Effect of Vibration Mixing on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Mix Proportions and Sample Preparation
2.3. Testing Method
2.4. Microscopic Analysis
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) Workability
3.2. UHPC Axial Compressive Performances
3.3. UHPC Tensile Performances
3.4. UHPC Flexural Performances
3.5. Mechanism Analysis
- The intense vibrations in vibration mixing help expel trapped air from the UHPC mixture, resulting in an increased wet apparent density and improved mechanical properties.
- Although CNTs are prepared as a well-dispersed slurry before use, their dispersion within UHPC is challenging with twin-shaft mixing due to its lower mixing frequency. Vibration mixing, with its high-frequency vibrations, promotes a more uniform distribution of CNTs within the UHPC matrix than twin-shaft mixing, thereby enhancing its mechanical properties. Zheng et al. [30] also reported a similar benefit of vibration mixing on improving the distribution of steel fibers within UHPC.
- During bending or tensile loading, once the matrix cracks, the tensile stress is transferred to the steel fibers. As the load increases, the fibers are gradually pulled out, eventually leading to specimen failure. Vibration mixing improves the dispersion of CNTs, enhancing the mechanical properties of the paste and the transition zone. This improvement increases the bond strength between the matrix and the steel fibers, making fiber pull-out more difficult and thus improving the tensile and flexural performance of UHPC.
4. Conclusions
- Vibration mixing is shown to be a more effective method for CNT-reinforced UHPC, offering better flowability, higher wet apparent density, and superior mechanical properties compared to twin-shaft mixing, even with shorter mixing times.
- For the best balances of axial compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural performance, a vibration mixing time of 3 min is optimal, considering the vibration mixing times ranging from 3 to 7 min.
- The significant improvement in the mechanical performance of UHPC with vibration mixing is attributed to two main factors: (a) the intense vibrations help expel air from the UHPC mixture, leading to an increased wet apparent density, reduced porosity, and a lower number of large pores in the hardened UHPC, thereby enhancing its mechanical properties; (b) vibration mixing promotes the uniform dispersion of CNTs, which improves the matrix strength and the transition zone, thereby increasing the bond strength between the matrix and steel fibers and enhancing the overall strength.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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ID | Mixing Method | Mixing Time | UHPC Premix (kg/m3) | Water Reducer (kg/m3) | Defoamer (kg/m3) | Water (kg/m3) | CNT Slurry (kg/m3) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Z3 | Vibration Mixing | 3 min | 2239.5 | 38 | 0.4 | 118.235 | 17.5 |
Z5 | Vibration Mixing | 5 min | 2239.5 | 38 | 0.4 | 118.235 | 17.5 |
Z7 | Vibration Mixing | 7 min | 2239.5 | 38 | 0.4 | 118.235 | 17.5 |
B10 | Twin-Shaft Mixing | 10 min | 2239.5 | 38 | 0.4 | 118.235 | 17.5 |
ID | Energy Absorption Capacity (kN·mm) | Energy Absorption at Yield (kN·mm) | Ductility Index |
---|---|---|---|
Z3 | 187.85 | 3.59 | 52.33 |
Z5 | 167.75 | 3.78 | 44.38 |
Z7 | 191.91 | 3.20 | 59.97 |
B10 | 157.66 | 3.43 | 45.97 |
ID | Total Pore Volume (mL/g) | Average Pore Diameter (nm) | Porosity (%) | Pore Size Distribution (%) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
<10 nm | 10–100 nm | 100–1000 nm | >1000 nm | ||||
Z3 | 0.0417 | 87.96 | 9.14 | 0.60 | 0.05 | 0.35 | 8.14 |
B10 | 0.0632 | 178.71 | 12.24 | 0.33 | 0.64 | 0.40 | 10.87 |
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Zhou, L.; Yin, J.; Wang, W.; Liu, F.; Xiao, M.; Yang, Y.; Cui, H. Effect of Vibration Mixing on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete. Buildings 2024, 14, 2545. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082545
Zhou L, Yin J, Wang W, Liu F, Xiao M, Yang Y, Cui H. Effect of Vibration Mixing on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete. Buildings. 2024; 14(8):2545. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082545
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhou, Li, Jiangang Yin, Wei Wang, Fucai Liu, Min Xiao, Yibo Yang, and Haibo Cui. 2024. "Effect of Vibration Mixing on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete" Buildings 14, no. 8: 2545. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082545