Abstract
This study assesses the ballistic impact strength of thin plates made of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with low cement content (250 kg/m3) and volumes of 80% steel and 20% polypropylene (PP) hybrid fibers. The plates were prepared with thicknesses of 30, 50, and 70 mm and fiber volume ratios of 1.5% and 3.0%. Compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, residual strength, and ballistic impact strength were determined using experimental methods. Test results showed that regardless of fiber content, the UHPC specimens prepared with the hybrid fibers showed similar performance against ballistic impact, exerting relatively low impact energy below 1000 J. The UHPC3.0 mixture made with 3.0% hybrid fiber content exhibited the best performance in terms of energy absorption and spalling resistance at impact energy levels greater than 4000 J. Plate sections with thicknesses of 7 mm showed class III performance (highest level), as recommended for military-based applications.
Highlights
It was observed that the compressive strength of Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) specimens at 7 days was above 70 MPa
There was a small reduction in compressive strength for the mixture prepared with 3.0% of fibers in comparison with that made with 1.5% fiber content
Similar compressive strength was attained for UHPC mixtures made with hybrid fiber volumes of 1.5% and 3.0%
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The use of more durable reinforced concrete structures with optimized materials will lead to greater sustainability in the civil construction sector [8]. In this scenario, one objective is the development of alternatives which use the same non-renewable materials but with greater durability and reduced environmental impact. The above studies demonstrate the advantages of using UHPC composites with fiber volumes between 1.5% and 3.0% to ensure high resistance to ballistic impact Another justification of this study is the possibility of reducing the thickness of the walls used in ballistic protection systems to less than 70 mm with the use of UHPC. The evaluated properties included compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, residual flexural strength, and ballistic impact strength
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