Strengthening of the concrete face slabs of dams using sprayable strain-hardening fiber-reinforced cementitious composites

Abstract

In this study, sprayable strain-hardening fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) were applied to strengthen the concrete slabs in a concrete-face rockfill dam (CFRD) for the first time. Experimental, numerical, and analytical investigations were carried out to understand the flexural properties of FRCC-layered concrete slabs. It was found that the FRCC layer improved the flexural performance of concrete slabs significantly. The cracking and ultimate loads of a concrete slab with an 80 mm FRCC layer were 132% and 69% higher than those of the unstrengthened concrete slab, respectively. At the maximum crack width of 0.2 mm, the deflection of the 80-mm FRCC strengthened concrete slab was 144% higher than that of the unstrengthened concrete slab. In addition, a FE model and a simplified analytical method were developed for the design and analysis of FRCC-layered concrete slabs. Finally, the test result of FRCC leaching solution indicated that the quality of the water surrounding FRCC satisfied the standard for drinking water. The findings of this study indicate that the sprayable strain-hardening FRCC has a good potential for strengthening hydraulic structures such as CFRDs.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

strain-hardening cementitious composites / engineered cementitious composites / sprayable / shotcrete / strengthening / concrete-face rockfill dam / digital image correlation

References

[1] Qu Y, Zou D, Kong X, Liu J, Zhang Y, Yu X. Seismic damage performance of the steel fiber reinforced face slab in the concrete-faced rockfill dam. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2019, 119 : 320–330

[2] Li V C, Leung C K Y. Steady-state and multiple cracking of short random fiber composites. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 1992, 118( 11): 2246–2264

[3] Leung C K Y. Design criteria for pseudoductile fiber-reinforced composites. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 1996, 122( 1): 10–18

[4] LiV C. Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)—Bendable Concrete for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure. Berlin: Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, 2019

[5] Huang B T, Yu J, Wu J Q, Dai J G, Leung C K Y. Seawater sea-sand Engineered Cementitious Composites (SS-ECC) for marine and coastal applications. Composites Communications, 2020, 20 : 100353

[6] Huang B T, Wu J Q, Yu J, Dai J G, Leung C K Y, Li V C. Seawater sea-sand engineered/strain-hardening cementitious composites (ECC/SHCC): Assessment and modeling of crack characteristics. Cement and Concrete Research, 2021, 140 : 106292

[7] Lin X, Yu J, Li H, Lam J Y K, Shih K, Sham I M L, Leung C K Y. Recycling polyethylene terephthalate wastes as short fibers in strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2018, 357 : 40–52

[8] Huang B T, Li Q H, Xu S L, Zhang L. Static and fatigue performance of reinforced concrete beam strengthened with strain-hardening fiber-reinforced cementitious composite. Engineering Structures, 2019, 199 : 109576

[9] Lorenzoni R, Curosu I, Leonard F, Paciornik S, Mechtcherine V, Silva F A, Bruno G. Combined mechanical and 3D-microstructural analysis of strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) by in-situ X-ray microtomography. Cement and Concrete Research, 2020, 136 : 106139

[10] Xu S L, Li Q. Theoretical analysis on bending behavior of functionally graded composite beam crack-controlled by ultrahigh toughness cementitious composites. Science in China Series E: Technological Sciences, 2009, 52( 2): 363–378

[11] Huang B T, Li Q H, Xu S L, Zhou B M. Frequency effect on the compressive fatigue behavior of ultrahigh toughness cementitious composites: Experimental study and probabilistic analysis. Journal of Structural Engineering, 2017, 143( 8): 04017073

[12] Huang B T, Li Q H, Xu S L, Liu W, Wang H T. Fatigue deformation behavior and fiber failure mechanism of ultra-high toughness cementitious composites in compression. Materials and Design, 2018, 157 : 457–468

[13] Wang S, Li V C. Engineered cementitious composites with high-volume fly ash. ACI Materials Journal, 2007, 104( 3): 233–241

[14] Zhou J, Pan J, Leung C K Y. Mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced engineered cementitious composites in uniaxial compression. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 2015, 27( 1): 04014111

[15] Huang B T, Li Q H, Xu S L. Fatigue deformation model of plain and fiber-reinforced concrete based on Weibull function. Journal of Structural Engineering, 2019, 145( 1): 04018234

[16] Yuan F, Pan J, Xu Z, Leung C K Y. A comparison of engineered cementitious composites versus normal concrete in beam-column joints under reversed cyclic loading. Materials and Structures, 2013, 46( 1): 145–159

[17] Qiu J, Yang E H. Micromechanics-based investigation of fatigue deterioration of engineered cementitious composite (ECC). Cement and Concrete Research, 2017, 95 : 65–74

[18] Huang B T, Weng K F, Zhu J X, Xiang Y, Dai J G, Li V C. Engineered/strain-hardening cementitious composites (ECC/SHCC) with an ultra-high compressive strength over 210 MPa. Composites Communications, 2021, 26 : 100775

[19] Curosu I, Mechtcherine V, Forni D, Cadoni E. Performance of various strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) subject to uniaxial impact tensile loading. Cement and Concrete Research, 2017, 102 : 16–28

[20] Huang B T, Li Q H, Xu S L, Zhou B M. Tensile fatigue behavior of fiber-reinforced cementitious material with high ductility: Experimental study and novel P-S-N model. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 178 : 349–359

[21] Yang Y, Lepech M D, Yang E H, Li V C. Autogenous healing of engineered cementitious composites under wet–dry cycles. Cement and Concrete Research, 2009, 39( 5): 382–390

[22] Li M, Li V C. Cracking and healing of engineered cementitious composites under chloride environment. ACI Materials Journal, 2011, 108( 3): 333–340

[23] Liu H, Zhang Q, Gu C, Su H, Li V. Self-healing of microcracks in engineered cementitious composites under sulfate and chloride environment. Construction and Building Materials, 2017, 153 : 948–956

[24] Şahmaran M, Li V C. Durability of mechanically loaded engineered cementitious composites under highly alkaline environments. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2008, 30( 2): 72–81

[25] Wu H L, Du Y J, Yu J, Yang Y L, Li V C. Hydraulic conductivity and self-healing performance of engineered cementitious composites exposed to acid mine drainage. Science of the Total Environment, 2020, 716 : 137095

[26] Kunieda M, Rokugo K. Recent progress on HPFRCC in Japan. Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, 2006, 4( 1): 19–33

[27] Kim Y Y, Kong H J, Li V C. Design of engineered cementitious composite suitable for wet-mixture shotcreting. Materials Journal, 2003, 100( 6): 511–518

[28] Kanda T, Saito T, Sakata N, Hiraishi M. Tensile and anti-spalling properties of direct sprayed ECC. Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, 2003, 1( 3): 269–282

[29] Rokugo K, Kanda T, Yokota H, Sakata N. Applications and recommendations of high performance fiber reinforced cement composites with multiple fine cracking (HPFRCC) in Japan. Materials and Structures, 2009, 42( 9): 1197–1208

[30] Zhang Q, Li V C. Development of durable spray-applied fire-resistive Engineered Cementitious Composites (SFR-ECC). Cement and Concrete Composites, 2015, 60 : 10–16

[31] Huang B T, Li Q H, Xu S L, Zhou B. Strengthening of reinforced concrete structure using sprayable fiber-reinforced cementitious composites with high ductility. Composite Structures, 2019, 220 : 940–952

[32] ChinaNational Standardization Management Committee. Common Portland Cement: GB 175–2007. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2007 (in Chinese)

[33] Ministryof HousingUrban-RuralDevelopment of the People’s Republic of China. Standard for Test Methods of Concrete Physical and Mechanicals Properties: GB/T 50081-2019. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, 2019 (in Chinese)

[34] ISO. Testing of concrete—Part 3: Making and curing test specimens: ISO 1920-3: 2019. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization, 2019

[35] Ministryof Health of the People’s Republic of China. Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water–Organic Parameters: GB/T 5750.8–2006. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2006 (in Chinese)

[36] Ministryof Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China. Design Code for Concrete Face Rockfill Dams: SL 228–2013. Beijing: China Water & Power Press, 2013 (in Chinese)

[37] Huang B T, Li Q H, Xu S L, Li C F. Development of reinforced ultra-high toughness cementitious composite permanent formwork: Experimental study and digital image correlation analysis. Composite Structures, 2017, 180 : 892–903

[38] Huang B T, Dai J G, Weng K F, Zhu J X, Shah S P. Flexural performance of UHPC–concrete–ECC composite member reinforced with perforated steel plates. Journal of Structural Engineering, 2021, 147( 6): 04021065

[39] ASTM. Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field: ASTM C31/C31M–19. West Conshohocken: ASTM International, 2019

[40] Mahabad N M, Imam R, Javanmardi Y, Jalali H. Three-dimensional analysis of a concrete-face rockfill dam. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Geotechnical Engineering, 2014, 167( 4): 323–343

[41] Xu L Y, Huang B T, Dai J G. Development of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) using artificial fine aggregates. Construction & Building Materials, 2021, 305 : 124742

[42] Huang B T, Zhu J X, Weng K F, Li V C, Dai J G. Ultra-high-strength engineered/strain-hardening cementitious composites (ECC/SHCC): Material design and effect of fiber hybridization. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2022, 129 : 104464

[43] Ministryof Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China. Specification for Evaluating Durability of Hydraulic Concrete Structures: SL 775-2018. Beijing: China Water & Power Press, 2018 (in Chinese)

[44] Ministryof HousingUrban-RuralDevelopment of the People’s Republic of China. Standard for Design of Concrete Structure Durability: GB/T 50476-2019. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, 2019 (in Chinese)

[45] Paul S C, van Zijl G P A G. Mechanically induced cracking behaviour in fine and coarse sand strain hardening cement based composites (SHCC) at different load levels. Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, 2013, 11( 11): 301–311

[46] Paul S C, van Zijl G P A G. Crack formation and chloride induced corrosion in reinforced strain hardening cement-based composite (R/SHCC). Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, 2014, 12( 9): 340–351

[47] DassaultSystèmes. ABAQUS Analysis User’s Guide. Providence: Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp., 2016

[48] Li H, Xu S. Determination of energy consumption in the fracture plane of ultra high toughness cementitious composite with direct tension test. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2011, 78( 9): 1895–1905

[49] Yu J, Lu C, Chen Y, Leung C K Y. Experimental determination of crack-bridging constitutive relations of hybrid-fiber strain-hardening cementitious composites using digital image processing. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 173 : 359–367

[50] Genikomsou A S, Polak M A. Finite element analysis of punching shear of concrete slabs using damaged plasticity model in ABAQUS. Engineering Structures, 2015, 98 : 38–48

[51] International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib). fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010. Lausanne: International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib), 2013

[52] Huang J Q, Dai J G. Flexural performance of precast geopolymer concrete sandwich panel enabled by FRP connector. Composite Structures, 2020, 248 : 112563

[53] Kabir M I, Lee C K, Rana M M, Zhang Y X. Flexural and bond-slip behaviours of engineered cementitious composites encased steel composite beams. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2019, 157 : 229–244

[54] Xu S, Mu F, Wang J, Li W. Experimental study on the interfacial bonding behaviors between sprayed UHTCC and concrete substrate. Construction and Building Materials, 2019, 195 : 638–649

[55] Li Q H, Yin X, Huang B T, Luo A M, Lyu Y, Sun C J, Xu S L. Shear interfacial fracture of strain-hardening fiber-reinforced cementitious composites and concrete: A novel approach. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2021, 253 : 107849

[56] Huang J Q, Dai J G. Direct shear tests of glass fiber reinforced polymer connectors for use in precast concrete sandwich panels. Composite Structures, 2019, 207 : 136–147

[57] Khan M K I, Lee C K, Zhang Y X. Numerical modelling of engineered cementitious composites-concrete encased steel composite columns. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2020, 170 : 106082

[58] Othman H, Marzouk H. Finite-element analysis of reinforced concrete plates subjected to repeated impact loads. Journal of Structural Engineering, 2017, 143( 9): 04017120

[59] Xu L Y, Huang B T, Li V C, Dai J G. High-strength high-ductility Engineered/Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (ECC/SHCC) incorporating geopolymer fine aggregates. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2022, 125 : 104296

[60] Xu S L, Xu H L, Huang B T, Li Q H, Yu K Q, Yu J T. Development of ultrahigh-strength ultrahigh-toughness cementitious composites (UHS-UHTCC) using polyethylene and steel fibers. Composites Communications, 2022, 29 : 100992

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press 2022