Enhancing the flexural toughness of UHPC through flexible layer-modified aggregates: A novel interfacial toughening strategy

Yang, K; Long, G; Tang, Z; Li, W; Ma, G; Li, C; Xie, Y

Enhancing the flexural toughness of UHPC through flexible layer-modified aggregates: A novel interfacial toughening strategy

Yang, K Long, G Tang, Z Li, W

Ma, G Li, C Xie, Y

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cement and Concrete Composites, 2024, 154, pp. 105770
Issue Date:: 2024-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Yang, K
dc.contributor.author	Long, G
dc.contributor.author	Tang, Z
dc.contributor.author	Li, W https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4651-1215
dc.contributor.author	Ma, G
dc.contributor.author	Li, C
dc.contributor.author	Xie, Y
dc.date.accessioned	2025-03-17T04:49:08Z
dc.date.available	2025-03-17T04:49:08Z
dc.date.issued	2024-11-01
dc.identifier.citation	Cement and Concrete Composites, 2024, 154, pp. 105770
dc.identifier.issn	0958-9465
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/185899
dc.description.abstract	Enhancing the interfacial deformability of UHPC positively impacts its toughness and durability. In this work, a novel interfacial toughening strategy was proposed and employed for UHPC, in which the aggregates were treated with polyacrylate emulsion (PL) or PL modified by silica fume or carbon nanotubes to form an interfacial flexible layer (FL). The flexural characteristics of the prepared UHPC were comprehensively investigated, with attention to the damage evolution based on acoustic emission. Meanwhile, the corresponding toughening mechanism was discussed. The results showed that the FL modified by carbon nanotubes effectively enhanced the flexural deformation capacity, energy absorption capacity, and toughness of UHPC, while maintaining flexural strength. Introducing FL reduced ringing count and acoustic emission energy and mitigated damage rate of UHPC. The FL altered the flexural damage mode of UHPC by alleviating stress concentration to prevent sudden matrix cracking and fiber debonding. During the elastic stage, FL and the UHPC matrix jointly sustained tensile cracks, enhancing the matrix's energy absorption capacity, which correlated positively with the percentage of tensile cracks. In the softening stage, this capacity correlated positively with the percentage of shear cracks. Moreover, FL reduced the probability of microcracks at the interface. Although the FL reduced the average microhardness at the interface, it stabilized the performance of hydration products and increased their maximum microhardness. The FL promoted interfacial energy dissipation and synergistically bridged microcracks with steel fibers, ultimately enhancing the flexural toughness of UHPC.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Cement and Concrete Composites
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2024.105770
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0904 Chemical Engineering, 0905 Civil Engineering, 1202 Building
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction
dc.subject.classification	3302 Building
dc.subject.classification	4005 Civil engineering
dc.subject.classification	4016 Materials engineering
dc.title	Enhancing the flexural toughness of UHPC through flexible layer-modified aggregates: A novel interfacial toughening strategy
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	154
utslib.for	0904 Chemical Engineering
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	1202 Building
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Built Infrastructure Resilience (CBIR)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Green Technology (CGT)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Green Technology (CGT)/Centre for Green Technology (CGT) Associate Members
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2025-03-17T04:49:05Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	154

Abstract:

Enhancing the interfacial deformability of UHPC positively impacts its toughness and durability. In this work, a novel interfacial toughening strategy was proposed and employed for UHPC, in which the aggregates were treated with polyacrylate emulsion (PL) or PL modified by silica fume or carbon nanotubes to form an interfacial flexible layer (FL). The flexural characteristics of the prepared UHPC were comprehensively investigated, with attention to the damage evolution based on acoustic emission. Meanwhile, the corresponding toughening mechanism was discussed. The results showed that the FL modified by carbon nanotubes effectively enhanced the flexural deformation capacity, energy absorption capacity, and toughness of UHPC, while maintaining flexural strength. Introducing FL reduced ringing count and acoustic emission energy and mitigated damage rate of UHPC. The FL altered the flexural damage mode of UHPC by alleviating stress concentration to prevent sudden matrix cracking and fiber debonding. During the elastic stage, FL and the UHPC matrix jointly sustained tensile cracks, enhancing the matrix's energy absorption capacity, which correlated positively with the percentage of tensile cracks. In the softening stage, this capacity correlated positively with the percentage of shear cracks. Moreover, FL reduced the probability of microcracks at the interface. Although the FL reduced the average microhardness at the interface, it stabilized the performance of hydration products and increased their maximum microhardness. The FL promoted interfacial energy dissipation and synergistically bridged microcracks with steel fibers, ultimately enhancing the flexural toughness of UHPC.

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