Multi-level micromechanical analysis of elastic properties of ultra-high performance concrete at high temperatures: Effects of imperfect interface and inclusion size

Abstract

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), as a typical multi-phase composite material, is vulnerable to mechanical degradation and explosive spalling at high temperatures. In this work, the temperature-dependent elastic modulus of UHPC is estimated through the step-by-step homogenization from gel matrix level to ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete level. Totally three forms of C-S-H gels are considered to determine the elastic properties of the initial matrix, and the phase transformation and volume fractions of individual phases at high temperatures are calculated based on the hydration and dehydration kinetics models. Moreover, the effects of imperfect interface and inclusion size are taken into account by introducing the spring-layer interface model and log-normal size distribution function to the homogenization scheme. The predicted elastic moduli are validated by analytical and experimental results, showing that accurate predictions can be obtained at up to 800°C. Interestingly, the imperfect interface matters when high-modulus inclusions are embedded in the low-modulus matrix, and the effect of imperfect interface on effective elastic modulus varies a lot at different microscopic levels. The findings highlight the synergistic effects of imperfect interface and inclusion size on the elastic properties, which is helpful to the mechanical design of UHPC at high temperatures.