• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.359-376
• /
• 2023

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has become an attractive cast-in-place repairing material for existing engineering structures. The present study aims to investigate age-dependent high-early-strength UHPC (HESUHPC) material properties (i.e., compressive strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength, and tensile strength) as well as interfacial shear properties of HESUHPC-normal strength concrete (NSC) composites cured at different season temperatures (i.e., summer, autumn, and winter). The typical temperatures were kept for at least seven days in different seasons from weather forecasting to guarantee an approximately consistent curing and testing condition (i.e., temperature and relative humidity) for specimens at different ages. The HESUHPC material properties are tested through standardized testing methods, and the interfacial bond performance is tested through a bi-surface shear testing method. The test results quantify the positive development of HESUHPC material properties at the early age, and the increasing amplitude decreases from summer to winter. Three-day mechanical properties in winter (with the lowest curing temperature) still gain more than 60% of the 28-day mechanical properties, and the impact of season temperatures becomes small at the later age. The HESUHPC shrinkage mainly occurs at the early age, and the final shrinkage value is not significant. The HESUHPC-NSC interface exhibits sound shear performance, the interface in most specimens does not fail, and most interfacial shear strengths are higher than the NSC-NSC composite. The HESUHPC-NSC composites at the shear failure do not exhibit a large relative slip and present a significant brittleness at the failure. The typical failures are characterized by thin-layer NSC debonding near the interface, and NSC pure shear failure. Two load-slip development patterns, and two types of main crack location are identified for the HESUHPC-NSC composites tested in different ages and seasons. In addition, shear capacity of the HESUHPC-NSC composite develops rapidly at the early age, and the increasing amplitude decreases as the season temperature decreases. This study will promote the HESUHPC application in practical engineering as a cast-in-place repairing material subjected to different natural environments.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.169-183
• /
• 2022

In this article, vibrational behavior and wave propagation characteristics in (FG) functionally graded plates resting on Kerr foundation with three parameters is studied using a 2D dimensional (HSDT) higher shear deformation theory. The new 2D higher shear deformation theory has only four variables in field's displacement, which means has few numbers of unknowns compared with others theories. The shape function used in this theory satisfies the nullity conditions of the shear stresses on the two surfaces of the FG plate without using shear correction factors. The FG plates are considered to rest on the Kerr layer, which is interconnected with a Pasternak-Kerr shear layer. The FG plate is materially inhomogeneous. The material properties are supposed to vary smoothly according to the thickness of the plate by a Voigt's power mixing law of the volume fraction. The equations of motion due to the dynamics of the plate resting on a three-parameter foundation are derived using the principle of minimization of energies; which are then solved analytically by the Navier technique to find the vibratory characteristics of a simply supported plate, and the wave propagation results are derived by using the dispersion relations. Perceivable numerical results are fulfilled to evaluate the vibratory and the wave propagation characteristics in functionally graded plates and some parameters such wave number, thickness ratio, power index and foundation parameters are discussed in detail.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.205-214
• /
• 2022

Due to seawater's physical and chemical deterioration effects on concrete structures, it is crucial to investigate the durability of these structures in marine environments. In some conditions, concrete structures are exposed to seawater from the first days of construction or because of the lack of potable water, part of the concrete curing stage is done with seawater. In this research, the effects of exposure to seawater after 7 days of curing in standard conditions were evaluated. To improve the durability of concrete, fly ash has been used as a substitute for a part of the cement in the mixing design. For this purpose, 5, 15, and 30% of the mixing design cement were replaced with type F fly ash, and the samples were examined after curing in seawater. The resistance of concrete against chloride ion penetration based on the rapid chloride penetration test (RCPT), water permeability based on the depth of water penetration under pressure, and water absorption test was done. The changes in the compressive strength of concrete in different curing conditions were also investigated. The results show that the curing in seawater has slightly reduced concrete resistance to chloride ion permeation. In the long-term, samples containing FA cured in seawater had up to 10% less resistance to chloride ion penetration. The amount of reduction in chloride ion penetration resistance was more for samples without FA. Whiles, for both curing conditions in the long-term up to 15%, FA improved the chloride ion penetration resistance up to 40%. Curing in seawater slightly increased the penetration depth of water under pressure in samples containing FA, while this increase was up to 12% for samples without FA. In the long-term the compressive strength of samples cured in seawater is not much different from the compressive strength of samples cured in plain water, while at the age of 28 days, due to seawater salts' accelerating effects the difference is more noticeable.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2023

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is produced using high amount of cementitious materials, very low water/cementitious materials ratio, fine-sized fillers, and steel fibers. Due to the dense microstructure of UHPC, it possesses very high strength, elasticity, and durability. Besides that, the UHPC exhibits high ductility and fracture toughness due to presence of fibers in its matrix. While the high ductility of UHPC allows it to undergo high strain/deflection before failure, the high fracture toughness of UHPC greatly enhances its capacity to absorb impact energy without allowing the formation of severe cracking or penetration by the impactor. These advantages with UHPC make it a suitable material for construction of the structural members subjected to special loading conditions. In this research work, the UHPC mixtures having three different dosages of steel fibers (2%, 4% and 6% by weight corresponding to 0.67%, 1.33% and 2% by volume) were characterized in terms of their mechanical properties including facture toughness, before using these concrete mixtures for casting the slab specimens, which were tested under high-energy impact loading with the help of a drop-weight impact test setup. The effect of fiber content on the impact energy absorption capacity and central deflection of the slab specimens were investigated and the equations correlating fiber content with the energy absorption capacity and central deflection were obtained with high degrees of fit. Finite element modeling (FEM) was performed to simulate the behavior of the slabs under impact loading. The FEM results were found to be in good agreement with their corresponding experimentally generated results.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.203-213
• /
• 2023

New techniques, technologies, and materials should be used to design and build sports stadiums. Since this century, much progress has been made in covering the roofs of sports stadiums, and the possibility of accurate computer calculation has been provided for stadiums, so by choosing a new structure, we can double the beauty and resistance of these stadiums. A stadium has an excellent and valuable design when its structure, shell, building, materials, and joinery follow a high architectural idea at all levels and scales. This article examines the mechanical performance of polymer cement strength in the construction of football stadiums, along with their structural knowledge in the form of the best examples in the world. Portland cement is one of the most used materials for constructing football stadiums. However, its production requires spending a lot of money, wasting energy, and damaging the environment. Considering the disadvantages in the production and consumption of concrete in different environments, it is necessary to find alternative materials. It should be used with cheaper, simpler technology, abundant primary resources, energy saving, less environmental damage, and better chemical and physical properties in concrete. High-strength concrete technology is considered a new development in the construction industry of concrete structures. In hardened concrete, strength and durability are two main factors, and as the compressive strength of concrete increases, concrete becomes more brittle. As a result, its tensile strength does not increase in proportion to the increase in compressive strength and has less strain tolerance. For this reason, the need to use is evident from the fibers in high-strength concrete. Fibers are used in concrete to increase tensile strength, prevent crack propagation, and significantly increase softness. The increase with the change of these resistances depends on the strength of concrete without fibers, the shape of fibers, and the percentage of fibers. This cement is obtained from the wastes of chemical and petrochemical industries and the wastes from coal combustion, which have the properties mentioned as substitutes for Portland cement.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.179-190
• /
• 2023

The effect of glass fibres (GF) and polypropylene fibres (PPF) on the fresh properties and mechanical properties of lightweight concrete (LWC) exposed to high temperatures is investigated in this study. In this study, fifteen LWC mixtures were carried out in three different groups reinforced with PPF or GF fibers by 0%, 0.2%, and 0.4% by volume of concrete. The first group included aluminum powder (AP) as an air agent at 0.03% with the normal weight coarse aggregate (NWCA) by 100% of the weight of coarse aggregate. In the second group, 33% of the NWCA weight was replaced by lightweight coarse aggregate (LWCA). In the third group, 67% of the NWCA weight was replaced by LWCA. The slump, unit weight, Compressive strength (CS), tensile strength (TS), and flexural strength (FS) were examined. For two hours, the CS and FS were subjected to elevated temperatures of 200℃, 400℃, and 600℃, in addition to microstructure analysis of concrete. In comparison to the reference mixture, the fresh properties and bulk density of LWC decreased with the use of the air agent or the replacement of 67% of the NWCA with LWCA. As a result of the fiber addition, both the slump test and the bulk density decreased. The addition of fibers increased the CS; the highest CS was 38.5 MPa when 0.4% GF was added, compared to 28.9 MPa for the reference mixture at the test age of 28 days. In addition, flexural and TS increased by 53% and 38%, respectively, for 0.4% GF mixes. As well as, adding 0.4% GF to LWC maintained a higher CS than other mixtures.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.191-202
• /
• 2023

Palm oil fuel ash (POFA) is a newly emerging pozzolanic material having high amount of silica content. Various forms of POFA were used in cement-based materials (CBMs) in replacement of cement in different dosages of low and high volume. Although, there are many researches on POFA to be used in concrete and mortar, however, this material was not practically used in the construction industry. Engineers and designers need to be confident to use any new developed materials by knowing all engineering properties at short and long terms. As durability concern, concrete pH value is one of the most important properties. Portland cement produces are alkaline initially, however, it may be reduced due to aging and its components. It is believed that by incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials in CBMs the pH value reduces due to utilization of Ca(OH)₂ in pozzolanic reaction. This study is the first attempts to understand the pH value of mortars containing up to 30% POFA under different curing conditions and its changes with time. The results were also compared with the pH of ground granulated ballast furnace slag (GGBFS) and fly ash (FA) content mortars. In addition, the compressive strength of different mortars under different curing conditions were also studied. The results showed that the pH value of control mix (without cementitious materials) was more than all the blended cement mortars indifferent curing conditions at the same ages. However, there was a reducing trend in the pH value of all mortar mixes containing POFA.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.251-267
• /
• 2023

In this paper, an experimental investigation is carried out to assess the inherent self-compacting properties of geopolymer mortar and its impact on flexural strength of thin-walled ferro-geopolymer box beam. The inherent self-compacting properties of the optimal mix of normal geopolymer mortar was studied and compared with self-compacting cement mortar. To assess the flexural strength of box beams, a total of 3 box beams of size 1500 mm × 200 mm × 150 mm consisting of one ferro-cement box beam having a wall thickness of 40 mm utilizing self-compacting cement mortar and two ferro-geopolymer box beams with geopolymer mortar by varying the wall thickness between 40 mm and 50 mm were moulded. The ferro-cement box beam was cured in water and ferro-geopolymer box beams were cured in heat chamber at 75℃ - 80℃ for 24 hours. After curing, the specimens are subjected to flexural testing by applying load at one-third points. The result shows that the ultimate load carrying capacity of ferro-geopolymer and ferro-cement box beams are almost equal. In addition, the stiffness of the ferro-geoploymer box beam is reduced by 18.50% when compared to ferro-cement box beam. Simultaneously, the ductility index and energy absorption capacity are increased by 88.24% and 30.15%, respectively. It is also observed that the load carrying capacity and stiffness of ferro-geopolymer box beams decreases when the wall thickness is increased. At the same time, the ductility and energy absorption capacity increased by 17.50% and 8.25%, respectively. Moreover, all of the examined beams displayed a shear failure pattern.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.123-132
• /
• 2022

This paper aims to adapt Multilinear regression (MLR) to predict the strength and toughness of SIFCON containing various pozzolanic materials. Slurry Infiltrated Fibrous Concrete (SIFCON) is one of the most common terms used in concrete manufacturing, known for its benefits such as high ductility, toughness and high ultimate strength. Assessment of compressive strength (CS.), flexural strength (F.S.), splitting tensile strength (STS), dynamic elasticity modulus (DME) and impact energy (I.E.) using the experimental approach is too costly. It is time-consuming, and a slight error can lead to a repeat of the test and, to solve this, alternative methods are used to predict the strength and toughness properties of SIFCON. In the present study, the experimentally investigated SIFCON data about various mix proportions are used to predict the strength and toughness properties using regression analysis-multilinear regression (MLR) models. The input parameters used in regression models are cement, fibre, fly ash, Metakaolin, fine aggregate, blast furnace slag, bottom ash, water-cement ratio, and the strength and toughness properties of SIFCON at 28 days is the output parameter. The models are developed and validated using data obtained from the experimental investigation. The investigations were done on 36 SIFCON mixes, and specimens were cast and tested after 28 days of curing. The MLR model yields correlation between predicted and actual values of the compressive strength (C.S.), flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity and impact energy. R-squared values for the relationship between observed and predicted compressive strength are 0.9548, flexural strength 0.9058, split tensile strength 0.9047, dynamic modulus of elasticity 0.8611 for impact energy 0.8366. This examination shows that the MLR model can predict the strength and toughness properties of SIFCON.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.199-213
• /
• 2022

Experimental and discrete element approaches were used to examine the effects of F shape non-persistent joints on the failure behaviour of concrete under uniaxial compressive test. concrete specimens with dimensions of 200 cm×200 cm×50 cm were provided. Within the specimen, F shape non-persistent joint consisting three joints were provided. The large joint length was 6 cm, and the length of two small joints were 2 cm. Vertical distance between two small joints change from 1.5 cm to 4.5 cm with increment of 1.5 cm. In constant joint lengths, the angle of large joint change from 0° to 90° with increments of 30°. Totally 12 different models were tested under compression test. The axial load rate on the model was 0.05 mm/min. Concurrent with experimental tests, numerical simulation (Particle flow code in two dimension) were performed on the models containing F shape non-persistent joint. Distance between small joints and joint angles were similar to experimental one. the results indicated that the failure process was mostly governed by both of the Distance between small joints and joint angles. The axial loading rate on the model was 0.05 mm/min. The compressive strengths of the samples were related to the fracture pattern and failure mechanism of the discontinuities. Furthermore, it was shown that the compressive behaviour of discontinuities is related to the number of the induced tensile cracks which are increased by increasing the joint angle. In the first, there were only a few acoustic emission (AE) hits in the initial stage of loading, and then AE hits rapidly grow before the applied stress reached its peak. Furthermore, a large number of AE hits accompanied every stress drop. Finally, the failure pattern and failure strength are similar in both approaches i.e., the experimental testing and the numerical simulation approaches.