Development of Alternative Tensile Test for Characterization of UHPFRC

In recent years, ultra-high-performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) has gained ground in bridge construction and infrastructure. The tensile behaviour of UHPFRC that effectively limits crack propagation and minimizes the width of cracks, resulting in enhancement of the structure’s strength and durability is of utmost interest. However, the fast, easy, and reliable characterization of this property remains a challenge in codes and standards around the world. Direct tension tests require specialized gripping devices not available in most of the commercial testing labs and are generally difficult to conduct. The alternative flexural tests are fraught with uncertainties; to extract the fundamental stress-strain response of the material in tension, it is necessary to use poorly correlated inverse analysis procedures that have been shown to lack accuracy based on oversimplified assumptions or are extremely difficult to conduct and require highly specialized personnel. To eliminate the above challenges related to both test options, the proposed research targets to the development of an alternative, easy to conduct test method that could be used both for characterization and quality control of the tensile properties of UHPFRC, while facilitating the use of the standard testing equipment available in most commercial testing laboratories –

Faculty Supervisor:

Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou

Student:

Partner:

ceEntek;Facca Incorporated

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure; Manufacturing

University:

York University

Program: