Abstract
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-confined foam concrete can be applied in structure protection, e.g., as an impact barrier of bridge piers, in which it is used as the core of the composite impact barrier. Applying CFRP to the foam concrete exterior enhances both the CFRP and the foam concrete, leading to improved compressive performance due to their interaction. In the present study, the carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) confining effect on the response and energy absorption of foam concrete subjected to quasi-static and medium-strain-rate dynamic compression was experimentally investigated. The confinement by CFRP changed the response and failure mode of foam concrete specimens from shear in quasi-static load and splitting in dynamic load to crushing, resulting in a significant increase in the load bearing and energy absorption capacity. The composite consisting of CFRP and foam concrete was sensitive to strain rate. In particular, the CFRP–foam concrete interaction led to the remarkably improved resistance and energy absorption capacity of CFRP-confined specimens, which were significantly higher than the sum of those of standalone CFRP and foam concrete.
Highlights
The application of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) on foam concrete exterior remarkably improves its crushing resistance due to the confinement effect, leading to significantly increased energy absorption capacity
CFRP-confined foam concrete can be applied in structure protection, e.g., as an impact barrier of bridge piers, in which it is used as the core of the composite impact barrier
Dynamic Response and Energy Absorption. When it comes to the foam concrete with and without CFRP subjected to dynamic compression, the response becomes more complicated due to varying loading rate
Summary
The application of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) on foam concrete exterior remarkably improves its crushing resistance due to the confinement effect, leading to significantly increased energy absorption capacity. While some cellular solids are ductile (e.g., metal foams, polymeric foams), some cellular solids are brittle (foam concrete and foam ceramic) In addition to their superior properties such as being lightweight and low thermal conductivity, they experience a relatively long stress plateau of nearly constant stress level with increasing strain when subjected to compression, implying excellent capacity in energy absorption [1,2,3,4]. The response, failure mode, and energy absorption of foam concrete with and without CFRP confinement subjected to quasi-static and dynamic loading were experimentally investigated and compared. The CFRP-confined foam concrete was tested quasi-statically and dynamically with corresponding loading rates to investigate the strengthening effect due to the CFRP–foam concrete interaction in terms of crushing strength. The energy absorption of foam concrete with and without CFRP reinforcement subjected to various loading rates was examined, and the factors determining the strengthening effect were identified and discussed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
