Specimen Size Effects and Dynamic Fracture Toughness of Cement-Based Foams
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Abstract
This paper presents the effect of geometrically similar specimen size on the mechanical properties of cement-based foams. The experimental study also investigates fracture-mechanical parameters under flexural impact. A preformed foam was employed to prepare the specimens using a synthetic foaming agent that was known to achieve a stable bubble structure. The cement-based foams were prepared to a cast density of and were examined under compression and flexure. Along with a plain unreinforced mix, polypropylene fiber at a volumetric fraction of 0.2% was used to study the effect of microfiber reinforcement. The tested specimens scaled between one to four times in dimension. Parameters associated with their dynamic-fracture mechanics were evaluated under flexure with the help of a drop-weight impact tester equipped with a high speed imaging system. Bažant’s size effect model and the multifractal scaling model were employed to describe the size effect. It was seen that when subjected to compression, the fiber-reinforced specimens demonstrate a noticeable size effect, whereas, under quasi-static flexure, the more significant size effect was observed for the plain specimens. As expected, fiber reinforcement improved the Mode I fracture toughness at all sizes.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank CEMATRIX, Calgary, and the city of Edmonton (drainage services) for their generous support towards conducting this study. Thanks are also due to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada for its continued financial assistance. Donation of material by Lehigh Inland Cement, Edmonton is gratefully acknowledged. In addition, the authors are grateful to Dr. Nemkumar Banthia at the University of British Columbia, Vanvouver for making possible their use of the drop-weight impact machine.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 1 • January 2014
Pages: 143 - 151
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© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 3, 2012
Accepted: Jan 16, 2013
Published online: Jan 18, 2013
Discussion open until: Jun 18, 2013
Published in print: Jan 1, 2014
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