Transport properties of pseudo-ductile cementitious composites

Title: Transport properties of pseudo-ductile cementitious composites
Author(s): C.K.Y. Leung, C. Pang
Paper category : conference
Book title: The 50-year Teaching and Research Anniversary of Prof. Sun Wei on Advances in Civil Engineering Materials
Editor(s): C. Miao, G. Ye and H. Chen
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-098-1
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-099-8
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2010
Pages: 51 - 60
Total Pages: 10
Nb references: 16
Language: English

Abstract: Durability of reinforced concrete structures are governed by the transport properties of concrete. For conventional concrete, once cracking occurs, the transport properties are degraded as water and other chemicals can penetrate through the cracks. Pseudo-ductile cementitious composites (PDCC) are a new class of fiber-reinforced materials with strainhardening behavior in tension, associated with the formation of closely spaced fine cracks that have little effect on the transport properties. Concrete structures with PDCC on the surface, in the form of permanent formwork or externally applied layers, can potentially exhibit very high durability. However, in former work related to the design of PDCC, focus has been put on the achievement of pseudo-ductility, and good transport properties at the un-cracked state are not guaranteed. In this investigation, water permeability and chloride diffusivity tests are carried out together with direct tensile test on a number of PDCC compositions. The effect of various design parameters on both the pseudo-ductility and the transport properties can hence be studied. The findings, while being preliminary, pave the way for optimizing PDCC mix design for both mechanical performance and long-term durability.

Online publication: 2010-04-22
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00