Articles

Effect of Temperature on the Shear Strength of Ultra-High Performance Concrete

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Abstract

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) presents higher tensile strength than conventional concrete, which allows the construction of structural members with increased shear capacity. Previous studies have explored removing conventional steel stirrups and reducing the cross-section of UHPC beams to take advantage of these advanced properties. However, when exposed to elevated temperatures, such UHPC beams may be susceptible to early shear failure and reduced fire resistance. Therefore, determining the level of degradation of shear strength with temperature is necessary for the safe design of UHPC beams exposed to fire. Direct shear strength tests offer a simple way of estimating the contribution of concrete to the overall shear capacity of concrete beams. This paper presents results of an experimental program conducted to determine the shear strength of UHPC specimens made with and without steel and polypropylene fibers and exposed to varying levels of temperature (from 20 to 750°C). Specimens were tested under direct shear through a modification of the JSCE-SF6 method. Results indicate that the shear strength of UHPC can be reduced by approximately 50% when exposed to the 400-500°C temperature range and that polypropylene fibers contribute to reduce the degradation of UHPC at elevated temperatures.

Keywords: ultra-high-performance concrete, shear strength, shear failure, fire, high-temperature

How to Cite:

Gil, A. & Kodur, V., (2023) “Effect of Temperature on the Shear Strength of Ultra-High Performance Concrete”, International Interactive Symposium on Ultra-High Performance Concrete 3(1): 5. doi: https://doi.org/10.21838/uhpc.16639

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