Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume
Ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC), which is characterized by dense microstructure and strain hardening behavior, provides exceptional durability and a new level of structural response to modern structures. However, the design of the UHPC matrix often requires the use of high quantities of supple...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-11-01
|
Series: | Nanomaterials |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/11/2291 |
_version_ | 1797547389831086080 |
---|---|
author | Scott Muzenski Ismael Flores-Vivian Behrouz Farahi Konstantin Sobolev |
author_facet | Scott Muzenski Ismael Flores-Vivian Behrouz Farahi Konstantin Sobolev |
author_sort | Scott Muzenski |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC), which is characterized by dense microstructure and strain hardening behavior, provides exceptional durability and a new level of structural response to modern structures. However, the design of the UHPC matrix often requires the use of high quantities of supplementary cementitious materials, such as silica fume, which can significantly increase the cost and elevate the production expenses associated with silica fume handling. This paper demonstrates that a fiber-reinforced composite with properties similar to conventional UHPC can be realized with very low quantities of silica fume, such as 1% by mass of cementitious materials. The proposed UHPC is based on reference Type I cement or Type V Portland cement with very low C<sub>3</sub>A (<1%) that also complies with Class H oil well cement specification, silica fume, small quantities of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanofibers, and high-density polyethylene or polyvinyl alcohol macro fibers. Previous research has demonstrated that nanofibers act as a seeding agent to promote the formation of compact and nanoreinforced calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) clusters within the interparticle and nanofiber spaces, providing a nanoreinforcing effect. This approach produces a denser and stronger matrix. This research expands upon this principle by adding synthetic fibers to ultrahigh strength cement-based composites to form a material with properties approaching that of UHPC. It is indicated that the developed material provides improved strain hardening and compressive strength at the level of 160 MPa. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:43:32Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-10e53ed390ce4213998d4a138788ae2a |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2079-4991 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:43:32Z |
publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Nanomaterials |
spelling | doaj.art-10e53ed390ce4213998d4a138788ae2a2023-11-20T21:32:16ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912020-11-011011229110.3390/nano10112291Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica FumeScott Muzenski0Ismael Flores-Vivian1Behrouz Farahi2Konstantin Sobolev3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USAFacultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66450, MexicoDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USAUltrahigh performance concrete (UHPC), which is characterized by dense microstructure and strain hardening behavior, provides exceptional durability and a new level of structural response to modern structures. However, the design of the UHPC matrix often requires the use of high quantities of supplementary cementitious materials, such as silica fume, which can significantly increase the cost and elevate the production expenses associated with silica fume handling. This paper demonstrates that a fiber-reinforced composite with properties similar to conventional UHPC can be realized with very low quantities of silica fume, such as 1% by mass of cementitious materials. The proposed UHPC is based on reference Type I cement or Type V Portland cement with very low C<sub>3</sub>A (<1%) that also complies with Class H oil well cement specification, silica fume, small quantities of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanofibers, and high-density polyethylene or polyvinyl alcohol macro fibers. Previous research has demonstrated that nanofibers act as a seeding agent to promote the formation of compact and nanoreinforced calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) clusters within the interparticle and nanofiber spaces, providing a nanoreinforcing effect. This approach produces a denser and stronger matrix. This research expands upon this principle by adding synthetic fibers to ultrahigh strength cement-based composites to form a material with properties approaching that of UHPC. It is indicated that the developed material provides improved strain hardening and compressive strength at the level of 160 MPa.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/11/2291nanoaluminaultrahigh performance concretehigh strengthcementitious compositehigh-density polyethylene fibersfiber-reinforced composites |
spellingShingle | Scott Muzenski Ismael Flores-Vivian Behrouz Farahi Konstantin Sobolev Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume Nanomaterials nanoalumina ultrahigh performance concrete high strength cementitious composite high-density polyethylene fibers fiber-reinforced composites |
title | Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume |
title_full | Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume |
title_fullStr | Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume |
title_full_unstemmed | Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume |
title_short | Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume |
title_sort | towards ultrahigh performance concrete produced with aluminum oxide nanofibers and reduced quantities of silica fume |
topic | nanoalumina ultrahigh performance concrete high strength cementitious composite high-density polyethylene fibers fiber-reinforced composites |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/11/2291 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT scottmuzenski towardsultrahighperformanceconcreteproducedwithaluminumoxidenanofibersandreducedquantitiesofsilicafume AT ismaelfloresvivian towardsultrahighperformanceconcreteproducedwithaluminumoxidenanofibersandreducedquantitiesofsilicafume AT behrouzfarahi towardsultrahighperformanceconcreteproducedwithaluminumoxidenanofibersandreducedquantitiesofsilicafume AT konstantinsobolev towardsultrahighperformanceconcreteproducedwithaluminumoxidenanofibersandreducedquantitiesofsilicafume |