Fiber-Distribution Assessment in Steel Fiber–Reinforced UHPC Using Conventional Imaging, X-Ray CT Scan, and Concrete Electrical Conductivity
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 31, Issue 8
Abstract
Specimens were made of ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) with two ratios of sand to cementitious materials, 0.5 and 1.25. Specimens with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% fiber content were prepared from each mixture. Fiber distribution in these specimens was investigated using three techniques: conventional imaging, X-ray computed tomography scanning (CT scan), and electrical conductivity. All techniques were able to determine the fiber distribution in UHPC. However, the electrical conductivity measurements required minimum preparation and were less expensive and faster compared to the other techniques. It was found that increasing the ratio of sand to cementitious material in the mixture decreased flowability and the fibers tended to settle down in a mixture with higher flowability compared to the mixture with lower flowability.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this project provided by the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering at Clemson University.
References
ASTM. 2017. Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens. ASTM C39. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Barnett, S. J., J. Lataste, T. Parry, S. G. Millard, and M. N. Soutsos. 2010. “Assessment of fibre orientation in ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete and its effect on flexural strength.” Mater. Struct. 43 (7): 1009–1023. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-009-9562-3.
Borsic, A., C. Comina, S. Foti, R. Lancellotta, and G. Musso. 2005. “Imaging heterogeneities with electrical impedance tomography: Laboratory results.” Géotechnique 55 (7): 539–547. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2005.55.7.539.
Comina, C., R. M. Cosentini, G. Della Vecchia, S. Foti, and G. Musso. 2011. “3D-electrical resistivity tomography monitoring of salt transport in homogeneous and layered soil samples.” Acta Geotech. 6 (4): 195–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-011-0146-3.
Daily, W., A. Ramirez, D. LaBrecque, and J. Nitao. 1992. “Electrical resistivity tomography of vadose water movement.” Water Resour. Res. 28 (5): 1429–1442. https://doi.org/10.1029/91WR03087.
Damme, S. V., A. Franchois, D. D. Zutter, and L. Taerwe. 2004. “Nondestructive determination of the steel fiber content in concrete slabs with an open-ended coaxial probe.” IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens. Lett. 42 (11): 2511–2521. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2004.837332.
Du Plooy, R., G. Villain, S. P. Lopes, A. Ihamouten, X. Derobert, and B. Thauvin. 2015. “Electromagnetic non-destructive evaluation techniques for the monitoring of water and chloride ingress into concrete: a comparative study.” Mater. Struct. 48 (1–2): 369–386. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-013-0189-z.
Dyakowski, T., L. F. Jeanmeure, and A. J. Jaworski. 2000. “Applications of electrical tomography for gas–solids and liquid–solids flows—A review.” Powder Technol. 112 (3): 174–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-5910(00)00292-8.
Faifer, M., L. Ferrara, R. Ottoboni, and S. Toscani. 2013. “Low frequency electrical and magnetic methods for non-destructive analysis of fiber dispersion in fiber reinforced cementitious composites: an overview.” Sensors 13 (1): 1300–1318. https://doi.org/10.3390/s130101300.
Faifer, M., R. Ottoboni, and S. Toscani. 2010. A compensated magnetic probe for steel fiber reinforced concrete monitoring. Kona, HI: IEEE.
Faifer, M., R. Ottoboni, and S. Toscani. 2011. “Nondestructive testing of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete using a magnetic approach.” IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. 60 (5): 1709–1717. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2010.2090059.
Hallaji, M., A. Seppänen, and M. Pour-Ghaz. 2014. “Electrical impedance tomography-based sensing skin for quantitative imaging of damage in concrete.” Smart Mater. Struct. 23 (8): 085001. https://doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/23/8/085001.
Hallaji, M., A. Seppänen, and M. Pour-Ghaz. 2015. “Electrical resistance tomography to monitor unsaturated moisture flow in cementitious materials.” Cem. Concr. Res. 69 (Mar): 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2014.11.007.
Henderson, R. P., and J. G. Webster. 1978. “An impedance camera for spatially specific measurements of the thorax.” IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. BME-25 (3): 250–254. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.1978.326329.
Hou, T. C., and J. P. Lynch. 2009. “Electrical impedance tomographic methods for sensing strain fields and crack damage in cementitious structures.” J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct. 20 (11): 1363–1379. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045389X08096052.
Karhunen, K., A. Seppanen, A. Lehikoinen, P. J. M. Monteiro, and J. P. Kaipio. 2010. “Electrical Resistance Tomography imaging of concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res. 40 (1): 137–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.08.023.
Kim, S. W., S. T. Kang, J. J. Park, and G. S. Ryu. 2008. “Effect of filling method on fibre orientation and dispersion and mechanical properties of UHPC.” In Proc., 2nd Int. Symp. on Ultra High Performance Concrete. Kassel, Germany: Kassel University Press.
Larrard, F. D., and T. Sedran. 1994. “Optimization of ultrahigh-performance concrete by the use of a packing model.” Cem. Concr. Res. 24 (6): 997–1009. https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-8846(94)90022-1.
Lataste, J., M. Behloul, and D. Breysse. 2008. “Characterisation of fibres distribution in a steel fibre reinforced concrete with electrical resistivity measurements.” NDT & E Int. 41 (8): 638–647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2008.03.008.
Li, Z. 2015. “Proportioning and properties of ultrahigh performance concrete mixtures for application in shear keys precast concrete bridges.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Clemson Univ.
Li, Z., H. Kizhakommudom, P. R. Rangaraju, and S. D. Schiff. 2014. “Development of ultrahigh performance concrete for shear-keys in precast bridges using locally available materials in South Carolina.” In Proc., 60th Anniversary Convention and National Bridge Conf. Washington, DC: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.
Li, Z., H. K. Venkata, and P. R. Rangaraju. 2015. “Influence of silica flour–silica fume combination on the properties of high performance cementitious mixtures at ambient temperature curing.” Constr. Build. Mater. 100 (15): 225–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.09.042.
Liu, J., C. Li, J. Liu, G. Cui, and Z. Yang. 2013. “Study on 3D spatial distribution of steel fibers in fiber reinforced cementitious composites through micro-CT technique.” Constr. Build. Mater. 48 (Nov): 656–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.07.052.
Lytle, R., and K. Dines. 1978. “An impedance camera: A system for determining the spatial variation of electrical conductivity: Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Paper UCRL-52413.” USGRAI 78: 25.
National Research Council. 1996. Mathematics and physics of emerging biomedical imaging. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Pansuk, W., H. Sato, Y. Sato, and R. Shionaga. 2008. “Tensile behaviors and fiber orientation of UHPC.” In Proc., 2nd Int. Symp. on Ultra High Performance Concrete. Kassel, Germany: Kassel University Press.
Pinheiro, P., W. Loh, R. Waterfall, M. Wang, and R. Mann. 2007. “Three-dimensional electrical resistance tomography in a stirred mixing vessel.” Chem. Eng. Commun. 175 (1): 25–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/00986449908912137.
Ponikiewski, T., J. Katzer, M. Bugdol, and M. Rudzki. 2015a. “Steel fibre spacing in self-compacting concrete precast walls by X-ray computed tomography.” Mater. Struct. 48 (12): 3863–3874. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0444-y.
Ponikiewski, T., J. Katzer, M. Bugdol, and M. Rudzki. 2015b. “X-ray computed tomography harnessed to determine 3D spacing of steel fibres in self compacting concrete (SCC) slabs.” Constr. Build. Mater. 74 (Jan): 102–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.10.024.
Rangaraju, P. R., H. Kizhakommudom, Z. Li, and S. D. Schiff. 2013. Development of high-strength/high performance concrete/grout mixtures for application in shear keys in precast bridges. McLean, VA: FHWA.
Rasband, W. S. 2008. “ImageJ.” Bethesda, MD: US National Institutes of Health. Accessed February 18, 2018. https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/.
Ruan, T., and A. Poursaee. 2016. “Surface and subsurface damage detection in cement-based materials using electrical resistance tomography.” In Proc., SPIE, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems. Bellingham, WA: SPIE.
Ruan, T., and A. Poursaee. 2017. “Subsurface damage assessment in mortar using electrical impedance tomography.” J. Future Eng. Technol. 12 (3): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.12.3.13429.
Russell, H. G., and B. A. Graybeal. 2013. Ultrahigh performance concrete: A state-of-the-art report for the bridge community. McLean, VA: Federal Highway Administration.
Smyl, D., M. Hallaji, A. Seppänen, and M. Pour-Ghaz. 2016. “Quantitative electrical imaging of three-dimensional moisture flow in cement-based materials.” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 103 (Dec): 1348–1358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2016.08.039.
Stacey, R. W. 2006. Electrical impedance tomography. Stanford, CA: Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, Stanford Univ.
Suuronen, J.-P., A. Kallonen, M. Eik, J. Puttonen, R. Serimaa, and H. Herrmann. 2013. “Analysis of short fibres orientation in steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) by X-ray tomography.” J. Mater. Sci. 48 (3): 1358–1367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-012-6882-4.
Torrents, J. M., A. Blanco, P. Pujadas, A. Aguado, P. Juan-Garcia, and M. A. Sanchez-Moragues. 2012. “Inductive method for assessing the amount and orientation of steel fibers in concrete.” Mater. Struct. 45 (10): 1577–1592. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-012-9858-6.
Wille, K., and C. Boisvert-Cotulio. 2013. Development of non-proprietary ultrahigh performance concrete for use in the highway bridge sector. McLean, VA: US Dept. of Transportation.
Wille, K., A. E. Naaman, and G. J. Parra-Montesinos. 2011. “Ultrahigh performance concrete with compressive strength exceeding 150 MPa (22 ksi): A simpler way.” ACI Mater. J. 108 (1): 46–54.
Wuest, J., E. Denarié, and E. Brühwiler. 2007. “Measurement and modeling of fiber distribution and orientation in UHPFRC.” In Proc., 5th Int. RILEM Workshop on High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement, Composites (HPFRCC5). Bagneux, France: RILEM.
Xia, J. 2011. “Ultrahigh performance fiber reinforced concrete in bridge deck applications.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, Univ. of Central Florida.
Yu, R., P. Spiesz, and H. J. H. Brouwers. 2014. “Mix design and properties assessment of ultrahigh performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC).” Cem. Concr. Res. 56 (Feb): 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.11.002.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 31 • Issue 8 • August 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 16, 2018
Accepted: Dec 10, 2018
Published online: May 17, 2019
Published in print: Aug 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Oct 17, 2019
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.