Combined Prediction Method for Thermal Conductivity of Asphalt Concrete Based on Meso-Structure and Renormalization Technology

Pavement temperature field affects pavement service life and the thermal environment the near road surface; thus, is important for sustainable pavement design. This paper developed a combined prediction method for the thermal conductivity of asphalt concrete based on meso-structure and renormalization technology, which is critical for determining the pavement temperature field. The accuracy of the combined prediction method was verified by laboratory experiments. Using the tested and proven model, the effect of coarse aggregate type, shape, content, spatial orientation, air void of asphalt concrete, and steel fiber on the effective thermal conductivity was analyzed. The analysis results show that the orientation angle and aspect ratio of the aggregate have a combined effect on thermal conductivity. In general, when the aggregate orientation is parallel with the heat conduction direction, the effective thermal conductivity of asphalt concrete in that direction tends to be greater. The effective thermal conductivity of asphalt concrete decreases with the decrease of coarse aggregate content or steel fiber content or with the increase of porosity, and it increases with the increase of the effective thermal conductivity of coarse aggregate.

Strength of Normal and Inclined Sections of Bent Reinforced Concrete Elements with Zone Reinforcement Made of Steel Fiber

On the basis of theoretical and experimental studies, the prerequisites and the method of calculation of bent and compressed-curved reinforced concrete structures with zone reinforcement made of steel fiber, working under static and short-term dynamic loads, are formulated. In the developed method for calculating the strength of normal and inclined sections, a nonlinear deformation model is implemented, which is based on the actual deformation diagrams of materials. The developed calculation method is brought to the program of calculation of reinforced concrete structures with zone reinforcement of steel fiber under short-term dynamic loading, taking into account the inelastic properties of materials. The numerical studies made it possible to determine the influence of various parameters of steel-fiber reinforcement on the strength of reinforced concrete elements. To confirm the main results of the developed calculation method, experimental studies of reinforced concrete beam structures reinforced with conventional reinforcement and a zone steel-fiber layer are planned and carried out. Experimental studies were carried out under static and short-term dynamic loads. As a result of the conducted experiments, data were obtained that characterize the process of destruction, deformation and cracking of steel-reinforced concrete elements under such types of loading. The dependences of changes in the energy intensity of reinforced concrete structures with zone reinforcement made of steel fiber in the compressed and stretched cross-section zones under dynamic loading are obtained. The effectiveness of the use of fiber reinforcement of normal and inclined sections of bent and compressed-curved elements to improve the strength and deformative.

Non-Destructive Multi-Method Assessment of Steel Fiber Orientation in Concrete

Integration of fiber reinforcement in high-performance cementitious materials has become widely applied in many fields of construction. One of the most investigated advantages of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is the deceleration of crack growth and hence its improved sustainability. Additional benefits are associated with its structural properties, as fibers can significantly increase the ductility and the tensile strength of concrete. In some applications it is even possible to entirely replace the conventional reinforcement, leading to significant logistical and environmental benefits. Fiber reinforcement can, however, have critical disadvantages and even hinder the performance of concrete, since it can induce an anisotropic material behavior of the mixture if the fibers are not appropriately oriented. For a safe use of SFRC in the future, reliable non-destructive testing (NDT) methods need to be identified to assess the fibers’ orientation in hardened concrete. In this study, ultrasonic material testing, electrical impedance testing, and X-ray computed tomography have been investigated for this purpose using specially produced samples with biased or random fiber orientations. We demonstrate the capabilities of each of these NDT techniques for fiber orientation measurements and draw conclusions based on these results about the most promising areas for future research and development.