[pt] A utilização mais freqüente dos concretos de alto desempenho na Construção Civil exige um melhor conhecimento sobre o comportamento deste material e a verificação de possíveis modificações no dimensionamento de elementos estruturais, como a consideração do efeito de escala. Recentemente, os conceitos da teoria da mecânica da fratura para a análise do comportamento das estruturas começaram a ser utilizados. A energia de fraturamento passa a ser uma propriedade intrínseca do material, fundamental no controle da resistência à flexão e ao cisalhamento Os principais objetivos desta dissertação são: obter experimentalmente os parâmetros de fraturamento para concretos de alto desempenho através da realização de ensaios estáveis e comparar estes resultados com resultados numéricos e experimentais encontrados na literatura. A metodologia utilizada para a determinação destes parâmetros é apresentada no trabalho. Foram executados ensaios estáveis à flexão em três pontos em vigas de concreto simples com entalhe, de acordo com as especificações elaboradas pela recomendação do comitê RILEM 50-FMC. As vigas foram moldadas no Laboratório de Estruturas da PUC- Rio e os ensaios realizados no Instituto de Tecnologia (ITUC) desta Universidade. Os ensaios foram realizados com controle de deslocamento da abertura do entalhe em uma máquina servo-hidráulica Instron modelo 8502. Foram ensaiadas 75 vigas, em quatro tamanhos diferentes, com alturas variando de 38 mm a 304 mm. A espessura das vigas foi mantida constante e igual a 38 mm. Os concretos utilizados apresentaram fator água/cimento entre 0,25 e 0,37 e resistência à compressão entre 70 MPa e 90 MPa. / [en] The increasing use of high performance concrete in civil construction demands better knowledge of the behavior of this material and the review of possible changes in the design of structural elements, like the size effect. The concepts of the theory of fracture mechanics for the analysis of structures started to be used in recent days. The fracture energy became an inherent property of the material, and it is basic for the control of the nominal flexural strength and the modulus of rupture. The main purposes of this dissertation are to achieve experimentally the fracture parameters for high performance concrete by performing stable tests, and to carry out a comparison with numerical and experimental results found in literature. The methodology used for determining of these parameters is introduced in the work.Stable three-point bend tests were conducted in notched beams made with unreinforced concrete. These tests comply with the specifications given by the RILEM 50- FMC committee. The beams were cast at PUC-Rio Structural Laboratory and the tests were conducted at the Technology Institute (ITUC) of this University. The tests were performed using crack mouth opening displacement control in a closed-loop servohydraulic Instron machine model 8502. The experiments involved the testing of 75 singlenotched beams with four different sizes with depths varying from 38 mm to 304 mm. The thickness of the beams was kept constant and equal to 38 mm. The concrete had a watercement ratio varying from 0.37 to 0.25 and compressive strength between 70 MPa and 90 MPa. / [es] La utilización más frecuente de los concretos de alto desempeño en la Construción Civil exige un mejor conocimiento sobre el comportamiento de este material y la verificación de posibles modificaciones en el dimensionamiento de elementos extructurales, como la consideración de la escala. Recientemente, los conceptos de la teoría de la mecánica de la fractura para el análisis del comportamiento de las extructuras comezaron a ser utilizados. La energía de fractura pasa a ser una propriedad intrínseca del material, fundamental en el control de la resistencia a la flexión y al cisallamento Los principales objetivos de esta disertación son: obtener experimentalmente los parámetros de fractura para concretos de alto desempeño a través de la realización de ensayos estables y comparar estos resultados con los resultados numéricos y experimentales encontrados en la literatura. LA metodología utilizada para la determinación de estos parámetros se presenta en el trabajo. Se ejecutaron ensayos estables a la flexión en tres puntos en vigas de concreto simple con entalle, de acuerdo con las especificaciones elaboradas por la recomendación del comité RILEM 50 FMC. Las vigas fueron moldadas en el Laboratorio de Extructuras de la PUC Rio y los ensayos realizados en el Instituto de Tecnología (ITUC) de esta Universidad. Los ensayos fueron realizados con control de desplazamiento de la abertura del entalle en una máquina servo hidráulica Instron modelo 8502. Fueron utilizadas 75 vigas, en cuatro tamaños diferentes, con alturas variando de 38 mm la 304 mm. Se mantuvo la espesura de las vigas constante e igual la 38 mm. Los concretos utilizados presentaran factor agua/cemento entre 0,25 y 0,37 y resistencia a la compresión entre 70 MPa y 90 MPa.

A development project was undertaken within the consortia formed by Polygon and AK-konsult. The aim of this project was to map out the impact of humidity leakages on the result of humidity measurements in concrete slabs according to the so-called RBK-method. It is behind the idea of this development project that the main purpose of this thesis can be derived from. For instance, an evaluation of already existing data material from a RBK-measurement has been done. A method has been retrieved in order to compare the trend of the measured values of the relative humidity with the trend of the expected values of the relative humidity during the drying process. The main goal has been to implement this method as an instrument to analyze the actual drying process. A survey study was undertaken among the employees of the consortia in order to point out the differences that arise during the installation of the measurement equipment prior to measurement according to the RBK-method. The result of the survey has been summarized and analyzed in purpose to catch a wider glimpse over the different kinds of variables that might have an impact on the result from a RBK-measurement. The outcome from the study of the existing measurement data shows that some of the measurement spots tends to dry out faster than the calculated drying process, while other spots indicates a slower drying process. Three of them actually pointed out that they were under humidity, which implies that they still hadn’t reached the stadium of moisture equilibrium with the concrete. The main reason behind the observed discrepancies might have its explanation in the fact that measurement wholes that have been subjected to a big humidity leakage. The consequence of measurement spots subjected to big humidity leakages, is that the measured value of the relative humidity turns out to be much lower than the actual level of the relative humidity in the concrete. An observation has been made in the plausibility analysis and in the Vaisalaproject that the normative equilibrium time exceeds the number of three days that’s been ordained by RBK. A further study of the normative equilibrium time can thereby be recommended to clarify if it still can be compatible with the different kinds of concrete classes of today.

The aim of this work was to develop the method for the determination of the superperplasticizers (SP) content in the water solution. The method developed was then applied to study the SP adsorption on the individual components used for high-performance concrete and the influence of the temperature and pH values over this adsorption. Furthermore the influence of the water to binder ratio, SP, finely grounded granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, silica fume, finely ground silica sand and bauxite on the hydration process was studied by means of isoperibolic, isothermal and solution calorimetry. The compressive and flexural strength of most samples used in calorimetric experiments was also determined.

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has progressively gained interest because of its favorable strength and durability properties. Literature shows that curing temperature has a significant effect on the resultant mechanical properties of UHPC, generally resulting in increased compressive strength. However, limited datasets are currently available to ascertain the degree of change related to compressive strength as a function of curing temperature and conditions. This study investigates the effect of isothermal and submerged curing temperature conditions, ranging from 10°C to 90°C, on the compressive strength and elastic modulus development of UHPC and generates a numerical model to capture these effects. The extent and rate of compressive strength development in Cor-Tuf UHPC was found to increase with curing temperature, while only the rate of elastic modulus development increased with curing temperature. The numerical model shows reasonable agreement when compared with the experimental results and was successfully implemented in finite element analysis software.

[pt] A utilização dos concretos de alto desempenho na indústria da construção civil está se tornando muito freqüente ultimamente. Este fato impõe cada vez mais a necessidade de um melhor conhecimento sobre o comportamento deste material relativamente novo, visando principalmente manter os níveis de segurança adequados nas estruturas. As vantagens apresentadas por tal material, notadamente a sua resistência à compressão, permitiram uma melhoria generalizada nos processos construtivos e conseqüente aumento nos vãos dos elementos estruturais. Somado o fato de que os concretos de alto desempenho apresentam um comportamento reconhecidamente mais frágil, começou-se recentemente a aplicar conceitos da teoria da Mecânica da Fratura para a análise do comportamento destas estruturas, já que passa a haver a necessidade de se considerar adequadamente o efeito de escala no dimensionamento. Portanto, o objetivo principal do presente estudo é verificar experimentalmente a ocorrência do efeito de escala em concretos de alto desempenho e comparar estes resultados com resultados numéricos encontrados na literatura. Objetiva-se também estudar o comportamento dos referidos concretos nos ensaios à flexão em três pontos e calcular a sua energia de fraturamento através de dois métodos diferentes. Durante o estudo foram executados ensaios à flexão em três pontos em vigas de concreto simples com entalhe, de acordo com as especificações dadas pela recomendação do comitê RILEM 50-FMC. As vigas foram moldadas no Laboratório de Estruturas da PUC-Rio e os ensaios realizados no Instituto de Tecnologia (ITUC) desta Universidade. Os ensaios foram executados em uma máquina Instron com controle de deslocamentos. Ao todo foram ensaiadas 60 vigas, em 4 tamanhos diferentes, com alturas variando de 38mm a 304mm. Os concretos utilizados apresentaram fator água/cimento variando entre 0.37 e 0.25 e resistência à compressão entre 64 MPa e 88 MPa. / [en] The use of high performance concrete as a construction material is becoming very common lately. This fact imposes the need of a better knowledge of this material, aiming to keep the structural design with an appropriate safety level. The advantages provided by this material, specially its compressive strength, allowed a generalized improvement in the building processes e the consequent increase in the structural members size. Added the fact that the high performance concrete has a recognizably more brittle behavior, it`s started to apply some Fracture Mechanics theory concepts to analyze the structures behavior. Then, the fracture mechanics size effect should be suitably considered in design. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to verify experimentally the occurrence of the size effect phenomenon on high performance concrete and to carry out a comparison with numerical results found in the literature. It`s also objectified to study the behavior of the referred concrete in three point bent tests and to calculate its fracture energy by means of two different methods. During this study three point bend tests in notched beams made with unreinforced concrete were carried out. These tests comply with the specifications given by RILEM 50-FMC committee. The specimens were cast at the PUC- Rio Structures Laboratory and the tests were conducted at the Technology Institute (ITUC) of this university. The tests were performed in a servo-controlled materials testing system. It were tested 60 specimens, with 4 different sizes and with heights varying from 38mm to 304mm. The concrete had a water/cement ratio varying from 0.37 to 0.25 and a compressive strength between 64 MPa and 88MPa. / [es] La utilización de los concretos de alto desempeño en la industria de la construción civil se ha hecho frecuente en los últimos tiempos. Este hecho impone cada vez más la necesidad de un mayor conocimiento sobre el comportamiento de este material relativamente nuevo, con el objetivo de mantener los níveles de seguridad adecuados en las extructuras. Las ventajas presentadas por dicho material, notadamente su resistencia a la compresión, permitirán una mejoría generalizada en los procesos. Sumando el hecho de que los concretos de alto desempeño presentan un comportamiento reconocidamente más frágil, se comenzó recientemente a aplicar conceptos de la teoría de la Mecánica de la Fractura para el análisis del comportamiento de estas extructuras, debido a la necesidad de considerar adecuadamente el efecto de escala en el dimensionamiento. Por lo tanto, el objetivo principal del presente estudio es verificar experimentalmente la ocurrencia del efecto de escala en concretos de alto desempeño y comparar estos resultados con los resultados numéricos encontrados en la literatura. Se trata también de estudiar el comportamiento de los referidos concretos en los ensayos a la flexión en tres puntos y calcular su energía de fractura a través de dos métodos diferentes. Durante el estudio se ejecutaron ensayos a la flexión en tres puntos en vigas de concreto simple con entalladura, de acuerdo con las especificaciones dadas por la recomendación del comité RILEN 50-FMC. Las vigas fueron moldeadas en el Laboratorio de Extructuras de la PUC-Rio y los ensayos realizados en el Instituto de Tecnología (ITUC) de esta Universidad. Los ensayos fueron ejecutados en una máquina Instron con control de desplazamientos. Fueron ensayadas 60 vigas, en 4 tamaños diferentes, con alturas variando de 38mm la 304mm. Los concretos utilizados presentaran factor agua/cemento variando entre 0.37 y 0.25 y resistencia a la compresión entre 64 MPa y 88 MPa.

[pt] O presente trabalho avalia o efeito da utilização de concreto de ultra-alto desempenho (CUAD) em elementos estruturais, analisando seu comportamento à flexão e o impacto da utilização desse material no seu dimensionamento. Através de ensaios de caracterização do material, foram estudadas as suas propriedades mecânicas. Os resultados dos testes já apresentavam resistência à compressão de 104 MPa com 7 dias de idade e 142 MPa aos 28 dias de idade, além de um aumento na capacidade de carga e na ductilidade dos corpos de prova com o aumento da quantidade de fibras utilizadas no CUAD. Na escala estrutural, foram analisadas quatro vigas de concreto armado, onde duas foram produzidas com concreto de ultra-alto desempenho e duas com concreto convencional (CC), com taxa de armaduras de 0,44 por cento e 1,78 por cento. Primeiramente foi realizada uma análise comparativa dos resultados dos momentos obtidos experimentalmente e teoricamente (baseado nas normas NBR 6118:2014, ACI 544.4R-18 e Model Code 2010) não apresentando diferença significativa. Posteriormente, através dos resultados dos ensaios foi possível verificar que, a utilização do CUAD melhora, no geral, as propriedades mecânicas dos elementos analisados. A utilização do CUAD em vigas subarmadas apresenta resultados similares às vigas normalmente armadas com CC. Além disso, quando combinadas a utilização do CUAD com o aumento da taxa de armaduras, os resultados melhoram significativamente, apresentando, por exemplo um ganho na capacidade de carga de aproximadamente 40 por cento no aumento da taxa geométrica de armaduras e de 75 por cento com o aumento da taxa de armaduras combinada com a utilização do CUAD. / [en] The present work evaluates the effect of the use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) in structural elements, analyzing its behavior to bending and the impact of the use of this material on its dimensioning. Through tests of characterization of the material, its mechanical properties were studied. The results of the tests already presented compressive strength of 104 Mpa at 7 days of age and 142 Mpa at 28 days of age, in addition to an increase in load capacity and ductility of the specimens with the increase in the amount of fibers used in the UHPC. In the structural scale, four reinforced concrete beams were analyzed, two of which were produced with ultra-high performance concrete and two with conventional concrete (CC), with an armor rate of 0.44 percent and 1.78 percent. First, a comparative analysis of the results of the moments obtained experimentally and theoretically (based on the norms NBR 6118:2014, ACI 544.4R-18 and Model Code 2010) was performed, with no significant difference. Subsequently, through the results of the tests it was possible to verify that the use of UHPC improves, in general, the mechanical properties of the analyzed elements. The use of UHPC in underarmed beams presents similar results to beams normally armed with CC. In addition, when combined with the use of UHPC with increased reinforcement rate, the results improve significantly, presenting, for example, a gain in load capacity of approximately 40 percent in the increase in the geometric rate of reinforcements and 75 percent with the increase in the reinforcement rate combined with the use of UHPC.

[pt] O concreto de ultra-alto desempenho (CUAD) é um material cimentício avançado que possui excelente desempenho mecânico, ductilidade e durabilidade devido a uma elevada densidade de empacotamento e ao uso de fibras, promovendo benefícios à vida útil das estruturas. Grande parte das estruturas está sujeita a ações cíclicas, ou seja, variáveis com o tempo, resultando em danos de fadiga, como o surgimento e a propagação de trincas, que podem comprometer sua integridade. Assim, é essencial compreender o comportamento dos materiais sob fadiga para que sejam propostas diretrizes de projeto seguras e adequadas ao bom funcionamento das estruturas. Este trabalho visa, portanto, investigar o comportamento do concreto de ultra-alto desempenho pré-fissurado sob fadiga na flexão, quantificando sua degradação mecânica ao longo do carregamento cíclico a partir dos parâmetros de abertura de fissura (CMOD) e rigidez, contribuindo para o estudo desse tipo especial de concreto. Foram propostas equações para prever a vida à fadiga em relação ao limite superior de carga e estabelecer o limite de fadiga do concreto de ultra-alto desempenho, igual a 75,3 por cento, considerando o limite inferior igual a 30 cento do limite superior. Ainda, avaliou-se o comportamento pós-fadiga de amostras que não sofreram ruptura ao longo de 1.000.000 de ciclos, sendo possível observar que o mecanismo não gerou alterações no desempenho das amostras sob flexão para limites inferiores ao limite de fadiga. / [en] Ultra-high Performance Concrete (UHPC) is an advanced cementitious material that has excellent mechanical performance, ductility and durability due to a high packing density and the use of fibers, contributing to increase the structures lifespan. Most of the structures are subject to cyclic loads, which vary with time, resulting in fatigue damage such as the formation and propagation of cracks that could compromise its integrity. Thus, it is essential to understand the behavior of materials subjected to fatigue so that safe and proper design guidelines can be proposed for the appropriate performance of the structures. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the behavior of pre-cracked ultra-high performance concrete under flexural fatigue, quantifying its mechanical deterioration during cyclic loading through both crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) and stiffness, which will contribute to the study of this special type of concrete. Equations were proposed to predict fatigue life according to the upper load limit during the cyclic loading and to establish the endurance limit of ultra-high performance concrete in 75,3 percent, considering the lower limit load equal to 30 percent of the upper limit. Also, when evaluating the post-fatigue behavior of samples that did not fail over 1,000,000 cycles it was possible to identify that the cyclic loading did not change the performance of the samples under bending, which was due to the use of upper loads below the endurance limit.

Yes / To investigate the shear behavior of FRP (fiber reinforced polymers)-UHPC (ultra-high performance concrete) composite beams, four-point bending tests were conducted on seven FRP-UHPC specimens and two FRP-NSC (normal strength concrete) specimens, having different width and depth of concrete flange as well as FRP shear key (FSK) spacing. The slip between FRP profiles and concrete flange was controlled by employing FSK and epoxy resin bonded hybrid connection. The failure pattern, load-deflection/strain curves, and sliding response of composite beams were analyzed to study the influence of concrete type, FSK spacing, width and thickness of concrete slab. The results indicate that FRP-UHPC composite beams exhibited shear failure, while FRP-NSC composite beams experienced bending-shear failure. The composite beams demonstrated shear-lag effect, which became more pronounced with the increasing of the concrete slab width. The use of UHPC, reducing FSK spacing, and increasing the size of cross-section of concrete flange can effectively enhance the shear performance and reduce interface sliding. Formulae were developed to predict the shear capacity and deflection, considering shear deformation. The results predicted by the formulae developed match well with the experimental results. / The full text will be available at the end of the publisher's embargo: 11th Nov 2025

Non-contact lap splices placed within a single concrete placement are often used and have been studied in previous research projects. However, non-contact lap splices used with each bar in a different concrete placement such that there is a cold joint between the bars, have not been investigated. This situation is found in the repair of adjacent box beam bridges and in the construction of inverted T-beam systems, among others. It is vital to understand whether the same mechanisms are present across a cold joint with two different types of concrete as are present in traditional non-contact lap splices. In this research, eight T-beam specimens with non-contact lap splices were tested. The spacing between the bars, the splice bar blockout length, and presence of transverse bars were varied to study the effectiveness of the splices. The beams were tested in four point bending so that the splice region was under constant moment and the tension forces in the spliced bars were constant. End and midspan deflections were measured along with surface strain measurements at midspan and at the quarter span points, top and bottom. Gap openings were also measured at the ends of the blockouts. The main conclusions found from this research are that beams containing non-contact lap splices were able to develop nominal capacity with the bar spacing less than or equal to 4 in. and the blockout between 17 and 20 in. long. Extending the blockouts and adding transverse bars underneath the splices did not add to the capacity. / Master of Science

Yes / Steel wire reinforced ultra-high performance concrete (SWRUHPC) offers exceptional resistance to impacts and blast, making it a promising construction material for infrastructure with blast-resistance demands. However, limited research has been conducted on the blast-resistance characteristics and design of SWRUHPC elements under blast loading, particularly in considering multiple influencing parameters and levels. Therefore, this study employed finite element simulation methods to investigate the influence of scaled distance (Z), reinforcement ratio (ρ) and slab thickness (D) as well as slab length (L) on the failure mode and maximum deflection of SWRUHPC slabs. Range analysis and variance analysis methods were used to quantitively analyze the effects of various factors on the blast resistance performance, culminating in the proposal of a design formula for SWRUHPC slabs. The results demonstrated that SWRUHPC exhibits superior blast resistance compared to ordinary concrete, effectively reducing the occurrence of concrete spalling and splashing, thus enhancing overall structural resilience in blast scenarios. Among the four factors analyzed, their influence on maximum deflection follows this order: D > Z > ρ > L. Notably, the maximum deflection decreases by 82% when the slab thickness increases from 40 mm to 90 mm. Additionally, the established design formula for SWRUHPC slabs under different scaled distances shows good agreement with the numerical simulation results, offering valuable design guidelines for SWRUHPC slabs in protective engineering structures. / National Science Foundation of China (52308236 and 52368031), and the Major Science and Technology Research Project of the China Building Materials Federation (2023JBGS10-02), Natural Science Joint Foundation of Liaoning Province (2023-BSBA-077), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (DUT24GJ202). / The full text will be available at the end of the publisher's embargo: 22nd July 2025