Synergistic effects of graphene oxide, steel wire mesh and fibers on the impact resistance of preplaced aggregate concrete

Abstract

Graphene Oxide (GO) has become a focal point of interest in civil engineering due to its exceptional mechanical and functional properties, making it a novel and promising carbon-based nanomaterial. However, the improvement in impact resistance of fibrous concrete by incorporating GO has not been explored until now. The novelty of this research is rooted in its pioneering analysis of the impact resistance of preplaced aggregate fibrous concrete, achieved through the combined incorporation of GO and steel wire mesh (SWM). This study uniquely investigates the effects of three different dosages of GO (0.1 %, 0.15 %, and 0.2 %) and three variations in the diameter of the steel wire mesh (50 mm, 100 mm, and 150 mm), alongside a fixed dosage of 3 % for steel fibers. Thirty-two distinct mixtures were prepared, with the steel wire mesh strategically placed at the midpoint of the specimen depth in each case. The specimens underwent drop-weight impact testing, with investigations conducted into their compressive strength, impact numbers related to cracking and failure, ductility index, and failure mode. The specimens incorporating a 0.2 % GO dosage with a 150 mm diameter of SWM displayed the highest observed cracking and failure impact numbers compared to those with 50 mm and 100 mm diameters of SWM. The observed increments ranged from 1.07 to 1.18 times for cracking and from 1.38 to 2.45 times for failure, compared to specimens containing 0.2 % GO without SWM. The identical specimens demonstrated the highest ductility values, ranging from 9.34 to 10.61. It is crucial to emphasize that adding GO does not induce an evolution from brittle to ductile failure of the specimen under impact loading, unlike the effect observed with steel wire mesh and steel fibre.