Size effect on compressive strength of foamed concrete: Experimental and numerical studies

This study investigates the size effect on the compressive strength of foamed concrete at the mesoscale level combining X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) and a discrete lattice model. Image segmentation techniques and X-CT were employed to obtain virtual specimens comprising hydrated cement paste and air voids. The lineal-path function and...

Influence of fiber orientation on the mechanical responses of engineering cementitious composite (ECC) under various loading conditions

The mechanical performance of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) depends greatly on fiber orientation and distribution. In this paper, the effect of fiber orientation on ECC's mechanical properties was investigated using two different casting methods: a flow-induced casting was used to enhance the fiber orientation within ECC mixture and...

Chloride penetration resistance of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) subjected to sustained flexural loading

This paper presents a research on the chloride penetration behavior of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) under sustained flexural loads. Three load levels, i.e. 30 %, 60 % and 75 % of the ultimate flexural load were used. Chloride diffusion depth and concentration profile were measured 30, 60 and 150 days after the specimen was exposed...

基于分段步进式弹塑性格构模型的混凝土破坏过程细观模拟

The classically lattice model assumes the local elements behave elastic brittle, neglecting the ductility of the mortar matrix. This leads to the simulated load⁃displacement response more brittle than the realistic. To solve the aforementioned issue, a piece⁃wise approach was introduced to describe the elastic⁃plastic constitutive relation of...

Influence of Fiber Orientation on the Water and Ions Transportation of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC)

An engineered cementitious composite (ECC) belongs to a type of high-performance fiber-reinforced materials. Fiber alignment causes the anisotropy of such materials. Herein, the influence of the fiber orientation on water and ion penetration into an ECC was studied. Fiber alignment was achieved using an extrusion approach. Water absorption,...

Effect of white mud on properties of alkali activated slag

White mud is a solid waste from the papermaking industry, composed mainly of CaCO₃ and residual alkali metal ions (such as Na+, Mg²⁺). In the current study, the feasibility of using white mud as partial replacement of slag in alkali activated materials is explored. The fluidity, setting time, autogenous shrinkage,...

Experimentally validated meso-scale fracture modelling of foamed concrete

This work presents a study of mechanical properties of foamed concrete at the meso-scale based on a combination of X-ray computed tomography (XCT) technique and a discrete lattice type fracture model. The microstructure of the foamed concrete with different densities was obtained by XCT technique and binarized as two-phase (pore/solid) materials...

Statistical mixture design for carbide residue activated blast furnace slag foamed lightweight concrete

Carbide residue activated blast furnace slag is a relatively new kind of eco-friendly construction materials. This work addresses the design of foamed lightweight concrete as road embankment material using such material. A statistical mixture design approach was adopted to assess the influence of each ingredient as well as the interaction...

Fatigue life and cracking characterization of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) under flexural cyclic load

This paper presents a study on cracking characterization of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) under flexural cyclic load using digital image correlation (DIC) technique. Five stress levels, namely 0.65, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85 and 0.9 of the flexural strength, were applied. Strain map at the side surface was obtained by DIC and used to drive...

Assessing properties of hydrating cement paste using X-ray computed tomography characterization

Properties of concrete are, to a large extent, dependent on the properties of its binding constituent, hydrated cement paste. Therefore, knowledge of properties of hydrated cement paste is crucial for predicting concrete behaviour. This paper presents an experimentally informed approach for modelling elastic and transport properties of cement...

Assessing properties of hydrating cement paste using X-ray computed tomography characterization

Properties of concrete are, to a large extent, dependent on the properties of its binding constituent, hydrated cement paste. Therefore, knowledge of properties of hydrated cement paste is crucial for predicting concrete behaviour. This paper presents an experimentally informed approach for modelling elastic and transport properties of cement...

Fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete containing recycled fine clay brick aggregates

Clay brick is one of the major components of demolition waste, which is generally landfilled. Effective and new uses of recycled clay brick may provide sustainability benefits in terms of landfill reduction. Therefore, this research aims at applying Recycled fine clay brick aggregates (RFCBA) with sizes from 0.075 mm–4.75 mm to prepare Self...

Discrete lattice fracture modelling of hydrated cement paste under uniaxial compression at micro-scale

A combination of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations at multiple length scales can provide in-depth understanding of fracture behaviour of hydrated cement paste (HCP). To that end, the current work presents a numerical study on compressive failure of hydrated cement paste (HCP) at the micro-scale. Virtual specimens consisting of...