Nas últimas décadas, a utilização de fibras de aço no reforço de elementos de concreto tem aumentado significativamente no cenário nacional e mesmo internacional, pois esta utilização melhora em muito as propriedades do material resultante, reduzindo sua fragilidade característica perante esforços de tração. Embora muito se conheça a respeito do comportamento de concretos reforçados com fibras sob solicitações uniaxiais, é sempre desejável que se possa prever adequadamente um comportamento mais amplo dos elementos feitos com tais materiais. Sendo assim, uma das soluções práticas para este tipo de questão seria a realização de ensaios sob solicitações biaxiais. No entanto, este tipo de análise se torna inviável em muitos casos, devido à falta de equipamentos adequados para sua realização. Assim, buscando-se colaborar com um melhor conhecimento dos concretos reforçados com fibras, o presente trabalho procurou desenvolver aparatos de ensaio de baixo custo capazes de solicitar corpos-de-prova em duas direções ortogonais. O comportamento do concreto reforçado com frações volumétricas de 0,5%, 1,0% e 1,5% de fibra foi, desta forma, avaliado a partir das seguintes proporções entre as tensões principais: ơ 2/ ơ 1 = 0/-1; ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -0,2/-1; ơ2 / ơ 1 = -0,5/-1; ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -1/-1. A partir das informações de resistência última e das deformações específicas obtidas nos ensaios, foi possível traçar as curvas de ruptura e analisar os padrões de ruptura do concreto reforçado com fibras de aço. Como esperado, os resultados obtidos nos ensaios mostraram que, sob estados de tensões biaxiais, ocorreu um aumento da resistência última e da rigidez do concreto para todas as relações de tensão analisadas ( ơ2/ ơ 1 = 0/-1; ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -0,2/-1;ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -0,5/-1; ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -1/-1). O aumento da resistência última em compressão biaxial, quando comparado ao concreto sob compressão uniaxial, foi de aproximadamente 20% para o concreto simples e, devido à adição de fibra, foi de aproximadamente 95% para uma relação de tensão igual a ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -0,5/-1. / In the last decades, the use of steel fibers to reinforce concrete elements has been significantly increased in the national scenario and even internationally, since its usage considerably improves the resulting material’s properties, reducing its characteristic fragility under tension. Although much is already known about the behavior of fiber reinforced concretes under uniaxial forces, a better understanding of the behavior of elements made of such materials is always desired. Therefore, a practical solution for this kind of problem would be to undertake biaxial tests. Nevertheless, this type of analysis sometimes turns out to be unviable because of the lack of adequate equipment for its realization. In this way, in an attempt to contribute with a better understanding of the fiber reinforced concretes, the present work tried to develop low-cost apparatuses capable of orthogonally loading specimens in two directions. The behavior of concrete reinforced with fiber volumetric fractions of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% was, therefore, evaluated under the following principal stresses’ proportions: ơ 2/ ơ 1 = ơ/-1;ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -0.2/-1; ơ 2/ơ 1 = -0.5/-1; ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -1/-1. From the ultimate strength values and from the obtained strains in the carried out tests, the rupture curves were possible to be plot, and the rupture modes and patterns of the fiber reinforced concretes were possible to be analyzed. As expected, the obtained results in the tests showed that, under biaxial stress states, an increase in ultimate strengths and stiffness of concretes for all the stress relations analyzed occurred ( ơ 2/ ơ 1 = 0/-1; ơ 2/ơ 1 = -0,2/-1; ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -0,5/-1; ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -1/-1). The increase in the ultimate strength in biaxial compression, when compared with concrete under uniaxial compression, was of about 20% for plain concrete and, due to the addition of fibers, about 95% for a stress relation equals to ơ 2/ ơ 1 = -0.5/-1.

O concreto é um material que possui grande versatilidade de aplicação em construções e, desde a sua criação, vem sofrendo significativas modificações tanto na sua forma de produção e aplicação, quanto na sua composição. A razão para estas constantes modificações é a busca permanente do aperfeiçoamento das propriedades do concreto, ampliando ainda mais o seu espectro de utilização. Neste contexto e, visando principalmente melhorar o seu comportamento frágil perante esforços de tração, a adição de diferentes tipos de fibras surgiu como uma alternativa bastante promissora. Assim, fibras dispersas e concreto passam a formar, juntos, um material compósito, o qual, segundo verificações experimentais, pode trazer benefícios significativos às construções sob o ponto de vista estrutural. Este é o caso do concreto reforçado com fibras de aço (CRFA), em cujos ensaios foram observados aumentos importantes de resistência à tração e à compressão biaxial com o incremento da quantidade de fibras adicionadas. Visando uma análise mais profunda deste material, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo o estudo de peças de CRFA através da análise numérica tridimensional via Método dos Elementos Finitos. Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um programa computacional, em linguagem FORTRAN 90/95, com o intuito de modelar o comportamento de estruturas executadas com este material. Com base em estudos anteriores, foi implementado no programa um modelo constitutivo capaz de simular o comportamento do concreto com a presença das fibras. A representação do comportamento dos materiais foi feita através de um modelo elastoplástico, sendo analisadas estruturas sob condições de carregamento estático de curta duração. Especificamente para a determinação do comportamento do concreto com fibras, utilizou-se uma variante da superfície de ruptura de Willam-Warnke que considera a presença das fibras através da alteração do seu meridiano de tração. Além disso, a fissuração do concreto foi representada pelo modelo de fissuras distribuídas, que leva em consideração a contribuição da matriz entre fissuras. Dados experimentais disponíveis na literatura são apresentados para efeito de comparação com os resultados obtidos através do programa computacional desenvolvido. Observou-se que o modelo matemático e a metodologia numérica empregados forneceram resultados bastante próximos aos experimentais, validando, desta forma, a modelagem do CRFA realizada neste estudo através de alterações nas propriedades do concreto em função da presença das fibras. / Concrete is a material of great versatility of application in constructions and, since its invention, it has been experimenting significant changes in its form of production and application as well as on its composition. The reason for these continued changes is a permanent search for improvement in concrete’s properties, to widen even more its spectrum of use. In this context, and targeting mainly the improvement of its fragile behavior under tension, the addition of different types of fibers came up as a promising alternative. In this way, disperse fibers and concrete form, together, a composite material that, according to experimental investigations, can bring significant contributions to constructions under a structural standpoint. This is the case of the steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC), in whose tests important tensile and biaxial compression strength increases were observed with the increment of the fiber quantity added. Aiming a deeper analysis of this material, the present work has the objective of studying SFRC elements through numerical analyses based on the Finite Element Method. For in such a way, a computational program has been developed in FORTRAN 90/95 language aiming the modeling of the behavior of structures made with this material. On the basis of previous studies, a constitutive model, capable of adequately simulate the behavior of SFRC, was implemented. The representation of the behavior of the materials was carried out through an elastoplastic model and structures under short duration loading conditions were analyzed. Specifically for the determination of the behavior of the concrete with fibers, a variant of the Willam-Warnke rupture surface has been used, which considers the fibers presence through modifications of its tension meridian. Additionally, the concrete cracking was represented in the program by the smeared cracking model, which takes into consideration the contribution of the matrix between cracks. Experimental data available in the literature are compared to the results obtained with the developed computational program. It is observed that the used mathematical model and numerical methodology give results that are quite close to the available experimental data, validating, in this way, the SFRC modeling implemented.

abstract: The main objective of this study is to investigate the behaviour and applications of strain hardening cement composites (SHCC). Application of SHCC for use in slabs of common configurations was studied and design procedures are prepared by employing yield line theory and integrating it with simplified tri-linear model developed in Arizona State University by Dr. Barzin Mobasher and Dr. Chote Soranakom. Intrinsic material property of moment-curvature response for SHCC was used to derive the relationship between applied load and deflection in a two-step process involving the limit state analysis and kinematically admissible displacements. For application of SHCC in structures such as shear walls, tensile and shear properties are necessary for design. Lot of research has already been done to study the tensile properties and therefore shear property study was undertaken to prepare a design guide. Shear response of textile reinforced concrete was investigated based on picture frame shear test method. The effects of orientation, volume of cement paste per layer, planar cross-section and volume fraction of textiles were investigated. Pultrusion was used for the production of textile reinforced concrete. It is an automated set-up with low equipment cost which provides uniform production and smooth final surface of the TRC. A 3-D optical non-contacting deformation measurement technique of digital image correlation (DIC) was used to conduct the image analysis on the shear samples by means of tracking the displacement field through comparison between the reference image and deformed images. DIC successfully obtained full-field strain distribution, displacement and strain versus time responses, demonstrated the bonding mechanism from perspective of strain field, and gave a relation between shear angle and shear strain. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2014

O concreto é um material que possui grande versatilidade de aplicação em construções e, desde a sua criação, vem sofrendo significativas modificações tanto na sua forma de produção e aplicação, quanto na sua composição. A razão para estas constantes modificações é a busca permanente do aperfeiçoamento das propriedades do concreto, ampliando ainda mais o seu espectro de utilização. Neste contexto e, visando principalmente melhorar o seu comportamento frágil perante esforços de tração, a adição de diferentes tipos de fibras surgiu como uma alternativa bastante promissora. Assim, fibras dispersas e concreto passam a formar, juntos, um material compósito, o qual, segundo verificações experimentais, pode trazer benefícios significativos às construções sob o ponto de vista estrutural. Este é o caso do concreto reforçado com fibras de aço (CRFA), em cujos ensaios foram observados aumentos importantes de resistência à tração e à compressão biaxial com o incremento da quantidade de fibras adicionadas. Visando uma análise mais profunda deste material, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo o estudo de peças de CRFA através da análise numérica tridimensional via Método dos Elementos Finitos. Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um programa computacional, em linguagem FORTRAN 90/95, com o intuito de modelar o comportamento de estruturas executadas com este material. Com base em estudos anteriores, foi implementado no programa um modelo constitutivo capaz de simular o comportamento do concreto com a presença das fibras. A representação do comportamento dos materiais foi feita através de um modelo elastoplástico, sendo analisadas estruturas sob condições de carregamento estático de curta duração. Especificamente para a determinação do comportamento do concreto com fibras, utilizou-se uma variante da superfície de ruptura de Willam-Warnke que considera a presença das fibras através da alteração do seu meridiano de tração. Além disso, a fissuração do concreto foi representada pelo modelo de fissuras distribuídas, que leva em consideração a contribuição da matriz entre fissuras. Dados experimentais disponíveis na literatura são apresentados para efeito de comparação com os resultados obtidos através do programa computacional desenvolvido. Observou-se que o modelo matemático e a metodologia numérica empregados forneceram resultados bastante próximos aos experimentais, validando, desta forma, a modelagem do CRFA realizada neste estudo através de alterações nas propriedades do concreto em função da presença das fibras. / Concrete is a material of great versatility of application in constructions and, since its invention, it has been experimenting significant changes in its form of production and application as well as on its composition. The reason for these continued changes is a permanent search for improvement in concrete’s properties, to widen even more its spectrum of use. In this context, and targeting mainly the improvement of its fragile behavior under tension, the addition of different types of fibers came up as a promising alternative. In this way, disperse fibers and concrete form, together, a composite material that, according to experimental investigations, can bring significant contributions to constructions under a structural standpoint. This is the case of the steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC), in whose tests important tensile and biaxial compression strength increases were observed with the increment of the fiber quantity added. Aiming a deeper analysis of this material, the present work has the objective of studying SFRC elements through numerical analyses based on the Finite Element Method. For in such a way, a computational program has been developed in FORTRAN 90/95 language aiming the modeling of the behavior of structures made with this material. On the basis of previous studies, a constitutive model, capable of adequately simulate the behavior of SFRC, was implemented. The representation of the behavior of the materials was carried out through an elastoplastic model and structures under short duration loading conditions were analyzed. Specifically for the determination of the behavior of the concrete with fibers, a variant of the Willam-Warnke rupture surface has been used, which considers the fibers presence through modifications of its tension meridian. Additionally, the concrete cracking was represented in the program by the smeared cracking model, which takes into consideration the contribution of the matrix between cracks. Experimental data available in the literature are compared to the results obtained with the developed computational program. It is observed that the used mathematical model and numerical methodology give results that are quite close to the available experimental data, validating, in this way, the SFRC modeling implemented.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-10-10T11:50:09Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bárbara Gomes Martins - 2016.pdf: 9049119 bytes, checksum: 4e6655174bbb6b6cfda86ff2af34b902 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-10-10T11:50:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bárbara Gomes Martins - 2016.pdf: 9049119 bytes, checksum: 4e6655174bbb6b6cfda86ff2af34b902 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-10T11:50:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bárbara Gomes Martins - 2016.pdf: 9049119 bytes, checksum: 4e6655174bbb6b6cfda86ff2af34b902 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The steel fiber-reinforced concrete have been widely used in concrete pieces to improve their mechanical properties. This research is performed an exploratory experimental analysis in order to assess the contribution of steel fibers in the shear strength of the concrete. A methodology for evaluation of the direct shear strength and the direct tension of the concrete is developed, as well as to evaluate the shear stress transfer mechanism by aggregate interlock. From the tests, it evaluates the influence of steel fibers in the transfer mechanism of shear stresses through the aggregate interlock pre-cracked plans of concrete. In the experimental development was used medium strength concrete (60 MPa), with 12.5 mm coarse aggregate varying the volume of steel fibers in 0%, 0.5% and 1.5%. The results showed that the methodology developed to evaluate the resistance to direct tensile work, but there needs some modification in the molding of concrete specimens with fibers to prevent the concentration of fibers in the specimen faces, which resulted in reducing the tensile strength of concrete. As for the direct shear test with two planes, the results showed that the test methodology worked well until the maximum force, showing a reduction in the shear strength of the concrete when compared to similar tests, but with fixed supports. Finally, the results of direct shear testing on pre-cracked (push-off test) showed that the fibers contribute significantly to the effect of aggregate interlock by reducing the opening of the crack and the sliding interface for a given shear stress. / O concreto reforçado com fibras de aço tem sido bastante utilizado em peças de concreto a fim de melhorar suas propriedades mecânicas. Nesta pesquisa, é realizada uma análise experimental exploratória a fim de avaliar a contribuição das fibras de aço na resistência ao cisalhamento do concreto. É desenvolvida uma metodologia para avaliação da resistência ao cisalhamento direto e à tração direta do concreto, bem como para avaliação do mecanismo de transferência de tensões de cisalhamento por meio do intertravamento dos agregados. A partir dos ensaios, é avaliada a influência das fibras de aço no mecanismo de transferência de tensões de cisalhamento por meio do intertravamento dos agregados em planos pré-fissurados de concreto. No desenvolvimento experimental foi utilizado concreto de média resistência (60 MPa), com agregado graúdo de 12,5 mm, variando o volume de fibras de aço em 0%, 0,5% e 1,5%. Os resultados mostraram que a metodologia desenvolvida para avaliar a resistência à tração direta funcionou, porém há a necessidade de algumas modificações na moldagem dos corpos de prova do concreto com fibras para evitar a concentração de fibras nas faces do corpo de prova, o que resultou na redução da resistência à tração do concreto. Já para o ensaio de cisalhamento direto com dois planos, os resultados mostraram que a metodologia de ensaio funcionou bem até a força máxima, mostrando uma redução da resistência ao cisalhamento do concreto quando comparado a ensaios semelhantes, porém com apoios fixos. Por fim, os resultados dos ensaios de cisalhamento direto em plano pré- fissurado mostraram que as fibras contribuem significativamente no efeito do intertravamento dos agregados por meio da redução da abertura da fissura e do deslizamento da interface para uma determinada tensão de cisalhamento.

Concrete structures may be subjected to dynamic loading during their service life. Understanding the dynamic properties of concrete structures is becoming critical because of the increased concern about the dynamic loading of both civilian and military structures, and especially, the recent increase in terrorist attacks on structures. Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is known to exhibit superior performance in its post-peak energy absorption capacity, (i.e., toughness) under flexural and tensile loading. However, the behavior of fiber reinforced concrete under compressive impact has not previously been investigated. In the present research, the response of fiber reinforced concrete was investigated over the full strain rate regime, from static loading to high strain rate loading, and finally to impact loading. The compressive toughness of FRC under static loading was studied using an existing Japanese standard (JSCE SF-5). Then, a test method for FRC under compressive impact loading was developed, involving the use of a high speed video camera system to measure the deformation of FRC cylinders under compressive impact. The strain rate sensitivity of FRC in both flexure and compression was also fully investigated. FRC was found to have higher strengths under impact loading (both flexural and compressive) than under static loading. The compressive toughness under impact loading increased due to the high peak load and the high strain capacity. FRC under flexural impact loading showed a greater strength improvement than under static flexure. FRC displays a much higher Dynamic Improvement Factor (DIF) under flexural impact than under compressive impact. It gave an overall higher performance under impact than under static loading. It also exhibited a higher strain rate sensitivity than plain concrete in both compression and flexure. Damage analysis, in terms of loss of strain energy, was carried out based on damage mechanics principles. Damage was found to increase with increasing strain rate. A new constitutive model was proposed to account for the relationship between DIF (Comp) and strain rate and the data derived from the model were found to be consistent with the experimental results. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Plastic shrinkage cracks, although not inherently structurally debilitating, expose the reinforcement in low-volume reinforced concrete roads to deleterious substances, which may reduce its effectiveness leading ultimately to structural failure. In un-reinforced low-volume concrete road these cracks appear unsightly and cause the road user an unpleasant riding experience. Many researchers believe that plastic shrinkage crack development remains a concern to the concrete industry, occurring in particularly large–area pours such as low-volume concrete roads, and therefore requires further research to understand their formation and minimization. This study reports findings on the effectiveness of oxyfluorinated polypropylene fibres to control plastic shrinkage cracks, and the effect the addition of ultra-fine material has on the formation and/or propagation of these cracks. Findings indicate that low volume dosages (2 kg/m³), of oxyfluorinated polypropylene fibre significantly reduced the formation of plastic shrinkage cracks under test conditions. Furthermore, that the addition of ultra-fine material in excess of 63 kg/m³ increased the formation and/or development of plastic shrinkage cracks.

The CSA S850 Blast standard provides guidelines that can be used to enhance the blast performance of reinforced concrete structures. In the case of beams, the standard requires the use of top continuity (compression) bars and well-detailed transverse steel to ensure strength and ductility under blast loads. However, the requirements in the CSA S850 standard are intended for normal-strength concrete structures. Given the increased use of high-strength concrete (HSC) in practice, there is a need to explore the effects of modern blast designs on the behavior of HSC structures subjected to blast loads. Accordingly, this project examines the effect of modern reinforcement detailing on the static, dynamic and post-blast performance of high-strength concrete beams. The study further examines the ability to use fibers to relax such detailing and simplify construction. A total of seventeen beams are tested. Static testing is conducted under four-point bending, with blast testing conducted using the University of Ottawa shock-tube. The post-blast behavior of the beams is assessed by conducting residual static tests on the blast-damaged specimens. The parameters investigated include the effects of: blast detailing vs. nominal detailing, steel fibers, the effect of longitudinal steel ratio (in compression and tension) and tie spacing. The results show that under static loads, the use of blast detailing significantly improves the flexural behavior of the beams in terms of ductility. Likewise, the provision of continuity (compression) bars and closely spaced ties is found to improve blast performance by better controlling displacements, increasing blast resistance, limiting damages and allowing for important post-blast residual capacity. The use of steel fibers and relaxed detailing (increased tie spacing) is found to increase resistance and improve cracking behavior under static loads, with an ability to match the blast performance of more heavily-detailed HSC specimens. The use of fibers also allowed for substantial post-blast capacity. Finally, the steel ratio (in tension, in compression and in the transverse direction) was found to affect the blast behavior of the HSC beams. In addition to the experiments, the analytical study predicts the static and blast response of the tested beams using sectional analysis and non-linear SDOF modeling. Results show that the analysis methodology was able to predict the static and blast responses of the blast-detailed and fiber-reinforced HSC beams with reasonable accuracy.

This diploma thesis deals with possibilities of application of basalt fibers in concrete and in cementitious composites. In the theoretical part there is a summary of fibers usually used for fiberconcretes. Manufacturing process of basalt fibers is described, and properties of basalt fibers are summarized. Next part deals with properties of basalt fiber reinforced concrete. Concretely fresh properties, physical-mechanical properties, shrinkage and cracking, microstructure and fire resistance. The last chapter deals with fire resistance of concrete in general. The experimental part of this diploma thesis is divided into two phases. There were two mixes of basalt fiber reinforced concrete made with basalt aggregate and one mix of concrete without basalt fibers in the first phase. Density, consistency by slump and air content were determined as fresh properties. As hardened properties density, compressive strength and flexural strength were determined. There was determined the effect of the temperatures 600 and 800 °C on density, compressive strength and outward of specimens. Also, deformation during the high temperature curing was recorded. In the second phase of the experimental part there were three mixes of cementitious composite made with basalt fibers and one cementitious composite without basalt fibers. Density was determined as a fresh property. Material was monitored during its mixing. As a hardened properties density, flexural strength and compressive strength were determined. There was determined the effect of the temperatures 600 and 800 °C on density, flexural strength, compressive strength and outward of specimens.

This diploma thesis is focused on the study of the thermal properties of high-performance fiber reinforced concrete HPFRC. The composites are based on a combination of steel and polymeric fibers. Typical properties of these materials include high mechanical strength, water resistence and salt penetration. HPFRCs are mainly used in the construction industry to build tall buildings. The differential transient method was used to study thermophysical variables. The theoretical part of the thesis described the types of concrete, their production, and their properties. Furthermore, thermophysical quantities and methods of their determination (stationary and transient methods, thermal analysis) are defined in the thesis. The aim of the thesis was to determine thermal properties, namely thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity. The results of the thesis can reveal changes in the composition of studied materials as well as critical temperatures for damaging the materials.