Improving Fatigue Strength of polymer concrete using nanomaterials.

Details

• Creators:
  Taha, M. M. Reda ; Tarefder, R.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of New Mexico
• Corporate Contributors:
  Southern Plains Transportation Center ; New Mexico. Dept. of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bond Strength (Materials) Compressive Strength Ductility Fatigue Fatigue Strength Finite Element Method Flexural Strength Highway Bridges Nanomaterials Nanostructured Materials Polymer Concrete Tensile Strength Toughness

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• Publication/ Report Number:
  SPTC14.1-66-F
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of New Mexico
• Abstract:
  Polymer concrete (PC) is that type of concrete where the cement binder is replaced with polymer. PC is often used to improve friction and protect structural substrates in reinforced concrete and orthotropic steel bridges. However, its low fatigue performance, limited fracture toughness and tendency to debond pose expensive maintenance challenges for highway bridges. This research investigated the use of nanomaterials such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and alumina nanoparticles (ANPs) to produce PC with superior bond strength, fracture toughness and fatigue strength. A total of 20 different PC mixes were containing up to 3.0 wt.% content of nanomaterial were developed and examined. Mechanical characterization methods including compressive, flexural, bond and tensile strengths, ductility (strain at failure), toughness, fracture toughness and fatigue were conducted. Finite element modeling was also utilized to understand the shear stresses in PC-steel interface. Microstructural analysis revealed the chemical effects of incorporating nanomaterials in PC. The results show improvements in all mechanical performances of PC reaching 170% in fracture toughness, 1200% in fatigue life, 135% in ductility with a decrease in tensile and compressive strengths by about 15%. Microstructural analysis proved the ability of ANPs and pristine MWCNTs to alter the chemical reaction of epoxy and reduce PC crosslinking density while carboxyl MWCNTs increase PC crosslinking density. Pristine MWCNTs also showed the ability to self-monitor PC under static and cyclic loads.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  2014-30
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:cf4628b401eddca0d0b82614752615157f8508819b80a3396ba092db8677a5f5
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/31983/dot_31983_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.55 MB ]