• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.495-511
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• 2023

In this research, the impact of micro-silica, nano-silica, and polypropylene fibers on the fracture energy of self-compacting concrete was thoroughly examined. Enhancing the fracture energy is very important to increase the crack propagation resistance. The study focused on evaluating the self-compacting properties of the concrete through various tests, including J-ring, V-funnel, slump flow, and T50 tests. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the concrete, such as compressive and tensile strengths, modulus of elasticity, and fracture parameters were investigated on hardened specimens after 28 days. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of micro-silica and nano-silica not only decreased the rheological aspects of self-compacting concrete but also significantly enhanced its mechanical properties, particularly the compressive strength. On the other hand, the inclusion of polypropylene fibers had a positive impact on fracture parameters, tensile strength, and flexural strength of the specimens. Utilizing the response surface method, the relationship between micro-silica, nano-silica, and fibers was established. The optimal combination for achieving the highest compressive strength was found to be 5% micro-silica, 0.75% nano-silica, and 0.1% fibers. Furthermore, for obtaining the best mixture with superior tensile strength, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, and fracture energy, the ideal proportion was determined as 5% micro-silica, 0.75% nano-silica, and 0.15% fibers. Compared to the control mixture, the aforementioned parameters showed significant improvements of 26.3%, 30.3%, 34.3%, and 34.3%, respectively. In order to accurately model the tensile cracking of concrete, the authors used softening curves derived from an inverse algorithm proposed by them. This method allowed for a precise and detailed analysis of the concrete under tensile stress. This study explores the effects of micro-silica, nano-silica, and polypropylene fibers on self-compacting concrete and shows their influences on the fracture energy and various mechanical properties of the concrete. The results offer valuable insights for optimizing the concrete mix to achieve desired strength and performance characteristics.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-37
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• 2010

Concrete is a heterogeneous material consisting of coarse aggregate, mortar matrix and interfacial zones at the meso level. Though studies have been done to interpret the fracture process in concrete using meso level models, not much work has been done for simulating the macroscopic behaviour of reinforced concrete structures using the meso level models. This paper presents a procedure for the mesoscopic analysis of reinforced concrete beams using a modified micro truss model. The micro truss model is derived based on the framework method and uses the lattice meshes for representing the coarse aggregate (CA), mortar matrix, interfacial zones and reinforcement bars. A simple procedure for generating a random aggregate structure is developed using the constitutive model at meso level. The study reveals the potential of the mesoscopic numerical simulation using a modified micro truss model to predict the nonlinear response of reinforced concrete structures. The modified micro truss model correctly predicts the load-deflection behaviour, crack pattern and ultimate load of reinforced concrete beams failing under different failure modes.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2016

Today, application of additives to replace cement in order to improve concrete mixes is widely promoted. Micro-silica is among the best pozzolanic additives which can desirably contribute to the concrete characteristics provided it is used properly. In this paper, the effects of AP2RC and P1RB micro-silica gels on strength characteristics of normal concrete are investigated. Obtained results indicated that the application of these additives not only provided proper workability during construction, but also led to increased tensile, compressive and flexural strength values for the concrete during early ages as well as ultimate ones with the resulting reduction in the porosity lowering permeability of the micro-silica concrete. Furthermore, evaluation of microbial contamination of the mentioned gels showed the resultant contamination level to be within the permitted range.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.461-468
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• 2018

In this paper, to access the suitability of recycled aggregate for structural applications, concrete strength i.e., compressive, tensile and flexural strength were evaluated and compared with those specimens made of natural aggregates. Test results indicated that 30 to 42% of the mentioned strength decreases. To study the performance of frame structures made of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) two reinforced RAC frames were prepared and tested under monotonic loading. The joint regions of one of the RAC frame were casted with micro-concrete. A reference specimen was also prepared using natural aggregate concrete (NAC) and subjected to a similar loading condition. The RAC frame resulted in a brittle mode of failure as compared to NAC frame. However, the presence of a micro-concrete at the joint region of an RAC frame improved the damage tolerance and load resisting capacity. Seismic parameter such as energy dissipation, ductility and stiffness also improves. Conclusively, strengthening of joint region using micro-concrete is found to have a significant contribution in improving the seismic performance of an RAC frame.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

Portland cement concrete is made with coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, portland cement, water and, in some cases, selected chemical admixtures such as air-entraining agents, water reducer, superplasticizer, and so on, and mineral admixtures such as fly ash, silica fume, slags, etc. Typically, in the concrete, the coarse aggregate and fine aggregate will occupy approximately 80 percent of the total volume of the final mix. Therefore, the coarse and fine aggregates affect to the properties of the portland cement concrete. As the natural sands are drained, it is necessary and economical to utilize crushed sands(manufactured fine aggregate). It is reported that crushed sands differ from natural sands in gradation, particle shape and texture, and the micro fines in the crushed sands affect to the quality of the portland cement concrete. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of fresh and hardened concrete with high content of micro fines. This study provides firm data for the use of crushed sands with higher micro fines.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2012

Micro-cracks with a width less than 0.1 mm in precast concrete panels do not cause structural problem, but they can cause problems in long term durability and concrete surfaces aesthetic, requiring additional repair costs. In this paper, polymer cement concrete is used to increase flexural tensile strength and to prevent micro-cracks due to construction loads on LB-DECK panels. Using 5% polymer-cement ratio, the panel crack moment is increased by improving flexural tensile strength and controlling visible micro-cracks during construction stage of LB-DECK.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2010

The majority of research that has been performed on cracking potential of concrete by shrinkage has assumed that concrete acts as a homogeneous material. However, with this approach, it is not able to evaluate the micro-cracking behavior in concrete due to autogenous shrinkage under unrestrained boundary condition (free boundary condition) nor to understand the cracking behavior properly because of the heterogeneous nature of concrete. To better understand the micro-cracking behavior of concrete induced by autogenous shrinkage, series of experiments were performed measuring the length change and acoustic emission energy. As an analytical approach, this research uses an object oriented finite element analysis code (OOF code) to simulate the behavior of the concrete on a meso-scale. The concrete images used in the simulations were directly obtained from mortar samples. From the experiments and simulation results, it was able to better understand the micro-cracking behaviour of concrete due to shrinking of paste phase and internal restraint by aggregates.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.2 no.3
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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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2001

Portland cement concrete is made with coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, portland cement, water and, in some cases, selected chemical admixture such as air-entraining agents, water reducer, superplasticizer, and so on, and mineral admixture such as fly ash, silica fume, slags, etc. Typically, in the concrete, the coarse aggregate and fine aggregate will occupy approximately 80 percent of the total volume of the finished mixture. Therefore, the coarse and fine aggregates affect to the properties of the portland cement concrete. As the deposits of natural sands have slowly been depleted, it has become necessary and economical to produce crushed sand(manufactured fine aggregate). It is reported that crushed sand differs from natural sands in gradation, particle shape and texture, and that the content of micro fines in the crushed sand affect to the quality of the portland cement concrete. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of fresh and hardened concrete with higher micro fines. This study provides a firm data to apply crushed sand with higher micro fines.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.18 no.3E
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• pp.213-219
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• 2006

Modified singular fracture process zone(S-FPZ) model is proposed in this paper to determine a fracture criterion for continuous crack propagation in concrete. The investigated fracture properties of the proposed fracture model are strain energy release rate at a micro-crack tip and the relationship between crack closure stress(CCS) and crack opening displacement(COD) in the FPZ. The proposed model can simulate the actual fracture energy of experimental results fairly well. The results of the experimental data analysis show that specimen geometry and loading condition did not affect the CCS-COD relation. However, the strain energy release rate is a function of not only specimen geometry but also crack extension. The strain energy release rate remained constantly at the minimum value up to the crack extension of 25 mm, and then it increased linearly to the maximum value. The maximum fracture criterion occurred at the peak load for specimens of large size. The fracture criterion remained at the maximum value after the peak load. The variation of the fracture criterion is caused by micro-cracking and micro-crack localization. The fracture criterion of strain energy release rate can simply be the size effect of concrete fracture, and it can be used to quantify the micro-cracking and micro-crack localizing behavior of concrete.