• Computers and Concrete
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.223-243
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• 2015

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) can be placed and compacted under its own weight with little or no compaction. It is cohesive enough to be handled without segregation or bleeding. Modifications in the mix design of SCC may significantly influence the material's mechanical properties. Therefore, it is vital to investigate whether all the assumed hypotheses about conventional concrete (CC) are also valid for SCC structures. The aim in this paper is to develop analytical models for flexural cracking that describe in appropriate detail the observed cracking behaviour of the reinforced concrete flexural one way slabs tested. The crack width and crack spacing calculation procedures outlined in five international codes, namely Eurocode 2 (1991), CEB-FIP (1990), ACI318-99 (1999), Eurocode 2 (2004), and fib-Model Code (2010), are presented and crack widths and crack spacing are accordingly calculated. Then, the results are compared with the proposed analytical models and the measured experimental values, and discussed in detail.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.711-718
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• 2017

Nanotechnology is a new filed in concrete structures which can improve the mechanical properties of them in confronting to impact and blast. However, in this paper, a mathematical model is introduced for the concrete models subjected to impact load for wave propagation analysis. The structure is simulated by the sinusoidal shear deformation theory (SSDT) and the governing equations of the concrete model are derived by energy method and Hamilton's principle. The silicon dioxide ($SiO_2$) nanoparticles are used as reinforcement for the concrete model where the characteristics of the equivalent composite are determined using Mori-Tanaka approach. An exact solution is applied for obtaining the maximum velocity of the model. In order to validate the theoretical results, three square models with different impact point and Geophone situations are tested experimentally. The effect of different parameters such as $SiO_2$ nanoparticles volume percent, situation of the impact, length, width and thickness of the model as well as velocity, diameter and height of impactor are shown on the maximum velocity of the model. Results indicate that the theoretical and experimental dates are in a close agreement with each other. In addition, using from $SiO_2$ nanoparticles leads to increase in the stiffness and consequently maximum velocity of the model.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.351-359
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• 2019

In this study, the calcium hydroxide, an inherent product of cement hydration, was treated using biomimetic carbonation method of incorporating stearic acid to generate the hydrophobic calcium carbonate on concrete surface. Carbonation reaction was carried out at various $CO_2$ pressure and temperatures and utilizing the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), chloride-ion penetration test apparatus, and compression test machine to investigate the hydrophobicity, durability, and mechanical properties of the synthesized products. Experimental results indicate that the calcium stearate may change the surface property of concrete from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity. Increasing reaction temperature can change the particles from irregular shapes to needle-rod structures with increased shear stress and thus favorable to hydrophobicity and microhardness. The contact angle against water for the concrete surface was found to increase with increasing $CO_2$ pressure and temperature, and reached to an optimum value at around $90^{\circ}C$. The maximum static water contact angle of 128.7 degree was obtained at the $CO_2$ pressure of 2 atm and temperature of $90^{\circ}C$. It was also found that biomimetic carbonation increased the permeability, acid resistance and chloride-ion permeability of the concrete material. These unique results demonstrate that the needle-rod structures of $CaCO_3$ synthetized on concrete surface could enhance hydrophobicity, durability, and mechanical properties of concrete.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.631-642
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• 2024

The present study concerns the corrosion mitigation of electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) in concrete structure. Concrete specimen was fabricated with 5.0% chloride in cast, while the other specimen was exposed to 4.0M NaCl solution for 1 year to accelerate corrosion of steel. Then, the ECE was applied to the concrete specimen with 1000 mA/m² of the current density for 2, 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. During the ECE, the corrosion current density and corrosion potential were regularly monitored. As a result, the ECE was very effective in mitigating the degree of corrosion on the steel surface. The corrosion current density was significantly reduced from thousands to decades mA/m², while the corrosion potential was mostly shifted to positive direction. Assuming that the corrosion starts at 1.0 mA/m² of the corrosion current density or/and -275 mV vs SCE of the corrosion potential, the ECE could not fully achieve the repassivation of the steel, although its degree was lowered more or less depending on the duration of the treatment and type of chloride contamination. A visual examination confirmed that an increase in the duration of the treatment could lower the rust formation, but never fully removed all rust stains.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.177-192
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• 2011

This research paper aims at computer based modeling of carbonation induced corrosion under extreme conditions and its experimental verification by incorporating enhanced electrochemical and mass balance equations based on thermo-hygro physics with strong coupling of mass transport and equilibrium in micro-pore structure of carbonated concrete for which the previous research data is limited. In this paper the carbonation induced electrochemical corrosion model is developed and coupled with carbon dioxide transport computational model by the use of a concrete durability computer based model DuCOM developed by our research group at concrete laboratory in the University of Tokyo and its reliability is checked in the light of experiment results of carbonation induced corrosion mass loss obtained in this research. The comparison of model analysis and experiment results shows a fair agreement. The carbonation induced corrosion model computation reasonably predicts the quantitative behavior of corrosion rate for normal air dry relative humidity conditions. The computational model developed also shows fair qualitative corrosion rate simulation and analysis for various pH levels and coupled environmental actions of chloride and carbonation. Detailed verification of the model for the quantitative carbonation induced corrosion rate computation under varying relative conditions, different pH levels and combined effects of carbonation and chloride attack remain as scope for future research.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.149-167
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• 2013

The complete stress-strain behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete in compression is needed for the analysis and design of structures. An experimental investigation was carried out to generate the complete stress-strain curve of high-performance steel fiber reinforced concrete (HPSFRC) with a strength range of 52-80 MPa. The variation in concrete strength was achieved by varying the water-to-cementitious materials ratio of 0.40-0.25 and steel fiber content (Vf = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% with l/d = 80 and 55) in terms of fiber reinforcing parameter, at 10% silica fume replacement. The effects of these parameters on the shape of stress-strain curves are presented. Based on the test data, a simple model is proposed to generate the complete stress-strain relationship for HPSFRC. The proposed model has been found to give good correlation with the stress-strain curves generated experimentally. Inclusion of fibers into HPC improved the ductility considerably. Equations to quantify the effect of fibers on compressive strength, strain at peak stress and toughness of concrete in terms of fiber reinforcing index are also proposed, which predicted the test data quite accurately. Compressive strength prediction model was validated with the strength data of earlier researchers with an absolute variation of 2.1%.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.189-202
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• 2005

This paper presents an analysis of some experimental results concerning micro-structural tests, permeability measurements and strain-stress tests of four types of High-Performance Concrete, exposed to elevated temperatures (up to $700^{\circ}C$). These experimental results, obtained within the "HITECO" research programme are discussed and interpreted in the context of a recently developed mathematical model of hygro-thermal behaviour and degradation of concrete at high temperature, which is briefly presented in the Part 2 paper (Gawin, et al. 2005). Correlations between concrete permeability and porosity micro-structure, as well as between damage and cracks' volume, are found. An approximate decomposition of the thermally induced material damage into two parts, a chemical one related to cement dehydration process, and a thermal one due to micro-cracks' development caused by thermal strains at micro- and meso-scale, is performed. Constitutive relationships describing influence of temperature and material damage upon its intrinsic permeability at high temperature for 4 types of HPC are deduced. In the Part II of this paper (Gawin, et al. 2005) effect of two different damage-permeability coupling formulations on the results of computer simulations concerning hygro-thermo-mechanical performance of concrete wall during standard fire, is numerically analysed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.145-154
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• 2017

In geological engineering, grouting with Portland cement is a common technique for ground improvement, during which micro-fine cement is applied as a slurry, such that it intrudes into soil voids and decreases soil porosity. To determine the utility and behavior of cements with different Blaine values (index of cement particle fineness) for stabilization of fine sand, non-destructive and destructive tests were employed, such as laser-ray determination of grain size distribution, and sedimentation, permeability, and compressive strength tests. The results of the experimental study demonstrated a suitable mix design for the upper and lower regions of the cement-grading curve that are important for grouting and stabilization. Increasing the fineness of the cement decreased the permeability and increased the compressive strength of grouted sand samples considerably after two weeks. Moreover, relative to finer (higher Blaine value) or coarser (lower Blaine value) cements, cement with a Blaine value of $5,100cm^2/g$ was optimal for void reduction in a grouted soil mass. Overall, study results indicate that cement with an optimum Blaine value can be used to satisfy the designed geotechnical criteria.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.311-319
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• 2018

This study used a volumetric method for design. The control group used waste Liquid Crystal Displayplay (LCD) glass powder to replace cement (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%), and the PZT group used Pd-Zr-Ti piezoelectric (PZT) powder to replace 5% of the fine aggregate to make cement mortar. The engineering and the mechanical and electricity properties were tested; flow, compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), water absorption and resistivity (SSD and OD electricity at 50 V and 100 V) were determined; and the correlations were determined by linear regression. The compressive strength of the control group (29.5-31.8 MPa) was higher than that of the PZT group (25.1-29 MPa) by 2.8-4.4 MPa at the curing age of 28 days. A 20% waste LCD glass powder replacement (31.8 MPa) can fill up finer pores and accelerate hydration. The control group had a higher 50 V-SSD resistivity ($1870-3244{\Omega}.cm$), and the PZT group had a lower resistivity ($1419-3013{\Omega}.cm$), meaning that the resistivity increases with the replacement of waste LCD glass powder. This is because the waste LCD glass powder contains 62% $SiO_2$, which is a low dielectric material that is an insulator. Therefore, the resistivity increases with the $SiO_2$ content.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.139-147
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• 2018

Due to enhanced construction requirement, ready mixed concrete are being popular day by day. The current study aimed to develop ready mixed concrete using GBFS contained cement and determine its properties of fresh and hardened states. A real scale experiment was set up in a ready mixed plant for measuring workability and compressive strength. The workability was tested after mixing (within 5 minutes), 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 minutes of the running of bulk carrier. The ready mixed carrier employed spinning motion i.e., rotating around its axis with 20 RPM and running on road with 1km/h speed. The mixing ratio of cement: sand:gravel, water to cement ratio, super plasticizer were, 1:1.73:2.47, 0.40 and 6% of cement, respectively. The chemical composition of raw material was determined using XRF and the properties of cements were measured according to ASTM standards. The experimental results confirm that the cement with composition of 6.89% of GBFS, 4% of Gypsum and 89.11% of clinker showed the good compressive strength and workability of concrete after 150 minutes of the spinning motion in bulk carrier.