Title:
Experimental and Analytical Study on the Shear Behavior of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) Considering Axial Load Effects
Author(s):
Kalliontzis
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_F23_Kalliontzis.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/29/2023
Abstract:
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is recognized for its superior mechanical properties featuring high compressive strength (~120-250 MPa), high tensile strength (~6-12 MPa), and post-cracking ductility, among other properties. The high tensile strength of UHPC makes it possible to reduce or eliminate secondary reinforcement and develop thinner structural sections. When designing thin UHPC sections, one must have adequate understanding of UHPC’s shear behavior and associated effects from superimposed axial force fields to prevent brittle failures. This research study evaluated the response of large-scale UHPC elements to well-defined combinations of shear and axial loads using the Universal Element Tester (UET) facility at the University of Houston. The research team subjected the UHPC elements to pure shear and shear combined with axial tension and compression loads. The axial load effects on the shear behavior of UHPC were quantified and a Softened Membrane Model (SMM) was developed to simulate UHPC’s shear responses, linking material-level test results with large-scale behavior.