Evaluation of the Shear Strength of Perfobond Rib Connectors in Ultra High Performance Concrete

Since the previous strength prediction models for the perfobond rib connector were proposed based upon the results of push-out tests conducted on concretes with compressive strength below 50 MPa, push-out test is performed on perfobond shear connectors applying ultra high performance concretes with compressive strength higher than 80 MPa to evaluate their shear resistance. The test variables are chosen to be the diameter and number of dowel holes and, the change in the shear strength of the perfobond rib connector is examined with respect to the strength of two types of UHPC: steel fiber-reinforced concrete with compressive strength of 180 MPa and concrete without steel fiber with compressive strength of 80 MPa. The test results reveal that higher concrete strength and larger number of holes increased the shear strength, and that higher increase rate in the shear strength was achieved by the dowel action. The comparison with the predictions obtained by the previous models shows that the experimental results are close to the values given by the model proposed by Oguejiofor and Hosain [1].

Chemical Components of Achyranthes bidentata Leaves by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

[Objectives] To study the chemical components and relative content of Achyranthes bidentata leaves and provide a scientific basis for further development and utilization of A. bidentata leaves.[Methods] The chemical components of A. bidentata leaves were rapidly analyzed using the ultra high performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS).[Results] Thirty eight chemical compounds were identified in samples of A. bidentata leaves collected from Wen County of Henan Province, in which seven chemical compounds had the relative content higher than 5%, linoleic acid reached 25.7% and inokosterone A reached 13.8%.[Conclusions] A. bidentata leaves contain many kinds of chemical compounds. This study is expected to provide a certain basis for further extraction of linoleic acid and inokosterone A.

Development of Optimal Structural System for Hybrid Cable-Stayed Bridges Using Ultra High Performance Concrete

This study developed an optimal structural system for the hybrid cable-stayed bridge expected to have a durable lifetime of 200 years and of which major structural members are made of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) with 200 MPa-class compressive strength. This innovative cable-stayed bridge system makes it possible to reduce each of the construction and maintenance costs by 20% compared to the conventional concrete cable-stayed bridge by improving significantly the weight and durability of the bridge. Therefore, detail design is carried out considering a real 800 m cable-stayed bridge and the optimal structure of the hybrid cable-stayed bridge is proposed and verified.

Design of Eco-friendly Ultra-high Performance Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials and Coarse Aggregate

Aiming to investigate the mix design of eco-friendly UHPC with supplementary cementitious materials and coarser aggregates, we comprehensively studied the workability, microstructure, porosity, compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young’s modulus of UHPC. Relationship between compressive strength and Young’s modulus was obtained eventually. It is found that the compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young’s modulus of UHPC increase by 19.01%, 10.81%, and 5.99%, respectively, when 40 wt% cement is replaced with supplementary cementitious materials. The relationship between compressive strength and Young’s modulus of UHPC is an exponential form.

Dynamic Mechanical Behaviour of Ultra-high Performance Fiber Reinforced Concretes

Ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concretes （UHPFRC） were prepared by replacing 60% of cement with ultra-fine industrial waste powder. The dynamic mechanical behaviour of UHPFRC with different fiber volume fraction was researched on repeated compressive impact in four kinds of impact modes through split Hopkinson pressure bar （SHPB）. The experimental results show that the peak stress and elastic modulus decrease and the strain rate and peak strain increase gradually with the increasing of impact times. The initial material damage increases and the peak stress of the specimen decreases from the second impact with the increasing of the initial incident wave. Standard strength on repeated impact is defined to compare the ability of resistance against repeated impact among different materials. The rate of reduction of standard strength is decreased by fiber reinforcement under repeated impact. The material damage is reduced and the ability of repeated impact resistance of UHPFRC is improved with the increasing of fiber volume fraction.

The Rheological Properties of Ultra-fine High Performance Grouting Cement

The material properties of surface and powder, rheological property, and mineral composition were investigated by means of SEM, XRD, Malvern laser granulometer and rotary, viscometer. The influence of a admixture on ultra-fine cement rheological properties and its mechanism, were studied in material theories. The results show that the ultra-fine fly ash has a higher zeta potential, and improves flowability of ultra-fine cement paste, decreases flowability loss as time prolonging, improves compatibility between superplasticizers and cement because of the electrostatic repulsion, ball bearing effect, filling and dispersing effect of admixtures and delay-releasing effect of superplasticizers.

Simultaneous determination of kolliphor HS15 and miglyol 812 in microemulsion formulation by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with nano quantity analyte detector

A novel method for simultaneous determination of kolliphor HS15 and miglyol 812 in microemulsion formulation was developed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a nano quantitation analytical detector （UHPLC-NQAD）. All components in kolliphor HS15 and miglyo1812 were well separated on an Acquity BEH C18 column. Mobile phase A was 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid （TFA） in water and mobile phase B was acetonitrile. A gradient elution sequence was programed initially with 60% organic solvent, slowly increased to 100% within 8 min. The flow rate was 0.7 mL/min. Good linearity （r 〉 0.95） was obtained in the range of 27.6-1381.1 μg/mL for polyoxyl 15 hydroxystearate in kolliphor HS15, 0.8-202.0 μg/mL for caprylic acid triglyceride and 2.7-221.9μg/mL for capric acid triglyceride in miglyol 812. The relative standard deviations （RSD） ranged from 0.6% to 1.7% for intra-day precision and from 0.4% to 2.7% for inter-day precision. The overall recoveries （accuracy） were 99.7%-101.4% for polyoxyl 15 hydroxystearate in kolliphor HS15, 96.7%-99.6% for caprylic acid triglyceride, and 94.1%- 103.3% for capric acid triglyceride in miglyol 812. Quantification limits （QL） were determined as 27.6 μg/ mL for polyoxy115 hydroxystearate in kolliphor HS15, 0.8 μg/mL for caprylic acid triglyceride, and 2.7 μg/ mL for capric acid triglyceride in miglyol 812. No interferences were observed in the retention time ranges of kolliphor HSI5 and miglyol 812. The method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, QL, and robustness. The proposed method has been applied to microemulsion for- mulation analyses with good recoveries （82.2%-103.4%）.

Direct tension and fracture resistance curves of ultra high performance marine composite materials

Fracture behavior is one of the most important,yet still little understood properties of ultra-high performance cementitious composites(UHPCC),a new marine structural engineering material. Research on the fracture and direct tension behavior of UHPCC was carried out.The constitution law of UHPCC was divided into three phases:pre-partial debonding,partial debonding,and pullout phases.A direct tension constitution law was constructed based on the proposed fiber reinforcing parameter as a function of fiber volume fraction,fiber diameter and length,and fiber bonding strength.With the definition of linear crack shape,the energy release rate of UHPCC was derived and the R-curve equation was calculated from this.Loading tests of UHPCC using a three-point bending beam with an initial notch were carried out.The predictions from the proposed R-curve were in good agreement with the test results, indicating that the proposed R-curve accurately describes the fracture resistance of UHPCC.Introduction of a fiber reinforcement parameter bridges the fracture property R-curve and micro-composites’ mechanics parameters together.This has laid the foundation for further research into fracture properties based on micro-mechanics.The proposed tension constitution law and R-curve can be references for future UHPCC fracture evaluation.

Seismic Performance of Steel Reinforced Ultra High-strength Concrete Columns

The seismic performance of steel reinforced ultra-high-strength concrete columns(SRSHC) with various shear-span ratios(λ) were studied through a series of experiments.The concrete compressive cube strength value of experimental specimens ranged from 92.9 MPa to 108.1 MPa.The main experimental variables affecting seismic performance of specimens were axial load ratio and stirrup reinforcement ratio.The columns(λ=2.75) subjected to low cyclic reversed lateral loads failed mainly in the flexural-shear mode failure and columns(λ≤2.0) subjected to low cyclic reversed lateral loads failed mainly in the shear mode failure.Shear force-displacement hysteretic curves and skeleton curves were drawn.Coefficient of the specimen displacement ductility was calculated.Experimental results indicate that ductility decreases with axial pressure ratio increasing,and increases with stirrup reinforcement ratio increasing.Limit values of axial pressure ratio and minimum stirrup reinforcement ratio of columns are proposed to satisfy definite ductility requirement.The suggested values provide a reference for engineering application and for the amendment of the current Chinese design code of steel reinforced concrete composite structures.

Development of a Fast and Facile Analytical Approach to Quantify Radiometabolites in Human Plasma Samples Using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Introduction: Conventional metabolite analyses often require manual sample preparation, generating variability of measurements. This study describes a new method to quantify radiometabolites in blood, combining ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and turbulent flow chromatography, an alternative fully automated process allowing analyte’s extraction. Methods: A new radiotracer for dopamine transporter imaging, namely LBT-999, was used to demonstrate the method’s robustness. Matrix effect, Turboflow column loading, linearity, specificity and precision were evaluated with in vitro samples of LBT-999 in human plasma. Radiodetector sensitivity and preliminary evaluation were respectively determined by analysis of calibrated samples of [18F]LBT-999 and blood samples from 4 healthy subjects injected with [18F]LBT-999, withdrawn at 5, 15, 30 and 45 min pi. Results: With three sequential loadings (3 × 100 μL) of the Turboflow column, mean coefficients of variation were 1%, below 2%, 2% and 30.9% for matrix effect, specificity, repeatability and intermediate precision, respectively. Correlation coefficients for linearity were superior to 0.97. Limits of detection and quantification of the radiodetector were fixed at 3 and 9 c/s. Retention times for [18F]LBT-999 and the two radiometabolites detected by radio-UHPLC were 6.5, 4.8 and 9.6 min. Forty-five min after the injection, parent fraction was still predominant with 57.8% ± 25% of the total radioactivity. Conclusions: An innovative approach, allying UHPLC and Turboflow column, was developed and its sensitivity, linearity, specificity and repeatability validated. Preliminary results of the clinical trial are in accordance with literature data, demonstrating its efficiency in radiometabolites quantification.

Simultaneous Determination of Ultraviolet Absorbers and Antibacterial Agents in Textiles by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

This paper reported a new analytical method for the simultaneous determination of seven benzotriazole ultraviolet absorbers and seven antibacterial agents in textiles. After ultrasonic extraction for the textile samples in methanol, the solutions were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromotagraphy/orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/Orbitrap HRMS). It showed that a good chromatographic separation for these target compounds was achieved by a Hypersil GOLD column (100 mm × 2.1 mm × 1.9 μm) with a gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% aqueous formic acid solution (containing 0.5 mmol/L ammonium acetate). Triclosan and 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl phenol (PCMX) were detected by the orbitrap HRMS in an electrospray ionization (ESI) negative mode while the other twelve target compounds were detected by orbitrap HRMS in ESI positive mode. Full scan experiment was performed over the range from m/z 100 to m/z 500. These target compounds were routinely detected with mass accuracy below 2 × 10-6 (2 ppm) at the optimized conditions. The results showed that the limits of detection (LODs) were in the range from 0.1 to 0.3 μg/kg. The blank samples were spiked at three levels and their average recoveries varied from 80.5% to 96.3% while the relative standard deviation (RSD) changed from 3.2% to 9.9%. The present method was also applied for the determination of those ultraviolet absorbers and antibacterial agents in the commercial textiles.

Different Curing Systems on Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Coarse Aggregate

High durability and high tensile strength makes ultra-high performance concrete( UHPC) an ideal material for bridges,while its early shrinkage in the construction of cast-in-situ mass concrete leads structure crack-easily,which restricts the application of UHPC in deck system. Whether reasonable amount of coarse aggregate can influence the strength of UHPC and improve the shrinkage performance or reduce the cost is still in doubt. Besides,in order to improve its constructability and workability, whether autoclaved curing system of UHPC can be changed remains to be further researched. In response to these circumstances, a systematic experimental study on the strength of UHPC mixed with coarse aggregate in different ratios has been presented in this paper. The three curing systems,namely standard curing,180-200 ℃/1. 1 MPa autoclaved curing,and hot water curing were tested to reveal the relationship between UHPC's properties and curing systems,and the UHPC ' s microstructure was also preliminarily studied by scanning electron microscope( SEM). The experimental research can draw the following conclusions. Under the condition of the same mix ratio, autoclaved curing guarantees the highest compressive strength,followed by hot water curing and standard curing. The compressive strength of concrete increases with the temperature in the range of 25 to 90 ℃ hot water curing,and high temperature in precuring period can speed up the strength development of UHPC,but the sequence of precuring period does not obviously affect the results. In 90 ℃ hot water and autoclaved curing,the strength is over 150 MPa,and it has little relation with gravel ratio. While the value increases first and then decreases in a lower temperature curing with the increasing of gravel amount,even only about 80 MPa at room temperature. The strength increases moderately along with the increase of the curing age by standard curing,especially in the initial stage.

Flexural Bond Behavior of Rebar in Ultra-High Performance Concrete Beams Considering Lap-Splice Length and Cover Depth

This study intends to find out the correlation between the cover depth and the bond characteristics of UHPC through pull-out tests of UHPC specimens with different cover depths and bond tests of rebar using flexural members. In this experimental study, specimens are fabricated with the lap-splice length as test variable in relation with the calculation of the lap-splice length for 180- MPa UHPC. Moreover, specimens are also fabricated with the cover depth as test variable to evaluate the effect of the cover depth on the UHPC flexural members. The load-displacement curves are analyzed for each of these test variables to compute the lap-splice length proposed in the K-UHPC structural design guideline and to evaluate the influence of the cover depth on the flexural members. As a result, the stability of the structural behavior can be significantly enhanced by increasing slightly the cover depth specification of the current UHPC Structure Design Guideline from the maximum value between 1.5 times of rebar diameter and 20 mm to the maximum value between 1.5 times of rebar diameter and 25 mm.

Determination of thyreostats in bovine urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Five thyreostats(TSs),namely tapazole,thiouracil,methylthiouracil,propylthiouracil,and phenylthiouracil,were determined in bovine urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS)in positive electrospray ionization mode.Extraction and clean-up were achieved using a ChemElut cartridge with tert-butyl methyl ether,without a derivatization step.Separation was achieved on an Acquity UPLC SS T3 column.The mobile phase was acetonitrile and water containing 0.2%(v/v)formic acid.The mass spectrometer was operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode.Urine samples were spiked with TS solution at levels corresponding to 5,10,15,and 20μg/L.The accuracy(internal standard corrected)ranged from 92%to 107%,with a repeatability precision(relative standard deviation,RSD)less than 15%for all five analytes.The RSDs within-laboratory reproducibility was less than 26%.The decision limits(CCα)and detection capabilities(CCβ)were obtained from a calibration curve and were in the ranges of 3.1-6.1μg/L and 4.0-7.4μg/L,respectively.The CCαand CCβvalues were below the recommended concentration,which was set at 10μg/L.The results show that the described method is suitable for the direct detection of TSs in bovine urine.This method can also be used to determine TSs in porcine urine.

Preparation and Properties of Ultra-fine Chromium Carbonization of High Performance Mechanical Activation

The preparation of hydroxyl chromium oxide by hydrogen reduction of disodium chromate and particulate hydroxyl mechanical activation features were studied. Then with self-made hydroxyl chromium as the raw material, a direct reduction and carburization process was used to prepare ultra-fine chromium carbonization. Through SEM and XRD, the high performance mechanical activation, key coefficients, microstructure, hardness and wear-resisting property were investigated. The results reveal that suitable mechanical activation and carbon reducing carbonization temperature, carbonization time, carbon content are beneficial to obtaining ultra-fine chromium carbonization. Typically, when the time of high performance grinding is 5 min, the carbon reducing temperature is 1100 ℃, the carbon reducing time is 1h, the carbon content is 28%, and finally the particle size of chromium carbide powder is 1 μm. Under this condition of preparation of ultra-fine chromium carbide, both the hardness and wear resistance are better than those in the industrialization of chromium carbide coating.

UHPC预制管混凝土组合柱抗震性能

为研究在低周反复荷载下超高性能混凝土(UHPC)预制管混凝土组合柱的抗震性能,进行共计3根UHPC预制管混凝土组合柱和1根钢筋混凝土柱的拟静力试验,分析在不同UHPC强度和核心混凝土有无配筋情况下,各组合柱试件的破坏模式、位移延性、耗能能力、刚度退化等方面抗震性能.分析结果表明:UHPC预制管混凝土组合柱试件的滞回曲线较为饱满,破坏形态基本相同,均为整体压弯破坏;与传统钢筋混凝土(RC)柱相比,UHPC预制管混凝土组合柱刚度、屈服荷载、延性性能均有提升;随着UHPC强度增大,组合柱试件的滞回曲线更为饱满,耗能能力增强,残余位移小,水平峰值荷载和位移延性系数分别提高了20.60%和6.40%,表现出良好的整体抗震性能;采用ABAQUS程序建立组合柱的有限元分析模型,计算结果与试验结果吻合良好;轴压比、长细比、UHPC强度是影响UHPC预制管混凝土组合柱抗震性能的重要参数,可为同类工程设计提供参考.

高强钢筋增强UHPC-CFST组合桥墩抗震性能研究

采用有限元软件ABAQUS,开展了高强钢筋增强UHPC-CFST组合桥墩的抗震数值建模分析,通过与已有试验结果的对比,验证了建模方法的准确性。在此基础上,分析了轴压比、UHPC强度、UHPC厚度和钢管屈服强度等参数对组合桥墩受力性能的影响规律,并给出了各参数的建议取值范围。研究结果表明:增大轴压比和纵筋配筋率可提升组合桥墩的水平承载力和耗能能力,然而会限制试件的变形;提高UHPC强度和UHPC厚度,组合桥墩的水平承载力和位移延性系数均呈现出先增大后减小的趋势;提升钢管屈服强度可稳步增强组合桥墩的水平承载力;增加钢管厚度可明显提升组合桥墩的抗震性能,而体积配箍率和混凝土强度对组合桥墩的抗震性能影响较小。基于分析数据样本,采用多元非线性回归分析得到水平峰值荷载和位移延性系数的计算方法,公式计算值与有限元分析值吻合良好。

高强钢丝布增强UHPC约束混凝土柱轴压性能

为掌握新型高强钢丝布增强超高性能混凝土(UHPC)的约束效应,研究高强钢丝布面密度和层数变化对约束混凝土柱轴压性能的影响规律.首先,利用混凝土泊松比、延性指数和韧性指数对高强钢丝布增强UHPC的约束效应进行评估;其次,考虑高强钢丝布与UHPC提供的约束力,建立复合约束层的侧向约束力模型;最后,基于Ottosen破坏准则和有效约束指标,建立约束混凝土轴压本构模型.研究结果表明:约束柱受压时呈明显的延性破坏,高强钢丝布增强UHPC约束体系可有效抑制裂缝发展,减缓加载后期试件刚度退化;与未约束柱相比,约束柱极限承载力、峰值压应变和峰值应力的最大增幅分别为147.0%、104.0%和58.0%;当高强钢丝布层数从1层增加至2层,面密度增加至3.3倍时,约束柱极限承载力、峰值压应变和峰值应力分别提高了8.4%、29.3%和15.8%,延性指数和韧性指数分别提高了50.3%和44.2%.对比经典约束混凝土轴压本构模型,本文建立的模型结果与试验结果吻合度较高.

硫酸盐侵蚀后UHPC-NC结合面的抗渗性能研究

研究了结合面粗糙度(Ⅰ、Ⅱ)、硫酸盐侵蚀龄期(0、45、90、210、330 d)对超高性能混凝土-普通混凝土(UHPC-NC)试件结合面抗渗性能的影响,并分析了微观机理。结果表明:无论结合面的粗糙度多大,随着侵蚀龄期的增加,UHPC-NC试件结合面的抗渗性能基本呈先增后降的趋势,当侵蚀龄期为90 d时,UHPC-NC试件结合面的抗渗性能相对最好;总体而言,相较于粗糙度为Ⅰ的UHPC-NC试件结合面,粗糙度为Ⅱ的UHPC-NC试件结合面的抗渗性能相对更好;在硫酸盐侵蚀下,UHPC-NC试件内部孔隙中生成了具有膨胀性的腐蚀产物(石膏、钙矾石),当其过量时会导致混凝土内部拉应力增大,产生膨胀裂缝,从而削弱UHPC-NC试件结合面的抗渗性能。