The thesis is focused on a test on determination of the fracture-mechanical parameters of quasi-brittle materials, especially concrete. What is referred to as the wedge-splitting test is considered, for which a variety of shapes of notched specimen can be used. This work is exclusively focused on the cylinder-shaped specimen of diameter 150 mm and breadth of 100 mm. The test is performed virtually using Atena 2D FEM software. Progress of failure is observed during loading of the specimen for various notch lengths. The amount of energy released for the development the failure outside of the tested cross-sectional area (weakened by the notch) is quantified and the size of the fracture process zone is investigated. The described analysis is performed for several material sets witch differ in cohesive properties of the quasi-brittle material expressed via the so-called characteristic length. Suitable proportions of the test specimen are sought, in order to avoid the failure and thus also the energy dissipation outside of the specimen ligament area during the experimental tests, which shall lead to more accurate estimates of fracture-mechanical parameters of the tested material.

The thesis deals with research of pulse compression of the acoustic signal in terms of applications in civil engineering. Based on the study and analysis of these methods, automated measuring equipment for non-destructive testing with pseudorandom sequence of maximum length and automated signal analysis, have been designed and implemented. In a single test cycle are obtained three parameters that characterize the linear and nonlinear behavior of the sample. A nonlinear parameter, Time of Flight of ultrasonic wave in the sample is further in the work compared with the conventional pulse measuring, and spectral analysis is compared with the method impact-echo. Functionality and optimization of the testing method was performed on a total of three sets of test pieces made of various building materials. The experiments proved simple result interpretation, and high sensitivity to structural damage associated with temperature loading. The results were correlated with conventional nondestructive methods and by destructive testing was measured change in compressive strength and flexural strength. This work also includes continual measurement of fundamental frequency influenced by moisture on a mortar sample. Use of pulse compression signal is in the civil engineering quite unusual. Only in recent years this topic is discussed in scientific articles with increasing frequency. Great potential lies in the association of three test methods into a single. Beneficial is high test speed and measurement reproducibility, but also theoretical possibility of testing massive test elements.

Byggindustrin har i dagsläget en negativ klimatpåverkan och infrastrukturen likaså. Många länder har därför försökt undersöka möjligheten att hitta ett långsiktigt och hållbart alternativ till det konventionella reparationsmaterialet. Olika material undersöks, olika optimerade betongrecept testas för att förstå hur miljöpåverkan har minimeras för att förlänga livslängden hos betongkonstruktioner. Vid reparation av en bro är det viktigt att ta hänsyn till både kostnader och miljöpåverkan under hela dess livscykel. Kostnader som uppstår är investeringskostnader samt drift- och underhållskostnader. Miljöpåverkan från betongkonstruktioner i produkt skedet består av materialframställning, byggtransporter och produktion på byggarbetsplatserna. totala växthusgasutsläppet summeras och beräknas i kg CO2-ekv. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att studera den långsiktiga hållbarheten hos UHPC med hjälp av beräkningsmodeller såsom livscykelanalys och livscykelkostnadsanalys med avsikt att applicera reparationstekniken. Flera UHPC recept ställs mot det konventionella reparationsmaterialet detta för att kunna bedöma miljöpåverkan och kostnadseffektiviteten hos materialen. Dvs om det går det att minska klimatutsläppet och kostnaderna. De jämförda recepten är olika UHPC-recept samt traditionell betong. Recepten appliceras slutligen på en befintlig bropelare för att undersöka de olika receptens tillämpbarhet som reparationsmaterial ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv. Det saknas tillräckligt med kunskap om UHPC:s långtidseffekter, speciellt om reparationsintervall. Med åtanke på materialets höga draghållfasthet och beständighet tillsammans med UHPC:s strukturella egenskaper har antaganden gjorts att materialet är reparationsfri under konstruktionens livslängd. Det vill säga att bropelaren som undersökts med UHPC i studien inte behövt repareras under sin livslängd. Resultatet från livscykelkostnadsanalysen visar att UHPC är dyrare i både kubikmeter (m3) och kvadratmeter (m2) med tanke på täckskiktets tjocklek än traditionell betong i materialpriset. Men med tanke på att UHPC är underhållsfritt har den en mindre livscykelkostnad. Resultatet från livscykelanalysen visar att UHPC blandningarna har större miljöpåverkan per kubikmeter. Då de olika täckskiktetstjocklek relateras till pelarens längd erhålls resultat där UHPC medför slankare konstruktioner och besparingar upp emot 50% mindre betongvolym (för den 6 m långa pelaren i fallstudien). Med UHPC som reparationsmaterial medför det till att bron inte behöver repareras under dess livslängd. Bropelaren som repareras med UHPC kommer därför ha en mindre miljöpåverkan än den traditionella betongen. Långsiktig hållbarhet och mindre totala växthusgasutsläpp (som är i riktlinje med EU:s och regeringens klimatkrav) erhålls för anläggningskonstruktioner med UHPC. / The construction industry has a negative climate impact and so does the infrastructure. Which is due to frequent repairs that are not sustainable. Many countries have therefore tried to explore the possibility of finding a long-term and sustainable alternative to conventional repair materials. Different materials are examined, different optimized concrete recipes are tested to understand how the environmental impact can be minimized and the service life of concrete structures extended. When repairing a bridge, it is important to take into account both costs and environmental impact throughout its life cycle. Costs that arise are investment costs as well as operating and maintenance costs. The environmental impact from concrete structures in the product phase consists of material production, construction transports and production at construction sites. The total greenhouse gas emissions are summed up and calculated in kg CO2 eq. The purpose of this thesis is to study the long-term sustainability of UHPC using calculation models such as life cycle analysis and life cycle cost analysis with the intention of applying the repair technique. Several UHPC prescriptions are set against the conventional repair material in order to be able to assess the environmental impact and cost-effectiveness of the materials. That is, if it is possible to reduce climate emissions and costs. The compared recipes are different UHPC recipes and traditional concrete. The recipes are finally applied to an existing bridge pillar to investigate the applicability of the various recipes as repair materials from a sustainability perspective. There is a lack of knowledge about the long-term effects of UHPC, especially about repair intervals. Given the high tensile strength and durability of the material together with the structural properties of the UHPC, it has been assumed that the material is repair-free for the life of the structure. That is, the bridge pillar examined with UHPC in the study did not need to be repaired during its lifetime. The results from the life cycle cost analysis show that UHPC is more expensive in both cubicmeters (m3) and square meters (m2) given the thickness of the cover layer than traditional concrete in the material price. However, given that UHPC is maintenance free, it has a lower lifecycle cost. The results from the life cycle analysis show that the UHPC mixtures have a greater environmental impact per cubic meter when the cover layer varies. As the thickness of the different cover layers is related to the length of the pillar, results are obtained where UHPC leads to slimmer constructions and savings of up to 50% less concrete volume (for the 6 m long pillar in the case study). With UHPC as repair material, this means that the bridge does not need to be repaired during its service life. The bridge pillar that is repaired with UHPC will therefore have a smaller environmental impact than the traditional concrete. Long-term sustainability and smaller total greenhouse gas emissions (which are in line with EU and government climate requirements) are obtained for plant constructions with UHPC.