Buckling of steel and Ni-Ti reinforcements in very high performance concrete (VHPC) elements

Abstract

Nowadays, the use of new materials is becoming increasingly common in the construction world due to their improved properties. High or Very High Performance Concrete (HPC or VHPC) and Shape Memory Alloys (SMA), specifically those composed of nickel and titanium (Ni-Ti), are some of these new materials. The low austenitic modulus of Ni-Ti as regards the elasticity modulus of steel (40–65 GPa instead of 200 GPa) can cause local buckling. In order to replace steel bars with Ni-Ti bars in reinforced concrete elements, it is convenient to use concrete with a high steel fibre content to delay local bar buckling. Hence employing either High Performance Concrete or VHPC may be appropriate, due to its composition with a high steel fibre content. For all these reasons, VHPC elements with Ni-Ti reinforcements were studied. The results of an experimental campaign of VHPC columns are shown in this article. The VHPC columns were subjected to monotonic loading where the main goal was to study compressed steel reinforcement buckling. The results of these tests were also used to extend the mixed model proposed by Pereiro-Barceló and Bonet (2017), which determines the buckling critical stress for any transverse reinforcement separation and considers the effect of the concrete cover (with and without steel fibres). This model was recalibrated to consider elements made of VHPC. Besides, specimens made of either High Performance Concrete (HPC) or VHPC, and with Ni-Ti reinforcements, were also tested to study the behaviour of compressed Ni-Ti reinforcements in elements made of high strength fibre-reinforced concrete. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd