.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Return
Mechanical enhancement of UHPSSC using multi-scale non-metallic fibers: Experimental evaluation and theoretical modeling
.png){kind=icon}
PRE
AI
Y
X
汪
S
Y
Z
DOI：10.1016/j.istruc.2026.112359.png)
.png){kind=icon}
Original request for help.png){kind=icon}
Share.png){kind=icon}
Save
Abstract
En 中文
Ultra-high-performance seawater–sand concrete (UHPSSC) has emerged as a promising material for marine infrastructure due to its high strength, toughness, and durability, as well as its ability to alleviate shortages of freshwater, river sand, and conventional aggregates. However, the use of steel fibers in UHPSSC remains controversial in marine environments due to the potential for corrosion of surface-exposed or cracked fibers under prolonged chloride exposure, potentially affecting long-term performance. To address this issue, this study investigates the mechanical performance of UHPSSC reinforced with a multi-scale non-metallic fiber system, including sub-micron calcium carbonate whiskers (CW), micro-scale fibers (basalt, polyethylene, and polypropylene), and macro-scale basalt fibers. A comprehensive experimental program involving 26 mixtures was conducted to evaluate the effects of fiber type, content, and aspect ratio on compressive strength, flexural behavior, and toughness. In addition, predictive models were developed for compressive strength, flexural performance, and age-dependent strength evolution. The results indicate that multi-scale non-metallic fibers significantly enhance both strength and toughness. The optimal hybrid system (1.5 vol% CW + 0.5 vol% micro basalt fibers + 3 vol% macro basalt fibers) achieved a 28-day compressive strength of 167.5 MPa, representing a 33.1% increase over the control, and exhibited pronounced deflection-hardening behavior. Among all mixtures, pe0.5-B12–3 showed the best flexural performance, with a post-cracking strength of 31.67 MPa and a toughness index (I20) of 23.75. SEM observations further confirmed the hierarchical reinforcement mechanism, showing that CW contributed to matrix densification and microcrack control, micro-fibers restricted early crack development, and macro basalt fibers enhanced post-cracking resistance through bridging and pull-out mechanisms. The proposed models showed high predictive accuracy and were validated using independent datasets from the literature, confirming their robustness and general applicability.
Journal
IF:
4.3
Papers:
1.2W
Citations:
2.7W
Organization
Cited Papers