Mechanics Properties of UHPC: Compression Strength and Tensile Strength

• Grant number: 22/11156-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Ana Elisabete Paganelli Guimarães de Avila Jacintho
• Grantee: André Mendes dos Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-CAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Reinforced concrete structures have been widely used all over the world. However, the maintenance of these structures requires a lot of technical and financial investment, therefore, it is urgent that the most deteriorated reinforced concrete structures need reinforcement/restoration to prolong their useful life and reduce maintenance costs. Recently, a more advanced cement-based material, ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), has been developed in Canada and Europe. The raw materials used in the UHPFRC consist of cement, quartz powder, fly ash, silica fume, quartz sand, superplasticizers and fibers, presenting high compressive and tensile strengths (about 150 MPa and 8 MPa, respectively). Due to the high density and compactness of the matrix, UHPFRC has excellent physical performance such as low permeability and has high durability. Currently, the scientific community has researched several characteristics of UHPFRC, and as a contribution, the main object of this scientific initiation work will be the study of mechanical properties of this concrete such as compressive strength and tensile strength in bending. It is expected that the variation in the amount of fibers in the UHPFRC has a great influence on the tensile strength in bending and a small influence on the compressive strength.