Yes / The current design codes, such as ACI 318-14, EC2 and CSA23.3-04, in addition to previous research investigations suggested different expressions for concrete effectiveness factor for use in limit state design of concrete structures. All these equations are based on different design parameters and proposed for normal concrete deep beams. This research evaluates the use of different effectiveness factor equations in the upper and lower bond analyses of continuously-supported self-compacting concrete (SCC) deep beams. Moreover, a new effectiveness factor expression is suggested to be used for upper and lower bound solutions with the aim of improving predictions of the load capacity of continuously-supported SCC deep beams. For the range of deep beams considered, the strut-and-tie method with the proposed effectiveness factor formula achieved accurate predictions, with a mean of 1.01, a standard deviation of 6.7% and a coefficient of variation of 6.8%. For the upper-bound analysis, the predictions of the proposed effectiveness factor equation were more accurate than those of the formulas suggested by previous investigations. Overall, although the proposed effectiveness factor achieved very accurate predictions, further validation for the proposed formula is needed since the only data available on continuous SCC deep beams are those collected form the current study.

Yes / The present study investigated long-term drying shrinkage strains of self-compacting concrete (SCCs). For all SCCs mixes, Portland cement was replaced with 0–60% of fly ash (FA), fine and course aggregates were kept constant with 890 kg/m3 and 780 kg/m3, respectively. Two different water binder ratios of 0.44 and 0.33 were examined for both SCCs and normal concrete (NCs). Fresh properties of SCCs such as filling ability, passing ability, viscosity and resistance to segregation and hardened properties such as compressive and flexural strengths, water absorption and density of SCCs and NCs were also determined. Experimental results of drying shrinkage were compared to five existing models, namely the ACI 209R-92 model, BSEN-92 model, ACI 209R-92 (Huo) model, B3 model, and GL2000. To assess the quality of predictive models, the influence of various parameters (compressive strength, cement content, water content and relative humidity) effecting on the drying shrinkage strain as considered by the models are studied. The results showed that, using up to 60% of FA as cement replacement can produce SCC with a compressive strength as high as 30 MPa and low drying shrinkage strain. SCCs long-term drying shrinkage from 356 to 1000 days was higher than NCs. ACI 209R-92 model provided a better prediction of drying shrinkage compared with the other models. / Financial support of Higher Education of Libya (469/2009).

The Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is already in use in several countries and represents one of the biggest advances in concrete technology in the last decades. Its name is related to the growth of productivity, the improvement on constructive environment and the contribution of sustainable concrete technology that is characterized as an environment-friendly material, obtained with high volumes of industrial waste. As its development is characterized mainly by its properties in its fresh stage, the studies of its mechanical properties, such as compressive strength (fc), diametral compressive strength or traction strength (ft), and the modulus of elasticity (Ec), as its evolution and relations between each other have been little developed. The c.p s molding procedures with SCC is only modified, since the self-compacting concrete doesn t need any vibration. Within that focus, a SCC added with marble and the filler RSMG is produced, and its mechanical properties are determined and compared with a conventional concrete of reference and others SCC. The c.p. molding is also analyzed in order to verify its compactibility.The study prove that the best way to fill the mold, is similar to the one used for the reference conventional concrete, except the process of vibration. Equations of the evolution of fc and relations between fc x ft e fc x Ec to SCC are also accomplished and compared with the ones presented for conventional concrete. The results proved that the equations used of conventional concrete are accepted for the SCC. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / O concreto auto-adensável (CAA) já é utilizado em vários países e representa um dos maiores avanços na tecnologia do concreto das últimas décadas. Seu nome está relacionado com o aumento na produtividade, melhora do ambiente construtivo e contribuição da tecnologia sustentável do concreto, sendo caracterizado como um material ambientalmente amigável, e podendo ser obtido com altos volumes de resíduos industriais. Como seu desempenho está mais associado às suas propriedades no estado fresco, estudos de propriedades mecânicas, como: resistências à compressão (fc) e à tração (ft) e o módulo de deformação longitudinal (Ec), assim como sua evolução e relações entre as mesmas, têm sido pouco desenvolvidos. Dos procedimentos que antecedem a determinação das propriedades mecânicas do concreto, a moldagem dos c.p. com CAA é a única modificada, pois, o adensamento do concreto não necessita de vibração. Dentro deste enfoque, um concreto auto-adensável com a adição mineral do resíduo de serragem de mármore e granito (RSMG) é produzido, e suas propriedades mecânicas são determinadas e comparadas com as de um concreto convencional e de outros CAA. Diferentes métodos de moldagem em c.p cilíndricos com o CAA também são analisados, a fim de verificar sua auto-adensabilidade. O estudo comprova que a melhor forma de preenchimento dos moldes com CAA é semelhante ao adotado para concretos convencionais, a menos do processo de vibração. Equações de evolução de fc e relações fc x ft e fc x Ec para CAA também são obtidas e comparadas com as apresentadas para concreto convencional. Os resultados comprovam que as relações usadas para concreto convencional são aceitas para o CAA.

The primary aim of this research was to develop a method for determining the true uniaxial tensile strength of concrete by conducting a series of cylinder splitting, modulus of rupture (MOR) and cylinder/cube compression tests. The main objectives were: • Critically reviewing previous published research in order to identify gaps in current knowledge and understanding, including theoretical and methodological contributions to the true uniaxial tensile strength of concrete. In order to maintain consistency and increase the reliability of the proposed methods, it is essential to review the literature to provide additional data points in order to add additional depth, breathe and rigor to Senussi's investigation (2004). • The design of self compacting concrete (SCC), normal strength concrete (NSC) and high strength concrete (HSC) mixes and undertaking lab-based experimental works for mixing, casting, curing and testing of specimens in order to establish new empirical evidence and data. • Analysing the data, presenting the results, and investigating the application of validity methods as stated by Lin and Raoof (1999) and Senussi (2004). • To draw conclusions including comparison with previous research and literature, including the proposal of new correction factors and recommendations for future research. 29 batches of NSC, 137 batches of HSC, 44 batches of fly ash SCC and 47 batches of GGBS SCC were cast and their hardened and fresh properties were measured. Hardened properties measured included: cylinder splitting strength, MOR, cylinder compressive strength and cube compressive strength. A variety of rheological tests were also applied to characterise the fresh properties of the SCC mixes, including: slump flow, T50, L-box, V-funnel, J-ring and sieve stability. Cylinders were also visually checked after splitting for segregation. The tensile strength of concrete has traditionally been expressed in terms of its compressive strength (e.g. ft = c x c f ). Based on this premise, extensive laboratory testing was conducted to evaluate the tensile strength of the concretes, including the direct tension test and the indirect cylinder splitting and MOR tests. These tests however, do not provide sufficiently accurate results for the true uniaxial tensile strength, due to the results being based upon different test methods. This shortcoming has been overcome by recently developed methods reported by Lin and Raoof (1999) and Senussi (2004) who proposed simple correction factors for the application to the cylinder splitting and MOR test results, with the final outcome providing practically reasonable estimates of the true uniaxial tensile strength of concrete, covering a wide range of concrete compressive strengths 12.57 ≤ fc ≤ 93.82 MPa, as well as a wide range of aggregate types. The current investigation has covered a wide range of ages at testing, from 3 to 91 days. Test data from other sources has also been applied for ages up to 365 days, with the test results reported relating to a variety of mix designs. NSC, SCC and HSC data from the current investigation has shown an encouraging correlation with the previously reported results, hence providing additional wider and deeper empirical evidence for the validity of the recommended correction factors. The results have also demonstrated that the type (size, texture and strength) of aggregate has a negligible effect on the recommended correction factors. The concrete age at testing was demonstrated to have a potentially significant effect on the recommended correction factors. Altering the cement type can also have a significant effect on the hardened properties measured and demonstrated practically noticeable variations on the recommended correction factors. The correction factors proved to be valid regarding the effects of incorporating various blended cements in the HSC and SCC. The NSC, HSC and SCC showed an encouraging correlation with previously reported results, providing additional support, depth, breadth and rigor for the validity of the correction factors recommended.

Evolution of concrete is continuously taking place to meet the ever-growing demands of the construction industry. Self compacting concrete (SCC) has emerged as a result of this demand to overcome the scarcity of labour. SCC is widely replacing normal vibrated concrete (NVC) these days owing to its advantages such as homogeneity of the mix, filling ability even in heavily congested reinforcement, smooth finish, reduction in construction time etc. The ingredients used for SCC is the same as that of the NVC. But the proportioning of ingredients to achieve self compactability alters the microstructure of SCC which in turn affects the mechanical and fracture properties. Moreover, the mineral admixtures such as fly ash and silica fume when used for improving the workability of SCC help in the development of the microstructural skeleton. In this study, three SCC mixes SCC1- made with only cement, SCC2 - with fly ash in addition to cement and SCC3 - with fly ash and silica fume in addition to cement for achieving normal, medium and high strength SCC respectively are cast. The microstructural changes in SCC with and without mineral admixtures over a period of time are studied using different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The modification of mechanical properties at microstructural level brings difference in the behavior at macro level. Hence in this study, the mechanical properties at microstructural are obtained by using microindentation test and are scaled up to the macro level to predict the influence of micromechanical properties on macro response. The fracture properties of SCC is considered to be the interest of this study and is carried out with the help of advanced techniques such as acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC). From the various studies carried out, it is inferred that the mixes with mineral admixtures behave in a more brittle manner when compared to mix having no mineral admixture. It is also observed that class ‘F’ fly ash hydrates at a slow pace and the strength gain is observed after 28 days and even beyond 90 days. Hence, it is concluded that it is appropriate to consider the strength at 90 days instead of 28 days for a SCC mix with class ‘F’ fly ash. Silica fume on the other hand is observed to result in a more rapid gain in strength and this can partially offset the delay in strength gain due to fly ash.

Το θέμα της παρούσης Διδακτορικής Διατριβής είναι η συστηματική μελέτη του Αυτοσυμπυκνούμενου Κισσηροδέματος (ΑΣΚ). Ο βασικός σκοπός της υπήρξε η παραγωγή μειγμάτων δομικού ΑΣΚ, προτείνοντας παράλληλα μία μεθοδολογία σύνθεσης, εφαρμόσιμη για κάθε είδος Αυτοσυμπυκνούμενου Σκυροδέματος (ΑΣΣ). Ακόμη, έγινε προσπάθεια να διερευνηθούν τομείς στους οποίους η γνώση για το Αυτοσυμπυκνούμενο Ελαφροσκυρόδεμα (ΑΣΕΣ) είναι ακόμη ελλιπής, όπως η συνάφεια χάλυβα-ΑΣΕΣ, η συμπεριφορά γραμμικών στοιχείων οπλισμένου ΑΣΕΣ έναντι κάμψης και διάτμησης, η κατανομή και οι μέγιστες τιμές των πιέσεων που ασκεί το νωπό ΑΣΕΣ σε ξυλοτύπους και τα χαρακτηριστικά ανθεκτικότητάς του. / In this study an extended investigation of PASCC properties is conducted. The main scope was to produce structural PASCC mixtures, by proposing a mix design methodology applicable for every type of Lightweight Aggregate Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). Moreover, there has been an attempt to investigate fields where the available knowledge for LWASCC is limited, such as the steel-PASCC bond characteristics, the response of reinforced PASCC elements under reversed bending and shear actions, the formwork pressure development during and after PASCC casting and selected PASCC durability characteristics.