Effects of mechanical properties of concrete constituents including active mineral admixtures on fatigue behaviours of high performance concrete

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn order to explore the links between the macroscopic and microstructural characteristics of concrete with admixtures of active mineral additions, four series of concrete prisms, of mortar matrix prisms and mortar‐aggregate Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) are prepared and tested under monotonic and cyclic loads. Five static mechanical parameters (compressive and bending strength, fracture energy, elastic modulus, Poisson ratio) and bending fatigue performance (fatigue life, critical maximum displacement and strain, fatigue damage) of such materials are experimentally evaluated. The results show that degradation laws of concrete properties under both monotonic and cyclic loads vary with the different cohesive strength ratio and elastic modulus ratio of ITZ and mortar matrix. The single or double additions of ground slag and fly ash with optimized mass fractions remarkably enhance the static and bending fatigue properties as well as change the failure mechanisms of concrete.