| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/L87767/01 |
| Title: |
CONCRETE WITH ENHANCED TOUGHNESS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Chandler, Professor HW |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Aberdeen |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
21 July 1998 |
Ends: |
20 July 2001 |
Value (£): |
132,750
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
|
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
|
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
Concrete is an inherently brittle materials with low tensile strength. Conventionally, steel and fibre reinforcement are used but both are subject to deterioration in the alkaline concrete matrix. Tensile damage within the unreinforced concrete cover zone is the common mode of failure, e.g. following steel corrosion and mechanical impact. This leads to substantial remediation costs. Such damage further reduces concrete durability by the introduction of macro-cracks along which material can be transported. This project is directed at the control of crack propagation in concretes. By promoting differential expansion of cement hydration products and aggregates, residual stresses are which act to close the crack (similar to the toughening mechanism for zirconia toughened ceramics). Because such stresses are dispersed throughout the matrix, this mechanism is more effective than steel in the reinforcement of concrete in the cover zone and would consequently add to the value of steel in the strengthening of concrete structures. We intend to establish the sensitivity of the toughening process to the materials used, the curing conditions and the influence of environmental factors, such as carbonation.
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.abdn.ac.uk |