Behaviour of ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete subjected to static and impact loads
type: CreativeWork
description: The collapse of critical elements of any structure when subjected to accidental loading conditions or natural disasters, usually associated with dynamic loads from earthquakes and explosion loads, can cause large scale catastrophic failures. These events produce non-uniform forces in structures which lead in failure mechanisms resulting in progressive collapse. The increasing requirements for improved resilience of civil engineering and military applications led to the development of ultra-high strength concretes with remarkable strength, durability and toughness. Ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) has recently emerged as an advanced cementitious material with the potential of enhancing the impact energy absorption capacity of structural elements due to its superior properties. However, major limitations for its wider use and application in critical infrastructure and protection are associated with the limited studies, lack of design standards and guidelines in designing against static and impact loading conditions. Additional challenges preventing the wider use of UHP-FRC in construction include suitable methodologies for testing of the material under static and impact loads and the high cost due to the high amount of cement and steel fibres required. This research presents extensive experimental studies in contribution to the characterisation of the mechanical properties and dynamic behaviour of beams made of UHP-FRC. The dynamic properties of the material are strain sensitive to the loading rate and effect of fibres distributed within the matrix. In the experimental programme, various parameters were investigated including the use of different amounts of fibres and loading cases, assessment of strain rate dependent models and fracture characteristics. Firstly, the influence of fibre content, fibre type and geometrical configuration of beam specimens on the mechanical properties was investigated in terms of the compressive strength, splitti…
abstract: The collapse of critical elements of any structure when subjected to accidental loading conditions or natural disasters, usually associated with dynamic loads from earthquakes and explosion loads, can cause large scale catastrophic failures. These events produce non-uniform forces in structures which lead in failure mechanisms resulting in progressive collapse. The increasing requirements for improved resilience of civil engineering and military applications led to the development of ultra-high strength concretes with remarkable strength, durability and toughness. Ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) has recently emerged as an advanced cementitious material with the potential of enhancing the impact energy absorption capacity of structural elements due to its superior properties. However, major limitations for its wider use and application in critical infrastructure and protection are associated with the limited studies, lack of design standards and guidelines in designing against static and impact loading conditions. Additional challenges preventing the wider use of UHP-FRC in construction include suitable methodologies for testing of the material under static and impact loads and the high cost due to the high amount of cement and steel fibres required. This research presents extensive experimental studies in contribution to the characterisation of the mechanical properties and dynamic behaviour of beams made of UHP-FRC. The dynamic properties of the material are strain sensitive to the loading rate and effect of fibres distributed within the matrix. In the experimental programme, various parameters were investigated including the use of different amounts of fibres and loading cases, assessment of strain rate dependent models and fracture characteristics. Firstly, the influence of fibre content, fibre type and geometrical configuration of beam specimens on the mechanical properties was investigated in terms of the compressive strength, splitti…
author: Polydorou, Efstathios
language: eng
date published: 2020-7
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:55:18Z
provider: Queen's University Belfast
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Queen's University Belfast