Mechanical Properties of Nano-CaCO₃ and Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete: Experiments and Numerical Simulations

Abstract

In this study, the compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths of concrete with nano-CaCO₃ only were compared with those of concrete with nano-CaCO₃ and basalt fibers through field experiments, and the underlying mechanisms were analyzed by the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) techniques. On the mesoscale, a damage model of concrete was established based on the continuum progressive damage theory, which was used to investigate the influence of different lengths and contents of fibers on the mechanical properties of concrete. Then, the experimental and numerical simulation results were compared and analyzed to verify the feasibility of model. The results show that nano-CaCO₃ can enhance the compressive strength of the concrete, with an optimal content of 2.0%. Adding basalt fibers into the nano-CaCO₃ reinforced concrete may further enhance the compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths of the concrete; however, the higher content of basalt fiber can not lead to higher performance of concrete. The optimal length and content of fiber are 6 mm and 0.20%, respectively. The SEM result shows that the aggregation of basalt fibers is detrimental to the mechanical properties of concrete. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Keywords

concrete / nano-CaCO₃ / basalt fiber / mechanical property / microscopic characterization / numerical simulation

References

[1] Ding Y, Liu S, Zhang Y, et al. The Investigation on the Workability of Fibre Cocktail Reinforced Self-Compacting High Performance Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2008, 22(7): 1 462-1 470.

[2] Zhu Z, Chen W, Zhang G. Cracking Propagation of Hardening Concrete Based on the Extended Finite Element Method[J]. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit., 2017, 32(5): 1 132-1 139.

[3] Zhao Y, Sun X, Cao P, et al. Mechanical Performance and Numerical Simulation of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete (BFRC) Using Double-K Fracture Model and Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT)[J]. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2019, 8: 1-15.

[4] Amin M, Abu El-Hassan K. Effect of Using Different Types of Nano Materials on Mechanical Properties of High Strength Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2015, 80: 116-124.

[5] Zhang H, Tian K. Properties and Mechanism on Flexural Fatigue of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concrete Containing Slag[J]. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit., 2011, 26(3): 533-540.

[6] Sabdono P, Sustiawan F, Fadlillah D A. The Effect of Nano-Cement Content to the Compressive Strength of Mortar[J]. Procedia Engineering, 2014, 95: 386-395.

[7] Zhang M, Islam J, Peethamparan S. Use of Nano-Silica to Increase Early Strength and Reduce Setting Time of Concretes with High Volumes of Slag[J]. Cem. Concr. Compos., 2012, 34(5): 650-662.

[8] Ehsani A, Nili M, Shaabani K. Effect of Nanosilica on the Compressive Strength Development and Water Absorption Properties of Cement Paste and Concrete Containing Fly Ash[J]. KSCE J. Civ. Eng., 2017, 21(5): 1 854-1 865.

[9] Sivasankaran U, Raman S, Nallusamy S. Experimental Analysis of Mechanical Properties on Concrete with Nano Silica Additive[J]. J. Nano Res.-Sw., 2019, 57: 93-104.

[10] Qian K, Zhang J, Qian X, et al. Effects of Nano-CaCO₃ Intermediate on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cement-Based Materials[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2011, 29(5): 692-696.

[11] Shaikh F U A, Supit S W M. Mechanical and Durability Properties of High Volume Fly Ash (HVFA) Concrete Containing Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃) Nanoparticles[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2014, 70(15): 309-321.

[12] Camiletti J, Soliman A M, Nehdi M L. Effects of Nano- and Micro-Limestone Addition on Early-Age Properties of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete[J]. Mater. Struct., 2013, 46(6): 881-898.

[13] Supit W M, Su A, Shaikh F. Effect of Nano-CaCO₃ on Compressive Strength Development of High Volume Fly Ash Mortars and Concretes[J]. J. Adv. Concr. Technol., 2014, 12(6): 178-186.

[14] Meng T, Yu Y, Wang Z. Effect of Nano-CaCO₃ Slurry on the Mechanical Properties and Micro-Structure of Concrete with and without Fly Ash[J]. Compos. B. Eng., 2017, 117: 124-129.

[15] Yin S, Tuladhar R, Shi F, et al. Use of Macro Plastic Fibres in Concrete: A Review[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2015, 93: 180-188.

[16] Pansuk W, Nguyen T N, Sato Y, et al. Shear Capacity of High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete I-Beams[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2017(157): 182–193

[17] Deng Z, Qian Z. Experimental Study of Loading History on the Fracture Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete[J]. China J. Highw.Transp., 2000, 13(2): 64-68.

[18] Deng Z. The Fracture and Fatigue Performance in Flexure of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete[J]. Cem. Concr. Compos., 2005, 27(1): 131-140.

[19] Bencardino F, Rizzuti L, Spadea G, et al. Experimental Evaluation of Fiber Reinforced Concrete Fracture Properties[J]. Compos. B. Eng., 2010, 41(1): 17-24.

[20] Kazemi M T, Golsorkhtabar H, Beygi M H A, et al. Fracture Properties of Steel Fiber Reinforced High Strength Concrete Using Work of Fracture and Size Effect Methods[J]. J. Build. Eng., 2017, 142(1): 482-489.

[21] Tang M, Yang H. Basalt Fiber Reinforce Cement-Based Composite Materials[J]. Concrete, 2010, 5: 76-78.

[22] Wang D, Wang L, Gu X, et al. Effect of Basalt Fiber on the Asphalt Binder and Mastic at Low Temperature[J]. J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 2013, 25(3): 355-364.

[23] Sun X, Gao Z, Cao P, et al. Mechanical Properties Tests and Multiscale Numerical Simulations for Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2019, 202: 58-72.

[24] Zhang J, Li V C. Simulation of Crack Propagation in Fiber-Reinforced Concrete by Fracture Mechanics[J]. Cement Concrete Res., 2004, 34(2): 333-339.

[25] Enfedaque A, Alberti M G, Gálvez J C, et al. Numerical Simulation of the Fracture Behaviour of Glass Fibre Reinforced Cement[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2017, 136(1): 108-117.

[26] Cao P, Jin F, Zhou C, et al. Steady-State Dynamic Method: An Efficient and Effective Way to Predict Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2016, 111(15): 54-62.

[27] Cao P, Jin F, Feng D, et al. Prediction on Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Concrete with Random Aggregate Modeling Methods and Virtual Physics Engine[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2016, 125: 987-997.

[28] Cao P, Jin F, Changjun Z, et al. Investigation on Statistical Characteristics of Asphalt Concrete Dynamic Moduli with Random Aggregate Distribution Model[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2017, 148: 723-733.

[29] Chira A, Kumar A, Vlach T, et al. Property Improvements of Alkali Resistant Glass Fibres/Epoxy Composite with Nanosilica for Textile Reinforced Concrete Applications[J]. Mater. Des., 2016, 89: 146-155.

[30] Sun X, Gao Z, Cao P, et al. Fracture Performance and Numerical Simulation of Basalt Fiber Concrete Using Three-Point Bending Test on Notched Beam[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2019, 225(20): 788-800.

[31] Xu Y, Chen S. A Method for Modeling the Damage Behavior of Concrete with a Three-Phase Mesostructure[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2016, 102: 26-38.

[32] Stock A F, Hannantt D J, Williams R I T. The Effect of Aggregate Concentration upon the Strength and Modulus of Elasticity of Concrete[J]. Mag. Concrete Res., 1979, 31(109): 225-234.