). The beams were tested for 1 h under three loading levels (20, 40 and 60 per cent) based on the ambient temperature ultimate flexural strength of the beam. Findings Spalling was affected by the loading levels; it exacerbated under the load level of 40 per cent, whereas under the 60 per cent load level, significantly less spalling was recorded. Under similar loading conditions, the beams containing steel fibres with a dosage of 4 vol.% spalled less than the beams with fibre contents of 2 vol.%. This was attributed to the additional tensile strength provided by the excess steel fibres. The presence of PP fibres eliminated spalling completely. Originality/value There is insufficient research into the performance of UHPFRC beams at elevated temperature, as most studies have largely focussed on columns, slabs and smaller elements such as cubes and cylinders. This study provides invaluable information and insights of the influence of parameters such as steel fibre dosage, PP fibres, loading levels on the spalling behaviour and fire endurance of UHPFRC beams.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13392
Author(s):  
Moawiah Mubarak ◽  
Raizal Saifulnaaz Muhammad Rashid ◽  
Mugahed Amran ◽  
Roman Fediuk ◽  
Nikolai Vatin ◽  
...  

Deterioration of concrete’s integrity under elevated temperature requires an alteration in its composition to have better thermal stability. Fibre-reinforced concrete has shown significant improvements in concrete strength and this paper aimed to investigate the influence of steel (ST) and polypropylene (PP) fibres on the behaviour of high-performance concrete (HPC) exposed to elevated temperatures. Six mixtures were prepared and cast by adding one or two types of polypropylene fibre (54 and 9 mm) at 0.25 or 0.5% and either singly or in a hybrid combination, along with a fixed volumetric content at 1% of five-dimensional hooked steel (5DH) fibres. At the age of 28 days, samples were heated to the targeted temperature of 800 °C and cooled down naturally to the laboratory temperature. Visual inspection, flexural, split tensile and compressive strengths were examined before and after the exposure to elevated temperatures. Results exhibited that the hybridization of long and short PP fibres, along with the ST fibres, has notably improved all residual mechanical properties of HPC and kept the integrity of concrete after exposure to elevated temperatures. In addition, PP fibres can significantly prevent spalling, but ST fibres were ineffective in mitigating explosive spalling in beams specimens.


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