No description available.

Yes / Considering the continuous development of sustainable development, energy saving, and emission reduction concepts, it is very important to reduce concrete's cement content in order to improve its environmental impact. Using reactive admixture to replace part of the cement in ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) can effectively improve the overall performance of the concrete and reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), which is an important aspect of environmental protection. Here, industrial waste residue (fly ash and slag), sea sand (SS), and manufactured sand (MS) were used to produce UHPC under standard curing condition, to reduce the material cost and make the it more environmentally friendly and sustainable. The effects of water-binder ratio, contents of cementitious materials, types of sands, and content of steel fibers on the mechanical performance of UHPC under standard curing were investigated experimentally. In addition, the effects of various factors on the depth under hydraulic pressure and electric flux of UHPC, mass loss, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, flexural, and compressive strengths of UHPC specimens after freeze-thaw cycles were conducted to evaluate the impermeability, chloride, and freeze-thaw resistance of various UHPCs produced. The obtained experimental results show that the SS-UHPC and MS-UHPC prepared by standard curing exhibit high strength, excellent impermeability, and chloride resistance. The frost resistant grade of all groups of UHPCs prepared by standard curing are greater than F500 and had excellent freeze-thaw resistance, including those produced with local tap water or artificial seawater. The investigation presented in this paper could contribute to the production of new UHPCs of low cost and environmental-friendly and accelerate the application of UHPC in engineering structures.

This thesis presents the results of an effort to quantify the implications of using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for shear walls in tall buildings considering structural efficiency and environmental sustainability. The Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) was used to simulate the response to failure of concrete shear walls without web steel bar reinforcement under lateral loading and constant axial compressive loading. The structural efficiency of UHPC with simulated compressive strength of f'c = 231 MPa was compared to that of a high-performance concrete (HPC) with f'c = 51.7 MPa simulated compressive strength. UHPC shear walls were found to have equal uncracked stiffness and superior post-cracking capacity at a thickness 58% of the HPC shear wall thickness, and at 59% of the HPC shear wall weight. Next, the environmental sustainability of UHPC with compressive strength f'c = 220-240 MPa was compared to that of an HPC with compressive strength f'c = 49 MPa with a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach, using SimaPro sustainability software. At a thickness 58% of the HPC shear wall thickness, UHPC shear walls with 0% fiber by volume were found to have an environmental impact 6% to 10% worse than that of HPC shear walls, and UHPC shear walls with 2% fiber by volume were found to have an environmental impact 47% to 58% worse than that of HPC shear walls. The results detailed herein will allow for design guidelines to be developed which take advantage of UHPC response in shear. Additionally, this work may be implemented into topology optimization frameworks that incorporate the potential improvements in structural efficiency and sustainability through using UHPC. / Master of Science

Yes / Considering the continuous development of sustainable development, energy saving, and emission reduction concepts, it is very important to reduce concrete's cement content in order to improve its environmental impact. Using a reactive admixture to replace part of the cement in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) can effectively improve the overall performance of the concrete and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which is an important aspect of environmental protection. Here, industrial waste residue (fly ash and slag), sea sand (SS), and manufactured sand (MS) were used to produce UHPC under standard curing conditions to reduce the material cost and make it more environmentally friendly and sustainable. The effects of water-binder ratio, contents of cementitious materials, types of sands, and content of steel fibers on the mechanical performance of UHPC under standard curing were investigated experimentally. In addition, evaluations of the impermeability, chloride, and freeze-thaw resistance of various UHPCs produced were conducted by investigating the effects of various factors on the depth under hydraulic pressure and electric flux of UHPC, as well as the mass loss, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, flexural strength, and compressive strength of UHPC specimens after freeze-thaw cycles. The obtained experimental results show that the SS-UHPC and MS-UHPC prepared by standard curing exhibit high strength, excellent impermeability, and chloride resistance. The frost-resistant grade of all groups of UHPCs prepared by standard curing was greater than F500 and had excellent freeze-thaw resistance, including those produced with local tap water or artificial seawater. The investigation presented in this paper could contribute to the production of new low-cost and environmentally friendly UHPCs and accelerate the application of UHPC in engineering structures.

Yes / Super-fine stainless wires (SSWs) with micron diameter and large specific surface area can simultaneously strengthen and toughen reactive powder concrete (RPC) at low volume fraction, so SSW reinforced RPC composites have potential for developing infrastructures bearing fatigue load or with aseismic requirements. In this paper, the uniaxial compressive fatigue characteristics of such composites under high stress levels were investigated, and the modification mechanisms of SSWs to RPC were revealed through failure state and microstructure analyses. The results showed that incorporating only 0.5 vol.% SSWs into RPC enables the fatigue life and energy dissipation capacity to increase by 252.0% and 262.3%, meanwhile, the fatigue limit strength of composites at the failure probability of 50% reaches up to 76.6% of static uniaxial compressive strength, due to the improvement effect on microstructure compactness, inhibiting effect on flaw initiation, and the ability to convert single main crack into radial multiple micro cracks centered on SSWs. Furthermore, the average maximum fatigue strain and residual strain of composites are improved by 73.7% and 87.2%, respectively, which can be ascribed to the bridging, debonding and being pulled-off effect of SSWs. It can be therefore concluded that the incorporation of SSWs endows RPC with excellent fatigue performance, thus further enlarging the application of composites. / The authors would like to thank the National Science Foundation of China (51908103 and 51978127), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019M651116) for providing funding to carry out this investigation.

Yes / This paper numerically investigates flexural performance of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) beam reinforced with Steel-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite Bars (SFCBs) in terms of flexural stiffness, moment capacity, deflection, ductility and energy dissipation. The effect of various parameters, include the inner steel core area ratio of SFCB, yield strength of inner steel core, elastic modulus and ultimate strength of outer-wrapped FRP, reinforcement ratio, type and strength of concrete were studied. The results demonstrate that the inner steel core area ratio of SFCB, reinforcement ratio and the elastic modulus of SFCB's outer FRP have significant effect on the overall flexural performance of SFCB reinforced UHPC beam. The overall flexural performance of SFCB reinforced UHPC beam is slightly improved by increasing the yield strength of inner steel core of SFCB, but not affected by the ultimate strength of SFCB's outer FRP when specimen occurred compression failure. The results also exhibit that the flexural performance of UHPC beam reinforced with SFCBs is significantly improved when compared to those of reinforced high strength concrete (HSC) beam and normal strength concrete (NSC) beam. The flexural stiffness and the moment capacity of SFCB reinforced UHPC beam at the ultimate point were 2.0 and 2.4 times, respectively, of those of reinforced NSC counterpart. / Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (BK20201436), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018M642335), the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Construction System, China (2018ZD047, 2021ZD06), the Science and Technology Project of Gansu Construction System, China (JK2021-19), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51678514), the Science and Technology Innovation Fund of Yangzhou University, China (2020-65), the Open Foundation of Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Prefabricated Building and Intelligent Construction, China (2021), the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund Project of Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University, China (YZU212105), the Practice and Innovation Plan for Postgraduates in Jiangsu Province, China (SJCX21_1589), the Blue Project Youth Academic Leader of Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province, China (2020) and the Deputy General Manager Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Province, China (FZ20200869). References

Yes / This study established a dynamic damage constitutive model for ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with nanofillers, based on a viscoelastic dynamic constitutive model and a damage evolution equation. Ten types of nanofillers, including particle, tube and flake nanofillers, were incorporated to modify UHPC. The split Hopkinson pressure bar was used to obtain the relationship between stress and strain of UHPC specimens at a strain rate of 200/s-800/s. The experimental results indicated that the dynamic compressive strength of UHPC with nanofillers at strain rates of approximately 200/s, 500/s, and 800/s can reach 172.8 MPa, 219.6 MPa, and 275.9 MPa, respectively, reflecting an increase of 85.2 %, 76.5 %, and 53.9 % compared with the blank UHPC. The established dynamic damage constitutive model considered the damage accumulation with strains under dynamic loading. The fitting coefficients of the dynamic damage constitutive model, when compared against experimental results, range from 0.8796 to 0.9963, showing a higher accuracy compared with traditional Zhu-Wang-Tang (ZWT) viscoelastic model, especially at a strain rate of approximately 200/s. / National Science Foundation of China (52178118 and 52308236), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022M720648 and 2022M710973) / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 5 Jan 2025.

Yes / The development of self-moderating and self-sensing concrete composites with high and stable thermal/electrical conductivity is essential to mitigate and monitor the temperature deformation behaviours (TDB) of engineering infrastructures such as highways, bridge pavements, airstrips and ports. Owing to the micron-scale diameter and high aspect ratio, stainless steel wires (SSWs) can establish a comprehensive and extensive thermal/electrical, as well as reinforcing, three-dimensional network within the concrete matrix, even at a low content. This paper thus investigated the TDB self-moderating and self-sensing performances of SSWs enhanced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). The main experiments were carried out on SSWs enhanced UHPC slabs, measuring 250 mm×225 mm×16 mm. The volume contents of SSWs studied were 0 %, 0.5 vol%, 1.0 vol% and 1.5 vol%. The TDB self-moderating and self-sensing experiments were carried out under different conditions, including indoor and outdoor environments. Such composites showed effective and highly stable capabilities in reducing the temperature difference and diminishing the strain of pavement slabs under different environmental conditions. Compared with the UHPC without SSWs, UHPC with 1.5 vol% of SSWs can reduce the temperature difference by 7.4 °C (39.4 %) when being heated from 21.6 °C to 50 °C, thus, reducing the maximum tensile/compressive strains by 83.1 %/82.2 %, and the tensile/compressive stresses by 70.8 %/82.0 %. At a heating rate of 67.1 °C/min, incorporating 1.5 vol% of SSWs results in significant reductions in both vertical displacement and stress, amounting to 98.6 % and 89.6 %, respectively. The 1.5 vol% SSWs reinforced UHPC slab also suppressed 25.0 % of temperature difference, 76.6 % of strain and 70.7 % of stress in scorching outdoor environments. The TDB of SSWs reinforced UHPC can be real-timely reflected by monitoring the quick and small-scale resistance fluctuations, and the fractional changes in resistivity can reach 5.24 % with a response time of 0.23 s. The self-moderating and self-sensing performances of such composites remained stable after repeated heating experiments, thus suggesting its potential for promising applications in engineering infrastructures which are susceptible to deformation under high-temperature conditions. / National Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51908103 , 51978127 , and 52178188 ), and the Major Science and Technology Research Project of the China Building Materials Federation ( 2023JBGS10-02 ). / The full text will be available at the end of the publisher's embargo: 13th May 2025

This research develops and validates computational tools for the design and analysis of structural components and systems constructed with Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC). The modeling strategy utilizes the Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) to represent UHPC material and structural member response, and extends a structural-level triaxial continuum constitutive law to account for the addition of discrete fibers. The approach is robust, general, and could be utilized by other researchers to expand the computational capability and simulate the behavior of different composite materials. The work described herein identifies the model material parameters by conducting a complete material characterization for UHPC, with and without fiber reinforcement, describing its behavior in unconfined compression, uniaxial tension, and fracture toughness. It characterizes the effect of fiber orientations, fiber-matrix interaction, and resolves the issue of multi-axial stress states on fiber pullout. The capabilities of the computational models are demonstrated by comparing the material test data that were not used in the parameter identification phase to numerical simulations to validate the models' predictive capabilities. These models offer a mechanics-based shortcut to UHPC analysis that can strategically support ongoing development of material and structural design codes and standards. / Ph. D. / This research develops and validates new computer-based methods to analyze and design civil infrastructure constructed with ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), achieved when steel fibers are combined with a finely graded cement matrix. With superior performance characteristics in comparison to regular concrete, UHPC is studied herein for its strong potential to advance the durability, efficiency, and resiliency of new and existing infrastructure. The simulation-based methods are extensively verified with novel experiments that evaluate the material limits and failure modes when compressed, bent, or stretched, considering fiber volume and orientation. The computer-based tools can be used to realistically assess the structural performance of innovative UHPC applications in buildings, bridges, and tunnels under natural hazards, leading to surpassed levels of structural efficiency and resiliency across civil infrastructure.

O presente trabalho avaliou a influência dos concretos de ultra-alto desempenho com fibras (UHPFRC) e sem fibras (UHPC) no reforço de pilares curtos de concreto armado de seção transversal circular e quadrada. Avaliou-se também a adição de armaduras adicionais de reforço e de polímeros reforçados com fibras de carbono (PRFC) em alguns pilares reforçados. Para a avaliação deste novo sistema de reforço optou-se pela realização de um programa experimental e simulações numéricas. É importante ressaltar que no programa experimental, nenhum pilar reforçado possuía seção transversal maior que a seção do pilar de referência. Foi verificado por meio do programa experimental, que as camisas de UHPC apresentaram ruína de natureza frágil e não se recomenda a sua utilização a menos que acompanhada de mecanismos que garantam adequado confinamento do pilar reforçado. Nos pilares circulares e quadrados reforçados com UHPFRC foram verificados, respectivamente, incrementos de resistência de 106,4% e 83,6% onde o concreto do cobrimento foi substituído por UHPFRC, 154,3% e 111,7% onde além da substituição do cobrimento foram inseridas armaduras adicionais e 160% e 85,6% onde houve a colocação de PRFC após a substituição do cobrimento. Todos os pilares reforçados com UHPFRC não apresentaram destacamento da camisa de reforço. Foram realizadas simulações numéricas variando a espessura da camisa de UHPFRC e do número de camadas de PRFC tanto nos pilares de seção circular como nos pilares de seção quadrada. Por meio destas simulações, notou-se que a adição de pequenos incrementos de espessura da camisa de UHPFRC, proporciona elevados incrementos de resistência ao pilar reforçado, ao passo que o aumento do número de camadas de PRFC não influenciaria significantemente no incremento de resistência e sim na ductilidade do conjunto. / The present work evaluated the influence of ultra-high performance concrete with fibers (UHPFRC) and without fibers (UHPC) on the strengthening of short columns of reinforced concrete of circular and square cross section. It was also evaluated the addition of additional reinforcement and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (PRFC) on some strengthened columns. For the evaluation of this new system of strengthening we opted for the realization of an experimental program and numerical simulations. It is important to note that in the experimental program, no strengthened columns had a larger cross section than the reference column section. It was verified through the experimental program that the UHPC shirts presented ruin of a fragile nature and their use is not recommended unless accompanied by mechanisms that guarantee adequate confinement to the strengthened columns. In the circular and square columns strengthened with UHPFRC, respectively, resistance increments of 106.4% and 83.6% were verified, where the cover concrete was replaced by UHPFRC, 154.3% and 111.7%, in addition to the substitution of additional reinforcement were inserted and 160% and 85.6% where PRFC placement was performed after the replacement of the cover. All strengthened columns with UHPFRC did not present detachment of the strengthening jacket. Numerical simulations were performed by varying the thickness of the UHPFRC jacket and the number of PRFC layers on both the circular section columns and the square section columns. Through these simulations, it was noted that the addition of small thickness increments of the UHPFRC jacket would provide high increments of strength to the strengthened columns, while increasing the number of PRFC layers would not significantly influence the increase in strength but rather ductility of the assembly.