Abstract
To limit the cross-sectional size of concrete structures, high-strength, lightweight concrete is preferred for the design and construction of structural elements. However, the main drawback of high-strength, lightweight concrete is its brittleness over normal-weight concrete. The ductility of concrete is a crucial factor, which plays an important role when the concrete structures are subjected to extreme situations, such as earthquakes and wind. This study aims to improve the ductility of high-strength, lightweight concrete by incorporating steel fibers. The palm oil clinker (POC)-based, high-strength, lightweight concrete specimens reinforced with steel fibers were prepared and their ductility was systematically examined. POC was used as aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials. Steel fibers from 0–1.50% (by volume), with an increment of 0.5%, were used in the concrete mix. Compression ductility, displacement ductility and energy ductility were used as indicators to evaluate the enhancement of ductility. Moreover, the compressive strength, flexural strength, stress-strain behavior, modulus of elasticity, load-displacement characteristics, energy absorption capacity and deformability of the concrete samples were investigated. The compression ductility, displacement ductility and energy ductility indexes were found to be increased by up to 472%, 140% and 568% compared to the control specimens (concrete with 0% steel fibers), respectively. Moreover, the deformability and energy absorption capacity of the concrete were increased by up to 566% and 125%, respectively. Therefore, POC-based, high-strength, fibrous, lightweight concrete could perform better than conventional concrete under extreme loading conditions as it showed significantly higher ductility.
Highlights
Lightweight concrete (LWC) fabrication has a significant impact on modern construction industries due to its importance in infrastructural construction worldwide [1,2]
This study reveals improved ductility behavior and mechanical properties of palm oil clinker (POC)-based, high-strength, lightweight concrete incorporating hook-end steel fibers (0–1.5% by volume, with an increment of 0.5%)
Based on the experimental results, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) The compression ductility of the POC-based, high-strength, lightweight concrete with 1.0% steel fibers was six times higher compared to the control
Summary
Lightweight concrete (LWC) fabrication has a significant impact on modern construction industries due to its importance in infrastructural construction worldwide [1,2]. LWC is more beneficial than regular-weight concrete as it imposes significantly fewer dead loads on the load-carrying elements (beam, column and foundations) of infrastructures. It offers more efficient sound insulation, relatively lower transportation costs of precast units and requires fewer props during construction [3–5]. LWC has been widely utilized in the construction of high-rise buildings, large-span bridges, sidewalks, steel structure protective layers or steel–concrete composite structures and various prefabricated concrete sections [6–8]. The ductility of lightweight concrete is required when structures are subjected to blast loading [11,12]. Many investigators have led experimental investigations on the properties of LWC using locally available waste materials [16–19]
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