Ultrasonic wave attenuation measurements have been used to successfully characterize the microstructure and material properties of inhomogeneous materials; these ultrasonic techniques have the potential to provide for the in situ characterization of heterogeneous, cement-based materials. Recent research has applied existing acoustic scattering models to predict ultrasonic attenuation in relatively simple cement-based materials with good results. The goal of the current research is to extend this past work and to investigate the influence of elastic inclusions in order to simulate a more realistic microstructure: a cement paste matrix material that contains both sand inclusions and air voids. The sand inclusions simulate fine aggregates as they are present in real civil engineering structures, while the air voids provide an additional microstructure that is present in concrete components. This research considers an independent scattering model as well as a self-consistent effective medium theory approach in order to model the scattering attenuation due to the sand inclusions in the cement paste matrix. The research develops a reliable measurement technique essential to assess the wave attenuation of the particulate materials. Subsequently, the ultrasonic wave attenuation is measured in cement paste specimens of various types. The measured attenuation is then compared to the model predictions and the results are discussed. Finally, theoretical approaches to model the described three-phase materials are presented and discussed.

Insitu cementitious stabilisation is an economical, environmentally sustainable and socially advantageous means of rehabilitating pavements. With the recent availability of a wide range of binders and advanced construction equipment, the characterisation of cementitiously stabilised pavement materials has become the focus of further advancement of this technology. Australian practice has moved towards the use of Indirect Diametric Tensile (IDT) methods for the characterisation of these materials. A draft protocol for the IDT test has been prepared and specifies samples to be compacted by gyratory compactor. This procedure provides for both monotonic and repeated load testing, which aims to measure the material???s strength, modulus and fatigue life. A range of host materials, including a new crushed rock and a reclaimed existing pavement base course, were assessed when stabilised with a General Purpose cement binder as well as with a slag-lime blended binder. Materials were assess for their inherent material properties, Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS), Unconfined Compression modulus, IDT strength and modulus under both monotonic and repeated load. A number of amendments and refinements to the testing protocol were recommended. These included the use of minimum binder contents to ensure the binder was uniformly distributed and to promote heavy binding of the materials to ensure they behaved elastically. It was also recommended that samples be gyratory compacted to a pre-determined sample height to allow a constant density to be achieved. The variability of the test results was examined. UCS results were found to be comparatively as variable as other researchers had reported. IDT strength results contained a similar level of variability, which was considered to be acceptable. Modulus results, both monotonic and repeated load, were found to be five to ten times more variable than strength results, which is a generally accepted trend for modulus testing. Under repeated loading, some challenges with the test protocol were encountered. The primary challenge was obtaining reliable and repeatable diametrical displacement data for modulus calculation. This was partially overcome by the insertion of smooth spacers to prevent the Linear Voltage Displacement Transformer (LVDTs) becoming caught on the sample sides. The achievement of reliable and repeatable IDT modulus results through improved displacement measurements should be the focus of future research efforts in this area.

Autogenous shrinkage is of concern in high performance concrete mixtures, when specific properties like strength and durability are enhanced. Factors like low watercement ratio, low porosity and increased hydration kinetics which are associated with high performance concrete mixtures are also responsible for the development of autogenous shrinkage. With about two decades of research into autogenous shrinkage, uncertainties still exist with testing procedure, effect of supplementary cementitious materials, modelling and prediction of autogenous shrinkage. The primary focus of this study is to understand mechanisms which have been postulated to cause autogenous shrinkage like chemical shrinkage and self desiccation. In addition, this study has considered properties like porosity and internal empty voids in the analysis of the causes of bulk volume deformations of the cementitious paste systems with and without mineral admixtures. The study begins with an experimental investigation of chemical shrinkage in hydrating cementitious paste systems with the addition of fly ash, slag and silica fume using the test method recently accepted by the ASTM. This was followed by the experimental investigation of autogenous shrinkage in cementitious paste. The autogenous shrinkage in paste mixtures is studied from an early age (~1.5 hours after addition of water) for cementitious systems at a water-cementitious ratio of 0.32 (w/c 0.25 for limited mixture proportions). A non-contact measurement method using eddy current sensors were adopted. The hydration mechanism of the cementitious paste systems was then modelled using CEMHYD3D, which is a 3 dimensional numerical modelling method successfully used to study, simulate and present the hydration developments in cementitious systems. Properties like chemical shrinkage, degree of hydration, total porosity and free water content; all of which have been obtained from the CEMHYD3D simulation have been cross correlated with the experimental results in order to more comprehensively understand the mechanism contributing to bulk volume change under sealed conditions. The experimental investigations are extended to study the development in concrete with and without mineral admixtures (i.e., silica fume, fly ash and slag). Self desiccation driving the development of autogenous shrinkage has been used extensively across literature but as an alternative the author has proposed using internal drying factor in modelling autogenous shrinkage. The "internal drying factor" is described as the ratio of the empty voids (due to chemical shrinkage) to the total porosity at any point of time of hydration. Independent of the mixture proportions, a linear trend was observed between the autogenous shrinkage strain and increase in internal drying factor. Thus the internal drying factor could be incorporated into semiempirical models while attempting to predict autogenous shrinkage. An increase in the compressive strength of matured concrete at 1 year had a strong correlation to the observed autogenous shrinkage strains irrespective of the cementitious system. It is believed this could be because of the increase in gel-space ratio which is intern linked to the degree of hydration and porosity of the microstructure. The author has obtained strong evidence that the micro-structural changes associated with high strength and durable concrete have a direct impact on the autogenous shrinkage of concrete. Hence, the author suggests that autogenous shrinkage should be investigated and allowable values be stipulated as design criterion in structures that use high strength-high performance concrete.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Western Sydney, 2001. / "A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Western Sydney." Bibliography: leaves 163 - 170.

abstract: The main objective of this study is to investigate the mechanical behaviour of cementitious based composites subjected dynamic tensile loading, with effects of strain rate, temperature, addition of short fibres etc. Fabric pullout model and tension stiffening model based on finite difference model, previously developed at Arizona State University were used to help study the bonding mechanism between fibre and matrix, and the phenomenon of tension stiffening due to the addition of fibres and textiles. Uniaxial tension tests were conducted on strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC), textile reinforced concrete (TRC) with and without addition of short fibres, at the strain rates ranging from 25 s-1 to 100 s-1. Historical data on quasi-static tests of same materials were used to demonstrate the effects including increases in average tensile strength, strain capacity, work-to-fracture due to high strain rate. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), glass, polypropylene were employed as reinforcements of concrete. A state-of-the-art phantom v7 high speed camera was setup to record the video at frame rate of 10,000 fps. Random speckle pattern of texture style was made on the surface of specimens for image analysis. An optical non-contacting deformation measurement technique referred to as digital image correlation (DIC) method was used to conduct the image analysis by means of tracking the displacement field through comparison between the reference image and deformed images. DIC successfully obtained full-filed strain distribution, strain versus time responses, demonstrated the bonding mechanism from perspective of strain field, and corrected the stress-strain responses. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Civil Engineering 2013

The need for economical, sustainable, safe, and secure shelter is an inherent global problem and numerous challenges remain in order to produce environmentally friendly construction products which are structurally safe and durable. The use of sisal, a natural fiber with enhanced mechanical performance, as reinforcement in a cement based matrix has shown to be a promising opportunity. This work addresses the development and advances of strain hardening cement composites using sisal fiber as reinforcement. Sisal fibers were used as a fabric to reinforce a multi-layer cementitious composite with a low content of Portland cement. Monotonic direct tensile tests were performed in the composites. The crack spacing during tension was measured by image analysis and correlated to strain. Local and global deformation was addressed. To demonstrate the high performance of the developed composite in long term applications, its resistance to tensile fatigue cycles was investigated. The composites were subjected to tensile fatigue load with maximum stresses ranging from 4 to 9.6 MPa at a frequency of 2 Hz. The composites did not fatigue below a maximum fatigue level of 6 MPa up to 106 cycles. Monotonic tensile testing was performed for composites that survived 106 cycles to determine its residual strength.

Asphalt-Portland Cement Concrete Composite (APCCC) is a hot-mix asphalt with air voids in the range of 25 to 30 percent which is later filled with resin modified cement grout. The resin modified cement grout consists of portland cement, fly ash, sand, water, and prosalvia (PL7) additive. The objective of the research was primarily to evaluate the asphalt-portland cement concrete composite under laboratory conditions. Asphalt-portland cement concrete composite specimens were prepared using the Marshall procedure. The physical and durability properties of APCCC were evaluated at one, three, seven, and 28 days of curing. The evaluated physical properties include stability, indirect tensile strength, compressive strength, and resilient modulus, while the evaluated durability properties include water sensitivity, freeze-thaw and chloride intrusion resistance. Specimens were also tested for different moist curing levels to evaluate the optimum moist curing period. Three moist curing periods were evaluated: no-moist curing, one-day moist curing, and three-day moist curing. The test results were compared with those of SM-5 hot-mix asphalt (a Virginia surface mix); results of chloride intrusion resistance were compared with those of portland cement concrete specimens exposed to similar conditions. The study concluded that asphalt-portland cement concrete composite is an effective alternative technique to be used as an overlay on bridge decks especially with preformed membranes, due to its high strength, durability, and lower air void content. / Master of Science

Highway drainage pipes utilize concrete reinforced with steel wire to help mitigate water, earth, and traffic loads. Drainage pipes reinforced with zinc electroplated steel fibers offer a lower steel alternative to traditional steel wire cage reinforcements. The objective of the thesis research was to determine the physical and electrochemical characteristics of zinc electroplated steel fiber corrosion propagation. Experimental programs include: Fracture analysis of zinc electroplated steel fibers embedded in dry-cast concrete pipes exposed to varying chloride concentrations; Visual analysis of zinc electroplated steel fibers embedded in concrete exposed to varying chloride concentrations; Electrochemical analysis of zinc electroplated steel fibers embedded in concrete exposed to varying chlorides; Chloride threshold determination for zinc electroplated steel fibers immersed in simulated pore solution. Between the four experimental programs the most significant conclusion is that oxygen, moisture, and chlorides past the chloride threshold must be present for corrosion to propagate significantly on the zinc electroplated steel fibers. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Wood pulp fibers are a unique reinforcing material as they are non-hazardous, renewable, and readily available at relatively low cost compared to other commercially available fibers. Today, pulp fiber-cement composites can be found in products such as extruded non-pressure pipes and non-structural building materials, mainly thin-sheet products. Although natural fibers have been used historically to reinforce various building materials, little scientific effort has been devoted to the examination of natural fibers to reinforce engineering materials until recently. The need for this type of fundamental research has been emphasized by widespread awareness of moisture-related failures of some engineered materials; these failures have led to the filing of national- and state-level class action lawsuits against several manufacturers. Thus, if pulp fiber-cement composites are to be used for exterior structural applications, the effects of cyclical wet/dry (rain/heat) exposure on performance must be known. Pulp fiber-cement composites have been tested in flexure to examine the progression of strength and toughness degradation. Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), a three-part model describing the mechanisms of progressive degradation has been proposed: (1) initial fiber-cement/fiber interlayer debonding, (2) reprecipitation of crystalline and amorphous ettringite within the void space at the former fiber-cement interface, and (3) fiber embrittlement due to reprecipitation of calcium hydroxide filling the spaces within the fiber cell wall structure. Finally, as a means to mitigate kraft pulp fiber-cement composite degradation, the effects of partial portland cement replacement with various supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) has been investigated for their effect on mitigating kraft pulp fiber-cement composite mechanical property degradation (i.e., strength and toughness losses) during wet/dry cycling. SCMs have been found to be effective in mitigating composite degradation through several processes, including a reduction in the calcium hydroxide content, stabilization of monosulfate by maintaining pore solution pH, and a decrease in ettringite reprecipitation accomplished by increased binding of aluminum in calcium aluminate phases and calcium in the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phase.

[pt] O presente trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo do comportamento mecânico, os mecanismos de fissuração e a autocicatrização de compósitos cimentícios reforçados com fibras de curauá. Desenvolveram-se três tipos de compósitos distintos, cada um reforçado com uma, três ou cinco camadas de tecido unidirecional de curauá. O comportamento mecânico foi avaliado por meio de ensaios de tração direta e flexão a quatro pontos. Estudaram-se os mecanismos de fissuração por meio de fotografias obtidas ao longo dos ensaios, além de análises por correlação digital de imagens (Digital Image Correlation - DIC). Estágios de carregamento foram identificados e associados com o espaçamento entre as fissuras formadas. Os corpos de prova de flexão foram instrumentados com strain gauges nas faces inferior e superior, a fim de medir as deformações de tração e compressão. Dessa forma, foi possível realizar um estudo sobre o desenvolvimento da linha neutra e correlacionar as deformações com espaçamento entre fissuras. A capacidade de autocicatrização dos compósitos foi avaliada por meio de ensaios mecânicos cíclicos e de carregamento contínuo, e também por acompanhamento da evolução das fissuras. Estas foram monitoradas com o auxílio de microscópio estereoscópico. As amostras foram expostas a diferentes ambientes (seco, ciclos de água borrifada, imersão em água) e a influência deles foi avaliada. Todos os compósitos apresentaram strain/deflection hardening com formação de múltiplas microfissuras. Fissuras na presença de água apresentaram cicatrização total e parcial, demostrando que o material desenvolvido é promissor para a ocorrência de autocicatrização. / [en] The present work aims to study the mechanical behavior, cracking mechanisms and the autogenous healing capability of cementitious composites reinforced with curauá fabric. Composites with one, three and five fabric layers were produced. Their mechanical behavior was evaluated through direct tensile and four point bending tests. The cracking mechanisms were studied using image analysis of both photographs took during the tests and Digital Image Correlation (DIC). Various stages of loading were identified and associate with the crack formation. The effect of flexural cracking on the composite neutral axis position was analyzed using strain-gages and correlated with the crack spacing. The autogenous healing capability of the three layered composite system was analyzed by means of the mechanical behavior, in cyclic bending and constant load tests. The crack evolution was follow with microscope stereoscope. The samples were subject to several conditions (RH of 55 percent, cycles of spayed water, water immersion) and their influence was evaluated. All the composites presented strain/deflection hardening behavior with multiple microcrack formation. Cracks exposed to water were partially or totally healed, demonstrating that three layered composite is a promising material for autogenous healing.