Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Enhanced with Graphite Nanoplatelets and Carbon Nanofibers

Abstract

Effects of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on mechanical properties of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) are investigated. A non-proprietary UHPC mixture composed of 0.5% steel micro fibers, 5% silica fume, and 40% fly ash was used. The content of the nanomaterials ranged from 0 to 0.3% by weight of cementitious materials. The nanomaterials were dispersed using optimized surfactant content and ultra-sonification to ensure uniform dispersion in the UHPC mixture. As the content of nanomaterials is increased from 0 to 0.3%, the tensile strength and energy absorption capacity can be increased by 56% and 187%, respectively; the flexural strength and toughness can be increased by 59% and 276%, respectively. At 0.2% of GNPs, the UHPCs exhibited “strain-hardening” in tension and in flexure.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Comments

This study was funded by the Energy Consortium Research Center [grant number: SMR-1406-09] and the RE-CAST University Transportation Center at Missouri S&T [grant number DTRT13-GUTC45].

Keywords and Phrases

Carbon nanofibers; Concretes; Fly ash; Graphite; Mechanical properties; Mixtures; Nanofibers; Nanostructured materials; Silica fume; Steel fibers; Strain hardening; Tensile strength; Cementitious materials; Energy absorption capacity; Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs); Strength and toughness; Surfactant content; Ultra high performance concretes; Uniform dispersions; High performance concrete; Ultra-high-performance concrete

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1359-8368

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2016 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Dec 2016

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