Mechanical Behavior Based on Aggregates Microstructure of Ultra-high Performance Concrete

We developed ultra-high performance concrete(UHPC)incorporating mullite sand and brown corundum sand(BCS),and the quartz sand UHPC was utilized to prepare for comparison.The properties of compressive strength,elastic modulus,ultrasonic pulse velocity,flexural strength,and toughness were investigated.Scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation were also conducted to reveal the underlying mechanisms affecting macroscopic performance.Due to the superior interface bonding properties between mullite sand and matrix,the compressive strength and flexural toughness of UHPC have been significantly improved.Mullite sand and BCS aggregates have higher stiffness than quartz sand,contributing to the excellent elastic modulus exhibited by UHPC.The stiffness and volume of aggregates have a more significant impact on the elastic modulus of UHPC than interface performance,and the latter contributes more to the strength of UHPC.This study will provide a reference for developing UHPC with superior elastic modulus for structural engineering.

Effect of Modification Treatment on Chloride Ions Permeability and Microstructure of Recycled Brick-mixed Aggregate Concrete

The modification methods of pozzolan slurry combined with sodium silicate and silicon-based additive were respectively adopted to treat recycled coarse brick-mixed aggregate(RCBA)in this study.The compressive strength and chloride permeability resistance of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)before and after modification treatment were tested,and the microstructure of RAC was analyzed by mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results show that the physical properties of RCBA strengthened by modification treatment are improved,and the compressive strength and chloride permeability resistance of treated RAC are also significantly improved.The modification treatment optimizes the pore size distribution of RAC,which increases the number of gel pores and transition pores,and decreases the number of capillary pores and macro pores.The surface fractal dimension shows a significant correlation with chloride diffusion coefficient,indicating that the variation of chloride permeability of treated RAC is consistent with the microstructure evolution.

Simulation of Fracture Process of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Based on Digital Image Processing Technology

The mechanical properties and failure mechanism of lightweight aggregate concrete(LWAC)is a hot topic in the engineering field,and the relationship between its microstructure and macroscopic mechanical properties is also a frontier research topic in the academic field.In this study,the image processing technology is used to establish a micro-structure model of lightweight aggregate concrete.Through the information extraction and processing of the section image of actual light aggregate concrete specimens,the mesostructural model of light aggregate concrete with real aggregate characteristics is established.The numerical simulation of uniaxial tensile test,uniaxial compression test and three-point bending test of lightweight aggregate concrete are carried out using a new finite element method-the base force element method respectively.Firstly,the image processing technology is used to produce beam specimens,uniaxial compression specimens and uniaxial tensile specimens of light aggregate concrete,which can better simulate the aggregate shape and random distribution of real light aggregate concrete.Secondly,the three-point bending test is numerically simulated.Thirdly,the uniaxial compression specimen generated by image processing technology is numerically simulated.Fourth,the uniaxial tensile specimen generated by image processing technology is numerically simulated.The mechanical behavior and damage mode of the specimen during loading were analyzed.The results of numerical simulation are compared and analyzed with those of relevant experiments.The feasibility and correctness of the micromodel established in this study for analyzing the micromechanics of lightweight aggregate concrete materials are verified.Image processing technology has a broad application prospect in the field of concrete mesoscopic damage analysis.

Effect of Lateritic Stone Aggregate and Coconut Husk Fiber on the Properties of Concrete

Natural stone aggregate forms the bulk volume of concrete and has contributed to the increased cost of concrete production. This has led to the search for alternate aggregates such as lateritic stone for concrete production. This paper investigates the engineering properties of concrete produced with lateritic aggregate (LA) as the coarse aggregate replacement and coconut husk fibre (CHF) as reinforcement. Natural stone aggregate was replaced by LA at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, with 0.25% constant CHF by weight. A mix proportion of 1:1.5:3 with a water-cement ratio of 0.6 was used for producing concrete. A total of 162 specimens (90 cubes and 72 beams) were prepared and tested at the 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of curing. The highest compressive strength was 43.36 N/mm2 (10% LA replacement) as compared to the control of 41.51 N/mm2. The 10% LA replacement obtained the highest flexural strength of 5.35 N/mm2 as compared with the 5.29 N/mm2 for the control. The water absorption of the concrete increased from 2.8% (control) to 3.57% (50% replacement LA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed micro gaps between CHF and LA concrete. The study, therefore, concludes that the use of LA and CHF positively influenced the strength properties of concrete. 10% LA replacement of coarse aggregate and 0.25% CHF is recommended to practitioners for use.

Substitution of Aggregates in Concrete and Mortar with Coltan Mining Waste: Mechanical, Environmental, and Economic Impact Case Study

The mining process involves drilling and excavation, resulting in the production of waste rock and tailings. The waste materials are then removed and stored in designated areas. This study aims to evaluate the mechanical strength and the environmental and economic impact of using Coltan Mining Waste (CMW) as a substitute for aggregates in concrete and mortar production. To achieve this, the CMW needs to be characterised. The Dreux Gorisse method was primarily used to produce concrete with a strength of 20 MPa at 28 days. The mortars, on the other hand, were formulated according to the NF P 18-452 standard. The environmental impact of using CMW as substitutes for natural aggregates in the production of concrete and mortar was analysed using SimaPro software. The results showed that mortars and concrete made with CMW have comparable compressive strengths to the reference mortar and concrete;reduce the negative impact on ecosystem quality, human health, resources, and climate change. It has also been shown that the substitution of aggregates by CMW reduces the cost of concrete and mortar as a function of the distance from the aggregate footprint.

Three-Dimensional Multi-Phase Microscopic Simulation of Service Life of Recycled Large Aggregate Self-Compacting Concrete

Recycled large aggregate self-compacting concrete (RLA-SCC) within multiple weak areas. These weak areas have poor resistance to chloride ion erosion, which affects the service life of RLA-SCC in the marine environment. A three-dimensional multi-phase mesoscopic numerical model of RLA-SCC was established to simulate the chloride ions transportation in concrete. Experiments of RLA-SCC immersing in chloride solution were carried out to verify the simulation results. The effects of recycled large aggregate (RLA) content and RLA particle size on the service life of concrete were explored. The results indicate that the mesoscopic numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. At the same depth, the closer to the surface of the RLA, the greater the chloride ion concentration. The service life of RLA-SCC in marine environment decreases with the increase of RLA content. Compared with the service life of 20% content, the service life of 25% and 30% content decreased by 20% and 42% respectively. Increasing the particle size of RLA can effectively improve the service life of RLA-SCC in chloride environment. Compared with the service life of 50 mm particle size, the service life of 70 mm and 90 mm increased by 61% and 163%, respectively. .

Fundamental Issues Towards Unified Design Theory of Recycled and Natural Aggregate Concrete Components

In the past 20 years,recycled aggregate concrete(RAC),as a type of low-carbon concrete,has become a worldwide focus of research.However,the design methodology for RAC structural components remains a challenge.Consequently,demands for a unified design of natural aggregate concrete(NAC)and RAC components have been presented.Accordingly,this study analyses the necessity of a unified design theory and provides an in-depth demonstration of the strength determination,compressive constitutive relationship,and design method of concrete components.The coefficient of variation of RAC strength is found to be generally higher than that of NAC strength.The compressive and tensile strengths of RAC can be defined and determined using the same method as that used for NAC.The uniaxial compressive constitutive relationship between NAC and RAC has a unified mathematical expression.However,the elastic modulus of RAC decreases,and its brittleness exhibits an increasing trend compared with that of NAC.Finally,to unify the design formulae of RAC and NAC components for bearing capacity,modification factors for RAC components are proposed considering safety and reliability.Additionally,the feasibility of the proposed unified time-dependent design theory is demonstrated in terms of conceptual design and structural measures considering the effects of strength degradation and reinforcement corrosion.It is believed that this study enriches and develops the basic theory of concrete structures.

Effect of High Temperature Curing on the Frost Resistance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete and the Physical Properties of Second-Generation Recycled Coarse Aggregate under Freeze-Thaw Cycles

With the emphasis on environmental issues,the recycling of waste concrete,even recycled concrete,has become a hot spot in the field of architecture.But the repeated recycling of waste concrete used in harsh environments is still a complex problem.This paper discusses the durability and recyclability of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)as a prefabricated material in the harsh environment,the effect of high-temperature curing(60℃,80℃,and 100℃)on the frost resistance of RAC and physical properties of the second generation recycled coarse aggregate(RCA_(2))of RAC after 300 freeze-thaw cycles were studied.The frost resistance of RAC was characterized by compressive strength,relative dynamic elastic modulus,and mass loss.As the physical properties of RCA_(2),the apparent density,water absorption,and crushing value were measured.And the SEM images of RAC after 300 freeze-thaw cycles were shown.The results indicated that the frost resistance of RAC cured at 80℃ for 7 days was comparable to that cured in the standard condition(cured for 28 days at 20℃±2℃ and 95%humidity),and the RAC cured at 100℃ was slightly worse.However,the frost resistance of RAC cured at 60℃ deteriorated seriously.The RAC cured at 80℃ for 7 days is the best.Whether after the freeze-thaw cycle or not,the RCA that curd at 60℃,80℃,and 100℃ for 7 days can also meet the requirements of Grade III RCA and be used as the aggregate of non-bearing part of prefabricated concrete components.RCA_(2) which is cured at 80℃ for 7 days had the best physical properties.

Compressive Performance of Fiber Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete by Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Polyvinyl Chloride Composite Jackets

The development of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)provides a new approach to limiting the waste of natural resources.In the present study,the mechanical properties and deformability of RACs were improved by adding basalt fibers(BFs)and using external restraints,such as a fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)jacket or a PVC pipe.Samples were tested under axial compression.The results showed that RAC(50%replacement of aggregate)containing 0.2%BFs had the best mechanical properties.Using either BFs or PVC reinforcement had a slight effect on the loadbearing capacity and mode of failure.With different levels of BFs,the compressive strengths of the specimens reinforced with 1-layer and 3-layer basalt fiber reinforced polymer(BFRP)increased by 6.7%–10.5%and 16.5%–23.7%,respectively,and the ultimate strains increased by 48.5%–80.7%and 97.1%–141.1%,respectively.The peak stress of the 3-layer BFRP-PVC increased by 42.2%,and the ultimate strain improved by 131.3%,relative to the control.This reinforcement combined the high tensile strength of BFRP,which improved the post-peak behavior,and PVC,which enhanced the structural durability.In addition,to investigate the influence of the various constraints on compressive behavior,the stress-strain response was analyzed.Based on the analysis of experimental results,a peak stress-strain model and an amended ultimate stress-strain model were proposed.The models were verified as well;the result showed that the predictions from calculations are generally consistent with the experimental data(error within 10%).The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and reference for future applications of fiber-reinforced recycled concrete.

Effect of Recycled Aggregate and Slag as Substitutes for Natural Aggregate and Cement on the Properties of Concrete:A Review

Using recycled aggregate(RA)and slag instead of natural aggregate(NA)and cement can reduce greenhouse gas emissions(GHGE)and achieve effective waste recovery.In recent years,RA has been widely used to replace NA in concrete.Every year,several researchers conduct investigations on the mechanical performance and durability of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC).Due to the loose and porous material properties of RA,the mechanical properties and durability of RAC,such as strength,carbonation resistance,permeability resistance and chloride ion penetration resistance,are greatly reduced compared with natural aggregate concrete.In contrast,concrete containing slag instead of NA and cement generally improved the strength of concrete and reduced the internal porosity of materials.Herein,we discuss the effects of RA and slag on the workability,compressive strength,splitting tensile strength,ultrasonic pulse velocity(UPV)value,and elastic modulus of concrete.The relationships between the compressive strength and the splitting tensile strength,UPV value,and elastic modulus are discussed,and the optimal substitution method is proposed.In addition,various equations for calculating the compressive strength of concrete based on performance factors related to the compressive strength are summarized.

Influence of Recycling Waste Glass as Fine Aggregate on the Concrete Properties

Recent years have witnessed an increase in the quantity of waste glass(WG)across the globe.Replacing the fine aggregate with WG is one of the steps toward preserving the natural resources of the environment and creating low-cost concrete.The present study is concerned with replacing fine aggregates with glass powder(GP)at(0%,15%,30%,and 50%).It has studied the fresh and hardened properties(compressive strength,tensile strength,hardened density,and slump)for all the mentioned percent replacements.The findings have shown that all mixtures containing GP gave acceptable slump results within the design limits(2–5 cm)according to ACI standard 211.1.It has been observed that increasing the proportion of GP led to a decrease in the weight of concrete.Lastly,replacing GP with sand by 30%has led to an increase in the compressive strength by about 2.4%and 12.45%,and the tensile strength by about 2.5%and 26.54%at 7-and 28-d,respectively in comparison to normal concrete.

Experimental Investigation on Compressive Properties of Fiber Recycled Aggregate Concrete

This paper presents an experimental study to explore the compressive properties of fiber recycled aggregate concrete.A total of 75 specimens with the replacement rate of recycled coarse aggregate and fiber type were conducted under a uniaxial compressive test.The failure modes,stress-strain whole curves,peak stress,peak strain,and energy dissipation capacity were systematically observed and revealed.Test results indicate that steel fiber has the best modification effect on energy dissipation capacity and the toughness index of recycled concrete,corresponding to the enhancement of 81.75% and 22.90% on average.The addition of polyvinyl alcohol fiber can effectively improve the compressive strength and energy dissipation capacity of recycled aggregate concrete by 28.49% and 29.43% on average,respectively.The compressive strength and energy dissipation capacity of recycled aggregate concrete is increased by an average of 16.5% and 24.4% by incorporating carbon fiber.The energy dissipation capacity of recycled aggregate concrete is increased by an average of 13.5% with the incorporation of polypropylene fiber.However,the addition of carbon fiber results in a slight reduction of toughness by 16.97%,and the effect of polyvinyl alcohol fiber on the energy dissipation capacity is limited.Besides,with the increase in replacement rate,the compressive strength and the energy dissipation capacity of recycled coarse aggregate concrete with fiber decreased,and toughness first decreased and then increased.Finally,based on the analysis of test data,a segment-based stress-strain model of fiber recycled aggregate concrete was proposed,which shows good agreement with the test results.

Quality Improvement of Recycled Concrete Aggregate by Accelerated Carbonation under Different Pressure

Due to the presence of old mortar (OM) and interfacial transition zone (ITZ),recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is inferior to natural aggregate (NA).The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of accelerated carbonation on the macro-properties and micro-properties of RCA under different pressure(0.05,0.15,0.30 MPa).The macro-property tests included colour change,apparent density,water absorption,and crushing value of RCA.The micro-property tests included scanning electron microscopy (SEM),X-ray diffraction (XRD),thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC),and Vickers micro-hardness(VMH).The results showed that the change trends of apparent density,water absorption,and crushing value of RCA displayed exponential relationships as pressure increasing,with the optimum pressure of 0.30 MPa.SEM images indicated that the calcite caused by the hydration products in RCA and the Ca(OH)_(2) derived from saturated lime water improved the properties of RCA;as the apparent density increased,the water absorption and crushing value decreased.The results of XRD and TG-DSC indicated that,as the pressure increased,the masses of Ca(OH)_(2) in carbonated RCA gradually decreased,while those of CaCO_(3) gradually increased,which demonstrated that the carbonation degree gradually increased.Besides,ITZ-2 was the weakest phase in RCA,but its improvement degree of VMH by accelerated carbonation was higher than that of OM.However,RCA was not completely carbonated,but only carbonated in a certain depth after 24 h accelerated carbonation.

Mechanical and Permeability Analysis and Optimization of Recycled Aggregate Pervious Concrete Based on Response Surface Method

In this paper,the effects of different influencing factors and factor interaction on the compressive strength and permeability of recycled aggregate pervious concrete(RAPC)were studied based on the response surface method(RSM).By selecting the maximum aggregate size,water cement ratio and target porosity as design variables,combined with laboratory tests and numerical analysis,the influences of three factors on the compressive strength and permeability coefficient of RAPC were revealed.The regression equation of compressive strength and permeability coefficient of recycled aggregate pervious concrete were established based on RSM,and the response surface model was optimized to determine the optimal ratio of RAPC under the conditions of meeting the mechanical and permeability properties.The results show that the mismatch item of the model is not significant,the model is credible,and the accuracy and reliability of the test are high,but the degree of uncorrelation between the test data and the model is not obvious.The sensitivity of the three factors to the compressive strength is water cement ratio>maximum coarse aggregate particle size>target porosity,and the sensitivity to the permeability coefficient is target porosity>maximum coarse aggregate particle size>water cement ratio.The absolute errors of the model prediction results and the model optimization results are 1.28 MPa and 0.19 mm/s,and the relative errors are 5.06%and 4.19%,respectively.With high accuracy,RSM can match the measured results of compressive strength and permeability coefficient of RAPC.

Bond of Seawater Scoria Aggregate Concrete to Stainless Reinforcement

This study investigates the bond between seawater scoria aggregate concrete(SSAC)and stainless reinforcement(SR)through a series of pull-out tests.A total of 39 specimens,considering five experimental parameters—con-crete type(SSAC,ordinary concrete(OC)and seawater coral aggregate concrete(SCAC)),reinforcement type(SR,ordinary reinforcement(OR)),bond length(3,5 and 8 times bar diameter),concrete strength(C25 and C30)and concrete cover thickness(42 and 67 mm)—were prepared.The typical bond properties(failure pattern,bond strength,bond-slip curves and bond stress distribution,etc.)of seawater scoria aggregate concrete-stainless rein-forcement(SSAC-SR)specimen were systematically studied.Generally,the failure pattern changed with the con-crete type used,and the failure surface of SSAC specimen was different from that of OC specimen.SSAC enhanced the bond strength of specimen,while its effect on the deformation of SSAC-SR was negative.On aver-age,the peak slip of SSAC specimens was 20%lower while the bond strength was 6.7%higher compared to OC specimens under the similar conditions.The effects of variables on the bond strength of SSAC–SR in increasing order are concrete type,bond length,concrete strength and cover thickness.The bond-slip curve of SSAC-SR specimen consisted of micro-slipping,slipping and declining stages.It can be obtained that SSAC reduced the curve curvature of bond-slip,and the decline of curve became steep after adopting SR.The typical distribution of bond stress along bond length changed with the types of concrete and reinforcement used.Finally,a specific expression of the bond stress-slip curve considering the effects of various variables was established,which could provide a basis for the practical application of reinforced SSAC.

Experimental Behavior of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Filled Steel Tubular Columns

During the modernization or rehabilitation activity,the demolished structural waste causes large soil pollution and unavailability of natural aggregate is the big concern for the construction industry.Therefore,this manuscript deals with the Composite Steel Circular Column(CSCC)with Recycled Aggregate concrete(RAC)as infill is partly used,with the replacement of 25%and 50%in M30 grade of Concrete.And internal reinforcement steel is fully replaced by rolled steel tubes(circular and square)with varied thickness,ISA-unequal angle.Around 14 specimens are cast and examined under axial load for analysis of the deflection characteristics,the load-bearing capacity along with its buckling behavior.The experimental values are estimated through LVDT(linear variable differential transducer)at 3-phase.The curve of load-deflection is drawn with the load pattern.From the date interpretation,it is found column made of 50%-RAC has more than 25%-RAC.

Experimental Evaluating of the Physical, Mechanical and Durability Properties of Natural, Recycled and Both Combined Aggregates Based Concretes

This experimental study aims at the reuse of recycled aggregates (RA), resulting from the demolition of concrete, cement block and cement mortar, in the manufacture of common construction in Burkina Faso. The RA can readily replace natural aggregates in concrete. Then five formulations of natural and recycled aggregates based concrete for characteristic strength of 25 Mpa were prepared in addition to the natural aggregates base concrete named reference concrete (BN): two types of recycled aggregates concrete (BR), three types of recycles and natural combined aggregates base concrete (BC). The properties of natural and recycled aggregates were characterized and the physical, mechanical strength and durability properties were also evaluated for all concrete specimens. All the studied concrete formulation present a density between 2000 kg/m3 ≤ ρ ≥ 2600 kg/m3 and an average slump of 4.9 ± 0.1 cm. The obtained results indicate that the recycled aggregates are suitable for current concrete. Two out of the five combinations studied, such as the natural (BN) and combined aggregate (BC2) based concretes satisfy the mechanical characteristics (Rc28 > 25 MPa) at 28 days of age and an average absorption coefficient of 2.93% and 3.98%. The recycled aggregate based concrete (BR1, BR2) and combined aggregate based concrete (BC1), gave respective average compressive strength of 21.55 MPa, 20.50 MPa and 20.30 MPa, i.e. a difference of 13.80% to 18.80% under the characteristic strength (25 MPa) aimed at 28 days of age. Thus, the recycled aggregates are in conformity with the normative prescriptions and their use for standard concrete gives adequate physical, mechanical and durability properties for the production of the C20/25 concrete series in the common civil engineering applications.

Mesoscale Mechanical Properties and Influencing Factors of Concrete under Uniaxial Tension

Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to generate a mesoscale model of concrete with randomly packed aggregates with different shapes and sizes.The mechanical properties of concrete specimens under uniaxial tensile loads were studied using statistical results.The results indicated that the entire process of damage and failure of specimens exhibited mainly two failure types:fracture patternsⅠandⅡ.Furthermore,the influences of the aggregate content ratio,aggregate shape,aggregate size,interfacial transition zone(ITZ)strength,and porosity ratio on the concrete specimens were analyzed.The numerical simulation results showed that the elastic modulus of the concrete specimens increased approximately linearly with the aggregate volume ratio but decreased linearly with the porosity and was not affected by the ITZ strength.The tensile strength decreased with the increases in the aggregate content and porosity of the sample,but increased linearly with the ITZ strength.In addition,the aggregate shape led to a difference in the tensile strength of the concrete.

Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Recycled Concrete

The application of self-compacting recycled concrete can solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by construction waste but its mechanical properties have not been unified and need further study.The strength of recycled concrete is unstable,and its performance still needs further study.The combination of fixed sand and stone volume method and free water cement ratio method is used to determine the mix ratio of self-compacting recycled concrete.24 sets of slump expansion tests and 24 sets of cube axial compression tests were carried out to study the effect of recycled aggregate replacement rate on the flow performance and axial compressive strength of self-compacting recycled concrete,and the performance conversion formula of self-compacting recycled concrete was given.The results show that with the increase of the regenerated coarse aggregate substitution rate,the fluidity and filling property of the self-compacting regenerated concrete mix decreased.The failure of self-compacting recycled concrete is mainly due to the failure of strength between old mortar and new mixture.As the substitution rate increases from 0 to 100%,the axial compressive strength decreases by 15.2%.

Compressive Strength, Pore Size Distribution and Chloride-ion Penetration of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Incorporating Class-F Fly Ash

The effects of fly ash on the compressive strength, pore size distribution and chloride-ion penetration of recycled aggregate concrete were investigated. Two series of concrete mb：tures were prepared. The concrete mixtures in series I had a water-to-binder ratio and a cement content of 0.55 and 410 kg/ m^3 , respectively. The concrete rnixtures in series II had a water-to-binder ratio and a cement content of 0.45 and 400 kg/ ml respectively. Recycled aggregate was ased as 20% , 50% , and 100% replacements of natural coarse aggregate in the concrete mixtures in both series. In cutdition, fly ash was used as 0% , 25% and 35% by weight replacements of cement. The results show that the compressive strengths of the concrete decreased as the recycled aggregate and the fly ash contents increased. The total porosity and average porosity diameter of the concrete increased us the recycled aggregate content increased. Furtherrruore , an increase in the recycled aggregate content decreased the resistance to chloride ion penetration. Nevertheless, the replacement of cement by 25% fly ush improved the resistance to chloride ion penetration and pore diameters and reduced the total porosity of the recycled aggregate concrete.