B.H. Abu Bakar

Effect of Partial Replacements of Sand and Cement by Waste Rubber on the Fracture Characteristics of Concrete

In this study, the influences of partial replacements of sand by fine crumb and crumb rubber particles, and cement by powder rubber, on the fracture characteristics of concrete were investigated experimentally. Specimens were prepared for 5%, 10% and 20% replacements by volume, for both sand and cement. Each case had three unnotched and notched specimens of size 600 mm × 75 mm × 150 mm; notches were 50 mm and 75 mm deep. The specimens were subjected to three points bending test in a computer-aided universal testing machine, and the fracture characteristics such as GIC, CMOD and Gf were analyzed. It was observed that, in all proportions, the replacement of sand by fine crumb and crumb rubber increased the fracture properties; the increase of fracture properties by crumb rubber was more than that by fine crumb rubber. However the cement replacement by powdered rubber could improve the fracture factors, only for 5% and 10% replacements.

The relationship between substrate roughness parameters and bond strength of ultra high-performance fiber concrete

The bonding that exists between the old concrete and the new concrete depends largely on the quality of substrate surface preparation. The accurate representation of substrate surface roughness can help determine very precisely the correct bonding behavior. In this work, an experimental investigation was carried out to quantify the normal concrete (NC) substrate roughness parameters and evaluate their relationship with the bonding performance of ultra high-performance fiber concrete (UHPFC), used as a repair material. The bond strength was quantified based on the results of the pull-off test, splitting cylinder tensile test, and the slant shear test. Three types of NC substrate surface preparation were used: as-cast (without surface preparation) as reference, wire-brushed, and sand-blasted (SB); the roughness of which was determined using an optical three-dimensional (3D) surface metrology device (Alicona Infinite Focus). It was observed from the result of the pull-off test that failure occurred in the substrate, even though adequate substrate surface roughness was provided. Moreover, analysis of the splitting cylinder tensile and slant shear test results showed that the substrate surface preparation method had a significant influence in bonding strength between UHPFC and the NC substrate. The composite UHPFC/NC substrate having a SB surface behaved closely as a monolithic structure under splitting and slant shear tests. An excellent correlation (R 2 > 85%) was obtained between the substrate roughness parameters and the results of the splitting cylinder tensile and slant shear tests.

Impact Resistance of Concrete with Partial Replacements of Sand and Cement by Waste Rubber

Effects of partial replacements of sand by waste crumb rubber and fine rubber, and cement by powder rubber, on the performance of concrete under low velocity impact loading were investigated. Specimens were prepared for 5%, 10% and 20% replacements by volume for both sand and cement. For each case, six beams of 100 mm × 100 mm × 500 mm were subjected to 5.15 kg hammer from 900 mm height. The number of blows of the hammer required to induce the first visible crack and ultimate failure of the beam were recorded. The results are presented in terms of impact energy required for the first crack and ultimate failure. The crumb and fine crumb rubbers increased the impact energy for both first crack and ultimate failure; the increase of impact resistance by crumb rubber was more than that by fine crumb rubber. However, the impact energy for both first crack and ultimate failure increased by the replacement of sand with fine crumb and crumb rubbers until 20%, while this energy increased with cement replacement by powder rubber until 10% replacements and then decreased, but is still higher than that of plain concrete.

The Role of Silica Fume in the Adhesion of Concrete Restoration Systems

The weak interfacial transition zone between new and old concrete is always paid much attention and controls many properties of repaired concrete, The present work reports a study on the influence of the silica fume on the adhesion of reactive powder concrete (RPC), as a concrete restoration material, with the ordinary concrete (OC) substrate. The results showed that, the silica fume presence in the interfacial transition zone significantly enhances the adhesion strength between RPC and OC substrate. Furthermore, the silica fume particles consume calcium hydroxide, which is in attendance in the interfacial transition zone, and make the zone more dense, uniform and tough.

Dynamic response simulation for reinforced concrete slabs

Abstract Present investigation comprises development of a new finite element numerical formulation for nonlinear transient dynamic analysis of reinforced concrete slab structures. Depending on many experimental data, new material constitutive relationships for concrete material have been formulated. A regression analysis of available experimental data in the SPSS-statistical program has been employed for formulating the proposed material finite element models, and the appropriateness of the models are confirmed through the histograms and measured indices of determination. Concrete slab structures were analyzed using eight-node serendipity degenerated plate elements. The constitutive models of the nonlinear materials are introduced to take into account the nonlinear stress–strain relationships of concrete. For studying the stress profile of the concrete slab through its thickness, a layered approach is adopted. Elastic perfectly plastic and strain hardening plasticity approaches have been employed to model the compressive behavior of concrete. Assumptions for strain rate effect were included in dynamic analysis by supposing the dynamic yield function as a function of the strain rate, in addition to be the total plastic strain. The yield condition is formulated in terms of the first two stress invariants. Geometrical nonlinearity was considered in analysis as a mathematical model based on the total lagrangian approach taking into account Von Karman assumptions. Implicit Newmark with corrector–predictor algorithm was used for time integration solution of the equation of the motion for slab structures. An incremental and iterative procedure is adopted to trace the entire response of the structure; a displacement convergence criterion is adopted in the present study. A computer program coded in FORTRAN has been developed and used for the dynamic analysis of reinforced concrete slabs. The numerical results show good agreement with other published studies’ results which include deflections.

Microstructural analysis of the adhesion mechanism between old concrete substrate and UHPFC

The performance of any repaired concrete structure, and thus its service life, depends on the quality of the interfacial transition zone of the composite system formed by the repair material and the existing concrete substrate. In this work, the properties of the interfacial transition zone between normal concrete (NC) substrate as an old concrete and ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFC) as a repair material was investigated. Pull-off and splitting cylinder tensile tests were performed to quantify the bond strength in direct and indirect tensions, respectively. The microstructure of the interfacial transition zone was also studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Different types of NC substrate surface preparation methods were used. An optical three-dimensional surface metrology device was used to estimate the substrate roughness parameters. Based on the results, high interfacial bond strength was achieved on the 3rd, 7th, and 28th days. The pull-off test results revealed that all failures occurred in the substrate, regardless of the substrate surface roughness. The majority of failures in the split tensile test also occurred in the substrate. SEM/EDS proved that the use of UHPFC as a repair material chemically, physically, and mechanically improved the repaired interfacial transition zone to become stronger and denser, as well as more uniform, and durable. Moreover, the use of UHPFC increased the service life of repaired structures and minimized the number and extent of interventions to the lowest possible level.

Impact Energy for First Crack of Reinforced Concrete with Partial Replacements of Sand by Rubber 1 mm Particle Size

Effects of partial replacements of sand by waste crumb rubber 1 mm particle size on the performance of reinforced concrete under low velocity impact loading were investigated. Specimens were prepared for 5%, 10% and 20 % replacements by volume of sand. All specimens were cured in moist air for 90 days. For each case, six beams of 100 mm ×100 mm × 500mm were subjected to 5.15 kg hammer from 900mm height. The number of blows of the hammer required to induce the first crack of the beam were recorded. The results are presented in terms of impact energy required for the first crack. The crumb rubbers increased the impact energy for first crack.

Effect of Partial Replacements of Sand by Waste Rubber on the Low Impact Resistance of Concrete

Effects of partial replacements of sand by waste fine rubber on the long term performance of concrete under low impact three-point bending loading were investigated. Specimens were prepared for 5% and 10% replacements by volume of sand. For each case, three beams of 50 mm ×75 mm × 350mm were loaded to failure in a drop-weight impact machine by subjected it to 20 N weight from 400mm height. In general the experiment appeared that the impact strength increases with increase the percentage of sand replacement by waste fine crumb rubber.

Assessment of Adhesion between RPC Overlay and Existing Concrete Substrate

The number of existing structures under repair and rehabilitation has extensively increased over the past two decades; these structures typically require performance enhancements including durable and safe repair and strengthening. The experimental program aimed to investigate the bond strength at the joint surfaces between conventional concrete substrate as existing concrete and reactive powder concrete RPC as new overlay concrete. Pull off test was used to quantify the direct tension of the bond strength. Different surfaces roughness were used for existing concrete. The obtained results, clearly showed that, RPC could be linked excellent to the existing concrete at early age; as a result, all failures occurred through the existing concrete, regardless of the surface roughness of existing concrete. RPC could be used as an excellent overlay concrete for increasing the durability at joint surfaces of the strengthened structural system.

Impact Energy for the First Crack of Reinforced Concrete with Partial Replacements of Sand by Fine Crumb Rubber

Effects of partial replacements of sand by waste fine crumb rubber on the performance of reinforced concrete under low velocity impact loading were investigated. Specimens were prepared for 5%, 10% and 20 % replacements by volume of sand. All specimens were cured in moist air for 90 days. For each case, six beams of 100 mm ×100 mm × 500mm were subjected to 5.15 kg hammer from 900mm height. The number of blows of the hammer required to induce the first visible crack of the beam were recorded. The results are presented in terms of impact energy required for the first crack. The fine crumb rubbers increased the impact energy for first crack.