Mechanical properties of high-ductility concrete at different temperatures

Abstract

In this study, the uniaxial compression and splitting tensile properties of high-ductility concrete (HDC) at different temperatures were investigated. The uniaxial compression strength and splitting tensile strength of HDC under standard curing (20 ± 2°C; ≥95% humidity), water curing (15 ± 2°C; 100% humidity) and −20°C curing (−20 ± 2°C, 75–85% humidity) conditions were investigated. The variation of stress–strain response, elastic modulus and peak stress of HDC under uniaxial compression at different temperatures and the evolution of splitting tensile strength and energy were analysed. The results revealed the strength variation mechanism of HDC under different curing conditions. From the test data, the relationships between the uniaxial compressive strength, splitting tensile strength of HDC and splitting tensile energy and the curing temperature were obtained. A constitutive model of the uniaxial compression of HDC under environments of different temperatures was established. With increasing curing temperature, the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, elastic modulus and energy of HDC specimens increased gradually, while the peak strain decreased gradually. The effect of curing temperature on compressive strength was significantly more pronounced than that on splitting tensile strength.