Fracture Toughness of Reactive Powder Fibrous Concrete Composites under Pure and Mixed Modes (I/III)

Reactive Powder Concretes (RPC) are well known for their exceptional strength properties and durability properties. The use of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) is the best way to enhance the strength and durability characteristics of RPCs further. Among various SCMs, the potential of Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) is proven by many researchers. However, the effect of GGBS on the fracture toughness of RPCs, especially under the tearing mode, is not explored. This study investigates the effect of partial replacement of OPC with GGBS in non-fibrous and fibrous RPCs, on its mode I (pure opening), mode III (pure tearing), and mixed-mode I/III fracture behaviour. A significant improvement in mode I, mode III, and mixed-mode I/III fracture toughness was observed due to incorporating GGBS and fibres in RPCs. The fibrous mix with 30% OPC, replaced with GGBS, exhibited the highest values of mode I and mode III fracture toughnesses, which were 2.35 MPa·m0.5 and 0.98 MPa·m0.5, respectively, and significantly high compared to the control non-fibrous and fibrous RPC mixes. The study reveals the ability of GGBS as an SCM to improve the fracture toughness of RPC mixes, thereby delaying the failure of the process of structural components.

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