The main objective of this study was the application of strength, fracture and creep/relaxation tests to plain and fibre-reinforced high-strength concretes. Initially, five grades of concrete were developed and evaluated. Target 28 day compressive strengths were 40,60,80 100 and 120 N/mm2, the latter three being high-strength concretes (HSCs) containing a süperplasticiser and 10% silica fume. The others were normal-strength mixes used for comparison purposes. Each grade was made with 10 mm maximum-sized crushed limestone and gravel coarse aggregates making ten mixes in total. All were required to have sufficiently high workability and stability to accept reasonable amounts of fibre reinforcement. The data reported allows estimates of mix proportions for a range of HSC mixes to be determined. Various amounts of steel and polypropylene fibres were then added to the ten mixes to determine their optimum and maximum practical concentrations. The traditional type of toughness test based on un-notched beams in four-point loading was not employed. Instead, notched beams in three-point loading (equivalent to the RILEM work-of-fracture arrangement) and compact compression specimens were used. Both were tested under closed-loop conditions using crack-mouth opening displacement (CMOD) control. Post-cracking toughness was determined by means of the 15a nd 110to ughness indices given in ASTM C 1018. It was found that though fracture-based tests under CMOD control were an improvement on more traditional techniques, 15 and 110 were too insensitive to allow fibre type and volume to be differentiated. Next, work-of-fracture tests to measure the fracture energy, GF, were carried out on the plain concretes, initially under quasi-static loading. Both load/deflection and load/CMOD curves were recorded. GF showed little change with strength for a given aggregate type. Even though similar grades of crushed limestone and gravel HSCs had different GF values, the measure was still considered unsuitable for characterising the fracture properties of concrete. Similar experiments were then carried out on all ten mixes at five orders of magnitude of test duration (30 seconds to 2 days). GF appeared to be independent of strain rate. Both types of test highlighted the greater suitability of load/CMOD rather than load/deflection curves when evaluating GF. Finally, combined fracture and relaxation tests were undertaken in an attempt to obtain medium term fracture parameters. Though the CMOD was locked at 90,70 and 50% of the peak load in the strain-softening region, the deflection, when measured, showed a noticeable reduction over the seven days of each experiment, suggesting that significant cracking and stress redistribution within the fracture process zone was taking place. This finding has opened up a major area of important future research by confirming that the use of quasi-static fracture parameters in finite element studies is suspect.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: FRC (Fibre-reinforced concrete) has become a common form of secondary and even primary reinforcing in some applications throughout the world. In South Africa, the structural applications are limited primarily to steel fibres while cheaper, lighter and more durable synthetic fibres have been side-lined due to low stiffnesses. The purpose of this research project is to investigate the behaviour of synthetic fibre-reinforced concrete (SynFRC) using fibres which are locally available in South Africa, and to propose a performance-based specification and test method for the use of these fibres. In order to achieve this, single fibre pull-out tests were performed on four locally available polypropylene fibres. It was found that the average bond stresses of the fibres are influenced primarily by the fibre cross sectional shape, longitudinal geometry and surface treatment, and secondarily by the aspect ratio. The W/C ratio had little effect on the single fibre performance of non-treated fibres, but appeared to have a slight effect on the single fibre performance of the surface treated fibre. From the experimental results, the highest fibre bond stress will be generated by using a fibre with an X-shaped cross section, longitudinal crimping and applying a surface treatment to this fibre. It also appears that the bond stress distribution for flat fibres is close to uniform, while the bond stress distribution for non-flat crimped fibres has a high mechanical interlock component at the surface end. Macro-mechanical performance tests were performed by means of the BS EN 14651 (2007) three point beam bending test and the ASTM C1550 (2012) Round Determinate Panel Test (RDPT). These tests were selected following a thorough literature review. The RDPT was found to be more consistent and able to identify trends which the three point beam bending test could not. In addition, the three point beam bending test’s most popular output, the Re,3 value tended to be misleading with varying W/C ratios, and it is recommended that the equivalent flexural tensile strength be used instead if the three point beam bending test is used. The macro-mechanical testing showed that increasing the fibre dosage did increase post-cracking performance. The flat fibres’ performance was significantly better than that of the non-flat fibres, and also increased at a faster rate with increasing fibre dosage. The post-cracking performance decreased with increasing W/C ratios and increasing aggregate sizes. The macro-mechanical performance was inversely proportionate to the single fibre performance. The macro-mechanical performance decreased with increasing fibre bond stress, and increased with increasing equivalent diameter, which equates to fewer fibres in a set volume of fibres. Finally, basic principles were developed from the data. These principles were used to predict the RDPT and three point beam bending test performance parameters based on fibre dosage, single fibre properties (bond stress and equivalent diameter), W/C ratio and aggregate size from the available data. The principles can be further refined with more experimental data. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vesel-gewapende beton word regoor die wêreld as ’n algemene vorm van sekondêre en selfs primêre versterking gebruik. In Suid-Afrika is die strukturele toepassings hoofsaaklik tot staal vesels beperk, terwyl goedkoper, ligter en meer duursame sintetiese vesels vermy word as gevolg van lae styfhede. Die doel van hierdie navorsingsprojek is om die gedrag van sintetiese-veselversterktebeton (SynFRC) te ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van vesels wat in Suid-Afrika beskikbaar is, en 'n prestasie-gebaseerdespesifikasie en toetsmetode vir die gebruik van sintetiese vesels voor te stel. Enkelveseluittrektoetse is op vier plaaslik beskikbare polipropileen vesels uitgevoer. Daar is gevind dat die gemiddelde verbandspanning van die vesel hoofsaaklik deur die vesel deursnee vorm, lengte meetkunde en oppervlak behandeling beïnvloed word, en tweedens deur die aspek verhouding beïnvloed. Die W/C-verhouding het min effek op die enkelveselprestasie van nie-behandelde vesels, maar het 'n effek op die enkeleveselprestasie van die oppervlak-behandelde vesel gehad. Die eksperimentele resultate wys dat die hoogste vesel verbandspanning deur 'n vesel met 'n X-vormige deursnit, lengte krimping en toepassing van 'n oppervlak behandeling gegenereer sal word. Dit blyk ook dat die verbandspanningverspreiding vir ’n plat vesel naby aan uniform is, terwyl die verbandspanningverspreiding vir ’n nie-plat gekrimpde vesel 'n hoë meganiese grendeling komponent op die oppervlak ente het. Makro-meganiese prestasietoetse is uitgevoer deur middel van die BS EN 14651 (2007) driepuntbalkbuigtoets en die ASTM C1550 (2012) RDPT. Hierdie toetse is ná ’n deeglike literatuuroorsig gekies. Die RDPT is meer konsekwent en is in staat om neigings te identifiseer wat die driepuntbalkbuigingtoets nie kan nie. Daarbenewens, met wisselende W/C verhoudings, is die driepuntbalkbuigtoets se gewildste resultaat, die Re,3-waarde geneig om misleidend te wees. Dit word aanbeveel dat die ekwivalentebuigtreksterkte in plaas van die Re,3-waarde as die drie punt balk buig toets resultaat gebruik word. Die makro-meganiesetoets het getoon dat die verhoging van die veseldosis ’n toename in na-krakingprestasie veroorsaak. Die plat vesels se prestasie was aansienlik beter as die van nie-plat vesels, en het met 'n toenemende veseldosis teen 'n vinniger koers verhoog. Die na-krakingprestasie het met toenemende W/C en die verhoging van die klip grootte afgeneem. Die makro-meganieseprestasie was omgekeerd eweredig aan die enkelveselprestasie. Die makro-meganieseprestasie het met toenemende vesel band stres verminder, en het met 'n toenemende gelykstaande deursnee (wat gelykstaande is aan minder vesel in 'n stel volume van vesel) vergroot. Ten slotte is basiese beginsels uit die data ontwikkel. Hierdie beginsels is gebruik om die RDPT en driepuntbalkbuigtoets prestasieparameters gebaseer op veseldosis, enkelveseleienskappe (verbandspanning en ekwivalentediameter), W/C-verhouding en klip grootte van die beskikbare data te voorspel. Die beginsels kan met meer eksperimentele data verder verfyn word.

As propriedades do solo cotidianamente podem não ser adequadas às características e às necessidades de projeto. É apresentada, como alternativa, a técnica de reforço com inclusão de elementos fibrosos à matriz de solo cimentado e não cimentado. Ainda, embora comuns, o comportamento do solo frente a solicitações cíclicas não é completamente conhecido. Nesse sentido, o estudo do comportamento de hidratação e da resposta cisalhante cíclica de um resíduo de mineração cimentado reforçado com fibras é objetivado. Para tanto, medidas de retração química, medidas de rigidez ao longo da hidratação e ensaios simple shear monotônicos e cíclicos foram realizados com resíduo de mineração cimentado e não cimentado, reforçado com fibras e não reforçado. O resíduo, oriundo da mineração de ouro, um silte arenoso com traços de argila, foi cimentado com diferentes teores de cimento Portland, entre 0% e 10% em relação à massa de solo seco, e reforçado com 0% e 0,5%, em relação à massa de sólidos secos, de fibras de polipropileno de 50mm de comprimento e 0,1mm de espessura, equivalentes a um índice aspecto de 500. Os resultados demonstraram que as fibras não afetaram o processo de hidratação das misturas de resíduo de mineração cimentadas, que apresentam tendência de atenuação logarítmica da retração química com o tempo. Quanto maiores as relações água/cimento, maior o nível de retração química. A inclusão de fibras a misturas de resíduo de mineração cimentadas, da mesma forma, não afetou a evolução dos valores de rigidez inicial, que crescem com tendência logarítmica em função do tempo e aumentam com o acréscimo do nível de cimentação. Sob condições monotônicas de cisalhamento, a adição de fibras conferiu ao material cimentado e não cimentado comportamento de endurecimento. Sob condições cíclicas de deformação cisalhante controlada, as fibras não afetaram a resposta cisalhante das amostras não cimentadas e provocaram aumento dos valores da tensão cisalhante das amostras cimentadas após sucessivos ciclos de esforços. Sob condições cíclicas de tensão cisalhante controlada, a adição de fibras às misturas não cimentadas proporcionou o aumento da resistência aos ciclos de esforços e às misturas cimentadas provocou aumento dos níveis de deformação cisalhante. A concordância das mesmas envoltórias de resistência tanto às trajetórias de tensões dos ensaios monotonônicos quanto às trajetórias dos ensaios cíclicos sob diferentes condições de carregamento possibilitou a obtenção dos mesmos parâmetros de resistência das misturas analisadas sob diferentes condições de carregamento. / The soil properties commonly may not suit the project characteristics and requirements. It is presented, as alternative, the improvement technique of fibrous elements inclusion to the cemented and uncemented soil matrix. Moreover, although common, the behaviour of soil under cyclic loads is not completely known. In this sense, the study of the hydration behaviour and the cyclic shear response of fibre reinforced cemented mine tailings is the main objective of this research. Therefore, chemical shrinkage measurements, stiffness measurements during hydration and monotonic and cyclic simple shear tests were conducted on fibre reinforced and unreinforced cemented and uncemented mine tailings. The tailings, produced from gold mining, are classified as a sandy silt with traces of clay and were cemented with different amounts of Portland cement, ranging from 0% to 10% by dry weigh of soil, and reinforced with 0% and 0.5% by dry weigh of solids of polypropylene fibers 50mm long and 0.1mm thick, equivalent to an aspect ratio of 500. The results showed fibres did not affect the hydration process of cemented mine tailings mixtures, which presents logarithmic attenuation of chemical shrinkage over time. The greater the water / cement ratio, the higher the level of chemical shrinkage. The inclusion of fibers to cemented mine tailings, likewise, did not affect the evolution of initial stiffness values, that raise logarithmic over time and increase with the increase of the cementation level. Under monotonic shear conditions, the addition of fibers confers hardening behaviour to the uncemented and cemented materials. Under shear strain controlled cyclic conditions, fibres did not affect the shear response of uncemented samples and increased shear stress values of cemented samples after successive load cycles. Under shear stress controlled cyclic conditions, the fibres addition to the uncemented mixtures increased the resistance to load cycles and to the cemented mixtures increased levels of shearing strain. The agreement of the same strength envelopes to both monotonic and cyclic stress paths, under different cyclic loading conditions, allows the use of the same strength parameters of mixtures analyzed under different loading conditions.

As propriedades do solo cotidianamente podem não ser adequadas às características e às necessidades de projeto. É apresentada, como alternativa, a técnica de reforço com inclusão de elementos fibrosos à matriz de solo cimentado e não cimentado. Ainda, embora comuns, o comportamento do solo frente a solicitações cíclicas não é completamente conhecido. Nesse sentido, o estudo do comportamento de hidratação e da resposta cisalhante cíclica de um resíduo de mineração cimentado reforçado com fibras é objetivado. Para tanto, medidas de retração química, medidas de rigidez ao longo da hidratação e ensaios simple shear monotônicos e cíclicos foram realizados com resíduo de mineração cimentado e não cimentado, reforçado com fibras e não reforçado. O resíduo, oriundo da mineração de ouro, um silte arenoso com traços de argila, foi cimentado com diferentes teores de cimento Portland, entre 0% e 10% em relação à massa de solo seco, e reforçado com 0% e 0,5%, em relação à massa de sólidos secos, de fibras de polipropileno de 50mm de comprimento e 0,1mm de espessura, equivalentes a um índice aspecto de 500. Os resultados demonstraram que as fibras não afetaram o processo de hidratação das misturas de resíduo de mineração cimentadas, que apresentam tendência de atenuação logarítmica da retração química com o tempo. Quanto maiores as relações água/cimento, maior o nível de retração química. A inclusão de fibras a misturas de resíduo de mineração cimentadas, da mesma forma, não afetou a evolução dos valores de rigidez inicial, que crescem com tendência logarítmica em função do tempo e aumentam com o acréscimo do nível de cimentação. Sob condições monotônicas de cisalhamento, a adição de fibras conferiu ao material cimentado e não cimentado comportamento de endurecimento. Sob condições cíclicas de deformação cisalhante controlada, as fibras não afetaram a resposta cisalhante das amostras não cimentadas e provocaram aumento dos valores da tensão cisalhante das amostras cimentadas após sucessivos ciclos de esforços. Sob condições cíclicas de tensão cisalhante controlada, a adição de fibras às misturas não cimentadas proporcionou o aumento da resistência aos ciclos de esforços e às misturas cimentadas provocou aumento dos níveis de deformação cisalhante. A concordância das mesmas envoltórias de resistência tanto às trajetórias de tensões dos ensaios monotonônicos quanto às trajetórias dos ensaios cíclicos sob diferentes condições de carregamento possibilitou a obtenção dos mesmos parâmetros de resistência das misturas analisadas sob diferentes condições de carregamento. / The soil properties commonly may not suit the project characteristics and requirements. It is presented, as alternative, the improvement technique of fibrous elements inclusion to the cemented and uncemented soil matrix. Moreover, although common, the behaviour of soil under cyclic loads is not completely known. In this sense, the study of the hydration behaviour and the cyclic shear response of fibre reinforced cemented mine tailings is the main objective of this research. Therefore, chemical shrinkage measurements, stiffness measurements during hydration and monotonic and cyclic simple shear tests were conducted on fibre reinforced and unreinforced cemented and uncemented mine tailings. The tailings, produced from gold mining, are classified as a sandy silt with traces of clay and were cemented with different amounts of Portland cement, ranging from 0% to 10% by dry weigh of soil, and reinforced with 0% and 0.5% by dry weigh of solids of polypropylene fibers 50mm long and 0.1mm thick, equivalent to an aspect ratio of 500. The results showed fibres did not affect the hydration process of cemented mine tailings mixtures, which presents logarithmic attenuation of chemical shrinkage over time. The greater the water / cement ratio, the higher the level of chemical shrinkage. The inclusion of fibers to cemented mine tailings, likewise, did not affect the evolution of initial stiffness values, that raise logarithmic over time and increase with the increase of the cementation level. Under monotonic shear conditions, the addition of fibers confers hardening behaviour to the uncemented and cemented materials. Under shear strain controlled cyclic conditions, fibres did not affect the shear response of uncemented samples and increased shear stress values of cemented samples after successive load cycles. Under shear stress controlled cyclic conditions, the fibres addition to the uncemented mixtures increased the resistance to load cycles and to the cemented mixtures increased levels of shearing strain. The agreement of the same strength envelopes to both monotonic and cyclic stress paths, under different cyclic loading conditions, allows the use of the same strength parameters of mixtures analyzed under different loading conditions.

As propriedades do solo cotidianamente podem não ser adequadas às características e às necessidades de projeto. É apresentada, como alternativa, a técnica de reforço com inclusão de elementos fibrosos à matriz de solo cimentado e não cimentado. Ainda, embora comuns, o comportamento do solo frente a solicitações cíclicas não é completamente conhecido. Nesse sentido, o estudo do comportamento de hidratação e da resposta cisalhante cíclica de um resíduo de mineração cimentado reforçado com fibras é objetivado. Para tanto, medidas de retração química, medidas de rigidez ao longo da hidratação e ensaios simple shear monotônicos e cíclicos foram realizados com resíduo de mineração cimentado e não cimentado, reforçado com fibras e não reforçado. O resíduo, oriundo da mineração de ouro, um silte arenoso com traços de argila, foi cimentado com diferentes teores de cimento Portland, entre 0% e 10% em relação à massa de solo seco, e reforçado com 0% e 0,5%, em relação à massa de sólidos secos, de fibras de polipropileno de 50mm de comprimento e 0,1mm de espessura, equivalentes a um índice aspecto de 500. Os resultados demonstraram que as fibras não afetaram o processo de hidratação das misturas de resíduo de mineração cimentadas, que apresentam tendência de atenuação logarítmica da retração química com o tempo. Quanto maiores as relações água/cimento, maior o nível de retração química. A inclusão de fibras a misturas de resíduo de mineração cimentadas, da mesma forma, não afetou a evolução dos valores de rigidez inicial, que crescem com tendência logarítmica em função do tempo e aumentam com o acréscimo do nível de cimentação. Sob condições monotônicas de cisalhamento, a adição de fibras conferiu ao material cimentado e não cimentado comportamento de endurecimento. Sob condições cíclicas de deformação cisalhante controlada, as fibras não afetaram a resposta cisalhante das amostras não cimentadas e provocaram aumento dos valores da tensão cisalhante das amostras cimentadas após sucessivos ciclos de esforços. Sob condições cíclicas de tensão cisalhante controlada, a adição de fibras às misturas não cimentadas proporcionou o aumento da resistência aos ciclos de esforços e às misturas cimentadas provocou aumento dos níveis de deformação cisalhante. A concordância das mesmas envoltórias de resistência tanto às trajetórias de tensões dos ensaios monotonônicos quanto às trajetórias dos ensaios cíclicos sob diferentes condições de carregamento possibilitou a obtenção dos mesmos parâmetros de resistência das misturas analisadas sob diferentes condições de carregamento. / The soil properties commonly may not suit the project characteristics and requirements. It is presented, as alternative, the improvement technique of fibrous elements inclusion to the cemented and uncemented soil matrix. Moreover, although common, the behaviour of soil under cyclic loads is not completely known. In this sense, the study of the hydration behaviour and the cyclic shear response of fibre reinforced cemented mine tailings is the main objective of this research. Therefore, chemical shrinkage measurements, stiffness measurements during hydration and monotonic and cyclic simple shear tests were conducted on fibre reinforced and unreinforced cemented and uncemented mine tailings. The tailings, produced from gold mining, are classified as a sandy silt with traces of clay and were cemented with different amounts of Portland cement, ranging from 0% to 10% by dry weigh of soil, and reinforced with 0% and 0.5% by dry weigh of solids of polypropylene fibers 50mm long and 0.1mm thick, equivalent to an aspect ratio of 500. The results showed fibres did not affect the hydration process of cemented mine tailings mixtures, which presents logarithmic attenuation of chemical shrinkage over time. The greater the water / cement ratio, the higher the level of chemical shrinkage. The inclusion of fibers to cemented mine tailings, likewise, did not affect the evolution of initial stiffness values, that raise logarithmic over time and increase with the increase of the cementation level. Under monotonic shear conditions, the addition of fibers confers hardening behaviour to the uncemented and cemented materials. Under shear strain controlled cyclic conditions, fibres did not affect the shear response of uncemented samples and increased shear stress values of cemented samples after successive load cycles. Under shear stress controlled cyclic conditions, the fibres addition to the uncemented mixtures increased the resistance to load cycles and to the cemented mixtures increased levels of shearing strain. The agreement of the same strength envelopes to both monotonic and cyclic stress paths, under different cyclic loading conditions, allows the use of the same strength parameters of mixtures analyzed under different loading conditions.

Road and rail tunnels are important parts of the modern infrastructure. High strength concrete (HSC) is commonly used for tunnels and other civil engineering structures, since it allows high load carrying capacity and long service life. In general, Swedish road and rail tunnels should be designed for a service life of 120 years. However, HSC has shown to be sensitive to severe fires in the moist tunnel environment, i.e., fire spalling may occur. Extensive research shows that addition of polypropylene (PP) fibres in the fresh concrete mix significantly reduces the risk of fire spalling. The durability of a concrete structure is mainly governed by the transport properties. Further, experimental studies aimed at understanding the protective mechanism of PP fibres indicate that fluid transport increases in connection with the melting temperature of such fibres. This might reduce the durability of fire exposed concrete with addition of PP fibres. This study aims to investigate whether the use of PP fibres has any significant effect on the durability of moderate fire exposed concrete structures. The experimental study focused on transport properties related to durability and stiffness reduction of fire exposed civil engineering concrete with and without addition of PP fibres. The study consists of three parts; (i) unilateral fire exposure in accordance with the standard time-temperature curve (Std) and a slow heating curve (SH), (ii) uniformly heating of non-restrained samples to 250oC, and (iii) moderate unilateral fire exposure, 350oC, of restrained samples. Changes in material properties caused by the fire exposure were studied by means of ultrasonic pulse velocity, full field-strain measurements during uniaxial compression core tests, polarization and fluorescence microscopy (PFM), water absorption and non-steady state chloride migration. The study shows that fire exposure influences different properties of importance for load carrying capacity and durability. To get a clear image of the fire damage one has to combine different test methods during damage assessments. Transport properties of concrete both with and without addition of PP fibres were considerably affected even at moderate fire exposure. Hence, the service life might be reduced. All series with addition of PP fibres exhibited higher water absorption compared to the series without PP fibres. The practical importance of this might, however, be small since also the water absorption of concrete without PP fibres was considerably affected for the fire scenarios considered in this study. Behind the fire exposed surface, i.e., between 30 and 60 mm, no change in water absorption was observed for concrete without PP fibres. However, higher water absorption of the series with addition of PP fibres was observed. Indicative fire tests aimed to evaluate the resistance to fire spalling during a subsequent severe fire was also conducted. The concretes with addition of PP fibres showed no signs of fire spalling, while progressive spalling was observed for the concrete without PP fibres. / <p>QC 20150603</p>

Le but de ce travail de recherche est d'étudier l'effet de fibres de polypropylène et de fibres métalliques sur le comportement du béton soumis à une température élevée. D'une part, les fibres de polypropylène ont été ajoutées au béton pour améliorer sa stabilité thermique, et d'autre part les fibres métalliques ont été ajoutées au béton pour améliorer ses propriétés mécaniques résiduelles. De nouvelles formulations de béton ont ensuite été définies, en utilisant un cocktail de fibres de polypropylène et métalliques, afin d'améliorer à la fois la stabilité thermique et les propriétés mécaniques résiduelles du béton. Quatre familles de bétons ont été étudiées : - bétons témoins sans fibres, - bétons contenant des fibres de polypropylène, - bétons contenant des fibres métalliques, et – bétons contenant un cocktail de fibres de polypropylène et métalliques. Trois rapports eau/ciment sont utilisés : 0.30, 0.45 et 0.61. Les éprouvettes de béton, issues de ces compositions, ont été soumises à des cycles de chauffage – refroidissement de la température ambiante à une température de consigne de 150°C, 300°C, 450°C et 600 °C. La vitesse de chauffage a été fixée à 1 °C.min-1. Les teneurs en fibres étaient de 0.11, 0.17 ou 0.22 % en proportion volumique pour les fibres de polypropylène et de 0.25, 0.38 ou 0.51 % pour les fibres métalliques. Les proportions volumiques de cocktail de fibres étaient de 0.49, 0.60, 0.62 et 0.73%. La stabilité thermique, les propriétés mécaniques (résistance en compression, résistance en traction, module d'élasticité), la porosité initiale et résiduelle des bétons formulés ont été analysées. La perte de masse des éprouvettes lors des différents chauffages a été aussi mesurée.Cette étude expérimentale aboutit à la formulation de bétons dont à la fois la stabilité à haute température et le comportement mécanique après refroidissement sont améliorés. / The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of polypropylene and steel fibres on the behaviour of concrete subjected to high temperature. Polypropylene fibres were added to the studied concrete mixes in order to improve the concrete thermal stability. Steel fibres were added to the studied concrete mixes in order to improve the concrete residual mechanical properties. News concretes mixes were then designed by adding a cocktail of polypropylene fibres and steel fibres in order to improve both the thermal stability and the residual mechanical properties of the studied concrete. Four groups of concrete mixes were studied: - concretes without fibres, - concretes with polypropylene fibres, - concretes with steel fibres, and - concretes with a cocktail of polypropylene and steel fibres. Three water/cement ratios were used: 0.30, 0.45 and 0.61. The concrete specimens were subjected to various heating – cooling cycles from the room temperature to 150°C, 300°C, 450°C and 600 °C. The heating rate was fixed at 1 °C.min-1. The amounts of fibres in the concrete were 0.11%, 0.17% or 0.22% in volume for polypropylene fibres and 0.25%, 0.38% or 0.51% in volume for steel fibres. The amounts of fibres in concrete with a cocktail of polypropylene and steel fibres were 0.49, 0.60, 0.62 and 0.73%, in volume. The thermal stability, the initial and residual mechanical properties (compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity), the porosity and the mass loss of the studied concrete mixes were investigated.This experimental study shows a way to design a concrete mix in order to improve both the thermal stability and the residual mechanical properties.

Master´s thesis deals with some problems associated with utilisation of lightweight concrete from the porous aggregates in the load – carrying structures. The thesis focuses on the possibilities of the increase of the cement composites toughness using dispersed reinforcement. Lightweight concretes were reinforced with a combination of different lengths of polypropylene fibers Forta Ferro. There were used polypropylene fibers of three lengths 19, 38, 54 mm. The thesis is divided into theoretical, experimental and static part.

The result of this master’s thesis is acquaintance with the issues of cement concrete resistance to high temperatures. This work describes the processes ongoing in the structure of concrete at extreme thermal loads and analysis of effects of high temperatures on the individual components of reinforced concrete structures is given, then influence of high temperatures and fire on the aggregates, matrix, reinforcement steel and the resulting changes in their properties. In the experimental part is given design of composition of concrete with a higher resistance to high temperatures and subsequent verification of the physico-mechanical properties of sample of concrete after exposure to temperatures at intervals of 200 ° C, 400 ° C, 600 ° C and 900 ° C. In individual recipes were observed changes of volume weight, changes of compressive strength and tensile strength flexural , tensile strength of surface layers and the occurrence of cracks and then were compared the results of thermally loaded and unloaded samples. The benefit in this issue is to evaluate the surface appearance of samples after heat load - study of area of crack and measurement of their width - was used according to the methodology's authors Xing, Hebert, Noumowe a Ledesert given in Cement and Concrete Research. This methodology allows to quantify changes of surface, after temperature load.

Estudos anteriores utilizando matriz cimentícia reforçada exclusivamente com fibras vegetais propiciaram a produção de telhas com desempenho aceitável nas idades iniciais. Porém, com o envelhecimento natural, as telhas apresentaram significativa redução do desempenho mecânico, fato este atribuído principalmente ao ataque alcalino da matriz cimentícia. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo o aprimoramento de telhas onduladas de fibrocimento sem amianto, a partir de processo automatizado. A primeira etapa do trabalho consistiu na avaliação do efeito da intensidade de refino da polpa Kraft de sisal (Agave sisalana) nas propriedades mecânicas e físicas de placas planas baseadas em matriz de cimento Portland, e o uso conjunto com fibras de poliproprileno (PP). Esta etapa envolveu também a caracterização dos principais atributos das polpas celulósicas refinadas, bem como a caracterização microestrutural (microscopia eletrônica de varredura e porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio) do material resultante após envelhecimento acelerado e em ambiente natural. Na segunda etapa, séries de telhas onduladas de fibrocimento foram produzidas por técnica de sucção do excesso de água e prensagem, utilizando os melhores parâmetros definidos na etapa anterior. Os efeitos da cura acelerada em autoclave e dos envelhecimentos acelerados (carbonatação acelerada, imersão-secagem e calor-chuva) nas propriedades mecânicas e físicas das telhas foram avaliados. Os resultados obtidos mostraram a grande contribuição do refino da polpa celulósica na melhoria da resistência dos compósitos. Altas intensidades de refino apresentaram os melhores resultados para compósitos reforçados somente com polpa celulósica, mesmo após os envelhecimentos, porém intensidades intermediárias em compósitos híbridos mostraram-se suficientes. A adição das fibras de polipropileno como reforço híbrido teve como ponto forte a manutenção da resistência ao impacto, propriedade esta fortemente afetada pelo envelhecimento acelerado nos compósitos reforçados somente com polpa de sisal. As telhas produzidas mostraram-se mais eficientes no amortecimento térmico do que telhas comerciais de fibrocimento amianto. Melhorias no processo de produção das telhas mostraram efetiva contribuição no desempenho mecânico em relação aos trabalhos anteriores, tanto no curto como no longo prazo. Os resultados também indicaram a utilização da carbonatação acelerada como um procedimento eficiente na mitigação da degradação sofrida pelas fibras celulósicas em meios menos agressivos, no caminho para tornar viáveis os materiais reforçados com fibras vegetais. / Previous studies using exclusively vegetal fibres as the sole reinforcement of cement matrix have propitiated the production of roofing tiles with acceptable performance at the first ages. However, with the natural ageing, the roofing tiles have presented significant reduction in the mechanical performance, attributed to the alkaline attack of the cimentitious matrix mainly. The present research had as objective the improvement of undulate fibrecement roofing tiles without asbestos with automated equipment for production. The study also evaluated the physical, mechanical and microstructural behaviour of the obtained composites. The first stage consisted of evaluating the refinement effect of sisal Kraft pulp on mechanical and physical properties of flat pads based on Ordinay Portland cement and the jointly use of polypropylene fibres (PP). This stage also involved the characterization of the main attributes of refined cellulosic pulps, as well as the microstructural characterization (scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry) of the resultant material after the accelerated and natural ageing. In the second stage, series of fibrecement roofing tiles were produced by slurry dewatering technique and pressing, using the best parameters of the first stage. Efects of autoclaved curing and accelerated ageing (accelerated carbonation, soak-dry and heat-rain) on mechanical and physical properties of tiles were evaluated. Results showed the great contribution of pulp refinement on mechanical strengh improvement. Higher intensities of refinement provided the best results for composites only reinforced with sisal pulp, despite ageing mechanism. Intermediate refinement revealed to be enough for hybrid composites. Adition of polypropylene fibres as hybrid reinforcement provided toughness maintenance after ageing, which was strongly affected only in sisal reinforced composites. Asbestos free tiles showed to be more efficient on thermal insulating properties than commercial asbestos cement. Improvements on tiles production process showed effective contribution on mechanical performance in relation to the previous works, both at initial ages and after ageing. The results have also indicated the utilization of accelerated carbonation as an effective procedure to mitigate the degradation suffered by the cellulosic fibres in the less aggressive medium, in way of the viability of the cement based materials reinforced by vegetal fibres.