This study is to compare the performance of recycled aggregate concrete and the impact of up to 50% cement replacement with fly ash on durability. Water content, sieve analysis, standard and modified compaction tests were performed to assess the physical properties of the recycled aggregate concrete. Accelerated aging tests were performed to predict the long term durability of the recycled aggregate concrete. Following Arrhenius modeling and TTS and SIM accelerated aging protocols, a time versus stiffness master curve was created. This allowed the prediction of equivalent age using experimental data and theoretical analysis. To account for environmental exposure, the specimens underwent 24 and 48 hours of wet-dry cycling and subjected. Overall there was an increase in stiffness and strength from the specimens containing fly ash. All tests performed predicted equivalent age beyond the testing period of 144 hrs. and up to 7 years. Specimens containing fly maintained a constant and higher density to environmental exposure. / by Lillian Gonzalez. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

In recent years, high strength concrete (HSC) is becoming an attractive alternative to traditional normal strength concrete (NSC), and is used in a wide range of applications. With the increased use of HSC, concern has developed regarding the behavior of such concrete in fire. Until now, the fire performance of HSC is not fully understood and more research is needed. Full-scale fire testing is time consuming and expensive, and the real fire scenario is different from the standard fire. Performance-based assessment methods, including numerical analysis and simplified method, are being accepted in an increasing number of countries. In this dissertation, the fire testing results both of HSC and NSC are presented, performance-based numerical models are developed to study the fire performance of reinforced concrete (RC) members, and simplified calculation methods are proposed to estimate the load capacity of fire-damaged RC columns/beams. A detailed and comprehensive literature review is presented that provides background information on the high temperature behavior of concrete materials and RC members, as well as information on fire performance assessment procedures and objectives. The fire testing results of seven batches of HSC and NSC are presented and discussed. The test results indicated that the post-fire re-curing results in substantial strength and durability recovery, and its extent depends upon the types of concrete, temperature level, and re-curing age. The fire tests also showed that violent explosive reduced the risk of HSC explosive spalling. The surface crack widths were also reduced during the re-curing process, and in most cases, they were found within the maximum limits specified by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) building code. / Numerical models are developed herein to investigate the behavior in fire of RC columns and beams. The models have been validated against fire test data available in literature, and used to conduct parametric studies, which focused on the size effect on fire resistance of RC columns, and the effect of concrete cover thickness on fire endurance of RC beams. Simplified calculation methods have been developed to predict the load capacity of fire damaged RC columns/beams. This method is validated by five case studies, including thirty-five RC columns tested by other investigators. The predicted results are compared with the experimental results, and the good agreement indicates the adequacy of the simplified method for practical engineering applications. / by Lixian Liu. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The FDOT has been using supplementary cementitious materials while constructing steel reinforced concrete marine bridge structures for over 3 decades. Previous findings indicated that such additions in concrete mix makes the concrete more durable. To better understand corrosion propagation of rebar in high performance concrete: mature concrete samples that were made (2008/2009) with Portland cement, a binary mix, a ternary mix and recently prepared (April 2016 with 50% OPC + 50% slag and 80% OPC + 20% Fly ash) concrete samples were considered. None of these concretes had any admixed chloride to start with. An accelerated chloride transport process was used to drive chloride ions into the concrete so that chlorides reach and exceed thechloride threshold at the rebar surface and initiate corrosion. Electrochemical measurements were taken at regular intervals (during and after the electro-migration process) to observe the corrosion propagation in each sample. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Le béton de chanvre est aujourd'hui le matériau de construction agro-ressource le plus développé en Europe. Il se compose de chanvre et de liant minéral (chaux) mélangé à l'eau. Généralement, il est utilisé pour ses propriétés d'isolation thermique dans le bâtiment. La plupart des blocs de béton de chanvre qui ont été étudiés, présentent un comportement fragile et une très faible résistance mécanique. Les formulations sont généralement riches en liant et légèrement compactées. Jusqu'à présent, le béton de chanvre n'est pas considéré comme un matériau porteur. Il est principalement utilisé comme remplissage isolant, combiné avec des composants de structure en bois, béton ou maçonnerie. Une étude a testé d'autres formulations, avec des teneurs plus élevées en granulats grâce à un procédé de compactage, afin d'améliorer à la fois la rigidité et la résistance des mélanges durcis. Dans ces formulations, l’ajout des granulats de chanvre, plus légers et plus poreux que la chaux, abaisse de manière significative la conductivité thermique. Le présent travail est une étude expérimentale du comportement à la compression et au cisaillement du béton de chanvre, afin d’utiliser ce matériau bio-sourcé dans le contreventement des bâtiments à ossature bois, tout en maintenant de bonnes qualités d'isolation thermique dans le bâtiment. Deux formulations compactées, M1 et M4 ont été expérimentées, ainsi que des éprouvettes obtenues à partir de blocs de commerce Chanvribloc®. Deux séries d’essais ont été réalisées. La première est portée sur la compression uni-axiale dans chaque direction pour caractériser l'anisotropie mécanique du matériau. Cette anisotropie a été engendrée par le procédé de compactage. La deuxième série d’essais permet de caractériser le comportement de cisaillement des formulations étudiées. Dans cette étude, un dispositif spécial d’essai de cisaillement a été développé. Il permet de caractériser au cisaillement des éprouvettes sous différentes contraintes normales appliquées. Les champs de déformations des éprouvettes cisaillées ont été suivis par stéréo- corrélation d’images durant les essais. Les résultats expérimentaux de compression ont montré que ce matériau est anisotrope, même lorsqu'il est industriellement mis en place par vibrations. Le matériau a plus spécifiquement un comportement isotrope transverse. Le comportement dans le sens longitudinal est caractérisé par une ductilité très élevée, tandis que le comportement transversal est très fragile, avec un comportement très variable et instable. Les résultats expérimentaux en cisaillement montrent une ductilité élevée de ce matériau. Ce comportement est intéressant pour le contreventement et le comportement sous action sismique des bâtiments avec des murs constitués de béton de chanvre. Des modélisations et applications numériques à l’échelle structurelle d’un bâtiment à plusieurs étages ont été réalisées, pour illustrer l’utilisation des blocs de béton de chanvre en contreventement de bâtiments à ossature bois. Les formulations les plus compactées présentent un meilleur comportement sous actions sismiques modérées et moyennes, par rapport aux formulations les moins compactées à la mise en œuvre, tandis que les murs en Chanvribloc à l’état actuel, ne permettent pas de contreventer les bâtiments en zones sismiques modérés ou moyennes. / Lime and hemp concrete (LHC) is nowadays the most developed bio-based aggregate building material in Europe. It consists of hemp shiv and mineral binder mixing with water. Generally, bio-based materials like LHC are used for their thermal insulation properties in building. Most blocks of Lime Hemp Concrete which have been studied, show a brittle behavior and a very low mechanical strength. The formulations are generally rich in binder and slightly compacted. Up to now, this material is then not considered as a load bearing material and is mainly used as filler insulation, combined with structure components made of wood, concrete or masonry. A study has tested other formulations, with higher contents of aggregates thanks to a compaction process, in order to improve both the rigidity and the strength of the hardened mixtures. In these formulations, shiv which has higher amount is definitely lighter and more porous than lime, which prevents a significant increase in thermal conductivity. The present work of my PhD is an experimental study of the compressive and shearing behavior of hemp concrete, in order to study the load-bearing capacity and bracing of this bio based material, while maintaining good qualities of thermal insulation in building. Two compacted formulations were tested M1 & M4, as well as samples obtained from trade-blocks Chanvribloc®. Two series of tests were performed. The first one is a uniaxial compression test in each direction for characterizing the mechanical anisotropy of the material. This anisotropy is induced by the compacting process. The second one permits to characterize the shearing behavior of the different mix-designs. In this study, an original shear device was developed, specifically designed for this kind of material, which allows shearing under controlled normal stress. An image processing performed was carried out, using a camera and ARAMIS image processing software during shear tests, to evaluate the fields of deformations and to study the behavior of the specimen during the shear test. The compressive experiments results have shown that this material is anisotropic, even when it is industrially molded by vibrations. The material has a transverse isotropic behavior. The behavior in the longitudinal direction is characterized by very high ductility, while the transverse behavior is very brittle, with a highly variable and unsteady behavior. The experimental results in shear show a high ductility of this material. These results are very promising, an interesting behavior of LHC walls in term of potential bracing. Numerical modeling and applications have been carried out to illustrate the use of hemp concrete blocks for bracing buildings. The formulation M4 exhibits a better behavior under moderate and average seismic actions, compared to the formulation M1, while the Chanvribloc walls in the present state do not allowthe buildings to be braced in moderate or medium seismic zones.

In order to study the mechanical performance of dry-cast synthetic fiber reinforced concrete (SynFRC), samples of varying geometry, fiber content, and environmental exposure were developed and tested using the modified indirect tensile test. The samples created consisted of three different thicknesses (with two different geometries), and six different fiber contents that differed in either type, or quantity, of fibers. Throughout the duration of this research, procedures for inflicting detrimental materials into the concrete samples were employed at a number of different environments by implementing accelerated rates of deterioration using geometric adjustments, increased temperature exposure, wetting/drying cycles, and preparation techniques. The SynFRC samples studied were immersed in a wide range of environments including: the exposure of samples to high humidity and calcium hydroxide environments, which served at the control group, while the sea water, low pH, and barge conditioning environments were used to depict the real world environments similar to what would be experienced in the Florida ecosystem. As a result of this conditioning regime, the concrete was able to imitate the real-world effects that the environments would have inflicted if exposed for long durations after an exposure period of only 20-24 months. Having adequately conditioned the samples in their respective environments, they were then tested (and forensically investigated) using the modified indirect tensile testing method to gather data regarding each sample’s toughness and load handling capability. By analyzing the results from each sample, the toughness was calculated by taking the area under the force displacement curve. From these toughness readings it was found that possible degradation occurred between the fiber-matrix interface of some of the concrete samples conditioned in the Barge environment. From these specimens that were immersed in the barge environment, a handful of them exhibited multiple episodes of strain softening characteristics within their force displacement curves. In regard to the fibers used within the samples, the PVA fibers tended to pull off more while the Tuff Strand SF fibers had the highest tendency to break (despite some of the fibers showing similar pull off and breaking failure characteristics). When it comes to the overall thickness of the sample, there was clear correlation between the increase in size and the increase in sample toughness, however the degree to which it correlates varies from sample to sample. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The addition of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has introduced a comprehensive reinforcing effect to the mechanical and electrochemical properties of commercial concrete, including fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) and steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC). Although this has been proven effective and applicable, further investigation and study is still required to optimize the strengthen result which will involve the exfoliation of h-BN into single-layered nano sheet, improving the degree of dispersion and dispersion uniformity of h-BN into concrete matrix. There is currently no direct method to test the degree of dispersion of non-conductive particles, including h-BN, in concrete matrix, therefore it is necessary to obtain an analogous quantification method like SEM, etc. The reinforcing mechanism on concrete, including FRC and SFRC is now attracting a great number of interest thanks to the huge potential of application and vast demand across the world. This study briefly describes the reinforcing mechanism brought by h-BN. In this study, different samples under varied conditions were prepared according to the addition of h-BN and dispersant to build a parallel comparison. Characterization is mainly focused on their mechanical properties, corrosive performance and SEM analysis of the cross-section of post-failure samples.

Long term durability is a major concern for wide-scale use of recycled aggregate materials in civil engineering construction. The purpose of this study is to provide an insight into the damaging effects of combined wet-dry cycles and repeated mechanical loading in a recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) base course material made from recycled crushed concrete aggregate and cement. A coordinated experimental program followed by a mechanistic pavement modeling and life cycle analysis was conducted as part of this research study. This laboratory investigation was divided into three phases each consisting of both wet-dry exposed specimens (WD), and control or non wet-dry exposed specimens (NWD). Phase I experiments involved monotonic loading tests under compression and flexure to evaluate the strength properties. Phase II involved testing a total of 108 cylindrical specimens in cyclic compressive loading at three different stress ratios. After each regime of cyclic loading, residual compressive strengths were determined. In addition, the load-deformation hysteresis loops and the accumulated plastic deformation were continuously monitored through all loading cycles. Phase III included a flexural fatigue test program on 39 beam specimens, and fracture testing program on 6 notched beam specimens, each one having 19-mm initial notch. Traditional SR-N curves, relating the Stress Ratio (SR) with the number of cycles to failure (N or Nf), were developed. Fatigue crack growth rate and changes in Stress Intensity Factors were obtained to determine Paris Law constants and fracture toughness. A mechanistic analysis of a typical highway pavement incorporating RAC base was performed with KENPAVE program, followed by a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) using the GaBi software. It was found that the specimens subjected to wet-dry cycles suffered significantly higher damage expressed in terms of accumulated plastic deformation, and loss of residual compressive strength, modulus, fatigue endurance limit, and design life, compared to specimens not exposed to wet-dry cycles. Although such degradation in material properties are important considerations in pavement design, a concurrent Life Cycle Analysis demonstrated that recycled aggregate concrete base course still holds promise as an alternative construction material from environmental stand point. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Orientador: José Luiz Antunes de Oliveira e Sousa / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T02:16:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GeadosSantos_FabioLuis_M.pdf: 8564383 bytes, checksum: 72e9522142ccde293049d4563ab69368 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Nos últimos anos, o aumento no número de construções mais altas e complexas fez com que o estudo das propriedades mecânicas do concreto na ruptura em tração fosse foco de muitas pesquisas. O concreto desenvolve, durante o carregamento, diferentes processos de coalescência e crescimento de micro-fissuras e, devido a sua natureza heterogênea, um enorme esforço ainda é requerido para o desenvolvimento de um modelo constitutivo capaz de descrever aspectos relevantes do seu comportamento. A essa premissa soma-se a discussão da validade dos procedimentos de ensaio em descrever o comportamento real do material, devido à influência estrutural (forma da geometria, condições de contorno e tamanho) do espécime de teste. O comportamento quase-frágil do concreto, caracterizado pelo desenvolvimento de uma zona de processos inelásticos e/ou zona de processos de fratura (ZPF) ao redor do fronte da trinca, quando na ruptura em tração, requer uma lei constitutiva ¿ chamada lei coesiva, curva tensão-abertura de fissura (? ¿ w), curva de amolecimento ou função coesiva (?=f(w)) ¿ que relaciona a tensão desenvolvida no fronte da fratura, isto é na ZPF, e a sua abertura como ingrediente para modelagem da nucleação e da propagação da fratura, seja esta representada de maneira implícita e/ou explícita. Desenvolveu-se um software para a determinação automática da lei constitutiva utilizando-se curvas da relação carga versus abertura da boca fratura (load versus crack mouth opening displecement ¿ P-CMOD) ou da relação carga versus deslocamento no ponto de aplicação (P-?) obtidas em ensaios com vigas prismáticas ranhuradas em flexão em três pontos (Three-Point-Bend Test), com taxas de carregamento variada. O objetivo desse trabalho é avaliar a lei coesiva-viscosa proposta por Rosa et al. (2012) utilizando o software desenvolvido para o ajuste de curvas P-? numéricas com curvas de vigas ranhuradas de concreto de alta resistência, ensaiadas com taxas de carregamento variando da ordem de ? ?=?10?^(-5) mm/s a ? ?=?10?^(+1) mm/s / Abstract: In recent years, the increase of high and more complex constructions, many researches focus on the study of the mechanical properties of concrete at failure. The concrete under loading develops different processes of coalescence and growth of micro-cracks, and due to its heterogeneous nature, a great effort is still required to develop a constitutive model capable of describing the relevant aspects of its behavior. In addition to this premise is the discussion of validity of tests that describe the real behavior of the material, due to the structural influence (shape of the geometry, boundary conditions and size) of the test specimen. The quasi-brittle behavior of concrete, characterized by the development of a zone of inelastic processes and/or fracture processes (ZPF) around the crack front at failure, requires a constitutive law ¿ called cohesive law curve stress-crack opening (? ¿ w), softening or cohesive function (?=f(w)) ¿ curve that relates the stress developed across the front of the fracture, i. e., the ZPF, and its opening displacement as an ingredient for modeling fracture nucleation and propagation, represented implicitly and/or explicitly. A software developed for automatic determination of a constitutive law using curves of load versus relative fracture mouth opening (P-CMOD) or the load versus displacement relationship at the application line (P-?) obtained in tests with notched prismatic beams in Three-point Bend Test, with varying loading rates. This study aims at the evaluation of the viscous-cohesive model proposed by Rosa et al. (2012), using a software developed for the curve fitting P-? numerical curve with notch beams of high strength concrete, tested with loading rate numerical in the order between ? ?=?10?^(-5) mm/s and ? ?=?10?^(+1) mm/s / Mestrado / Estruturas e Geotécnica / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

It has been known that the nucleation and growth of cracks and defects dominate the fatigue damage process in brittle or quasi-brittle materials, such as woven fabric composites and concrete. The behaviors of these materials under multiaxial tensile or compression fatigue loading conditions are quite complex, necessitating a unified approach based on principles of mechanics and thermodynamics that offers good predictive capabilities while maintaining simplicity for robust engineering calculations. A unified approach has been proposed in this dissertation to simulate the change of mechanical properties of the woven fabric composite and steel fiber reinforced concrete under uniaxial and biaxial fatigue loading. The boundary surface theory is used to describe the effect of biaxial fatigue loading. A fourth-order response tensor is used to reflect the high directionality of the damage development, and a second-order response tensor is used to describe the evolution of inelastic deformation due to damage. A direction function is used to capture the strength anisotropic property of the woven fabric composite. The comparisons between model prediction results and experimental data show the good prediction capability of models proposed in this dissertation.

O concreto autodensável (CAA) vem conquistando o espaço do concreto convencional (CCV), predominantemente pelo fato de não demandar adensamento, eliminando parte da mão de obra. As propriedades do CAA em seu estado endurecido são maiores do que no concreto convencional por apresentar diferença na distribuição dos poros. Com adição de fibras de aço ao CAA, as propriedades mecânicas são melhoradas principalmente nos esforços de tração na flexão. Relacionado a isso, a presente pesquisa buscou avaliar o comportamento mecânico do CAA com a incorporação de diferentes formas de fibras de aço nos teores de 0,5%, 0,75% e 1,0% nos tipos ancorada, raiada e corrugada e, com diferentes adições minerais: sílica ativa (AS) e fíler calcário (AF). Os compósitos foram submetidos a ensaios tanto no estado fresco como no estado endurecido. No estado fresco, foram executados os ensaios de espalhamento, t500, funil V e caixa L e no estado endurecido os ensaios de resistência à compressão axial, módulo de elasticidade e resistência à tração na flexão. Com o objetivo de analisar o comportamento da zona de transição, todas as misturas sofreram ensaios de microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados apontaram que foi possível manter as características de adensabilidade do CAA para todas as misturas. O ganho na resistência à compressão foram mais expressivas com as fibras tipo ancorada e corrugada no teor de 1,0% com sílica ativa. No módulo de elasticidade os ganhos não foram significativos. Na resistência à tração na flexão, quando comparado com a resistência à compressão, o maior ganho foi de 8,40% para adição de sílica ativa e de 10,44% para fíler calcário no teor de 1,0% de fibra de aço tipo ancorada. / The autodensible concrete (CAA) has been conquering the space of conventional concrete (CCV), predominantly because it does not demand densification, eliminating part of the workforce. The properties of CAA in its hardened state are larger than in conventional concrete because of the difference in pore distribution. With addition of steel fibers to the CAA, the mechanical properties are improved mainly in the tensile stresses in the flexion. The present study aimed to evaluate the mechanical behavior of the CAA with the incorporation of different forms of steel fibers in the 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0% in the anchor, corrugated and anchor types, with different mineral additions: active silica (AS) and limestone filler (FA). The composites were tested in both the fresh and hardened state. In the fresh state, the tests of spreading, t500, funnel V and box L and in the hardened state the tests of resistance to axial compression, modulus of elasticity and tensile strength in the flexion were executed. In order to analyze the behavior of the transition zone, all the blends underwent scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that it was possible to maintain the characteristics of the CAA for all mixtures. The gain in the compressive strength was more expressive with the anchored and corrugated type fibers in the 1.0% content with active silica. In the modulus of elasticity the gains were not significant. In the flexural tensile strength, when compared to the compressive strength, the highest gain was 8,40% for the addition of active silica and 10,44% for limefilter in the content of 1.0% of type steel fiber anchored.