Fine-grained cement-based composites used in civil engineering and construction industry are usually made of cement-based matrix and natural aggregate (such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, etc.). Red ceramic waste aggregate is considered as a perspective replacement of a part of natural aggregate in modern environmentally oriented building materials. Fine-grained cement composite with natural aggregate partially replaced by ceramic waste aggregate usually show different mechanical fracture characteristics from ordinary fine-grained concrete. The specimens were tested at six different ages. This was the reason for conducting the research programme. Altogether, 6 fine-grained cement mixtures with various proportions of natural and red ceramic waste aggregate were prepared. The aim of this paper is to present and compare mechanical fracture properties obtained from static and fatigue tests. Bulk density, flexural and compressive cube strength, fracture toughness and fatigue properties (S−N − Wöhler curve) were of special interest. All of these tests are important for a practical application of concrete with ceramic aggregate for structures. All the results were statistically analysed and they showed that the fatigue and mechanical fracture properties were improved or at least kept up with the increasing levels of red ceramic waste aggregate. Environmental impact of application in construction industry of composites in question is discussed.
Waste aggregate concretes are playing a more and more important role in construction industry. Over the last decade, their application has evolved from very basic pavements and elements with limited mechanical characteristics to full scale structures and large pre‐cast beams and slabs. In some cases, steel fiber was used as the only reinforcement of such elements. The application of steel fiber was based on the assumption that the influence of dispersed reinforcement would be the same as it was in ordinary concrete. Therefore, both technologies of preparation of such concrete and volumes of added fiber were the same as in ordinary concrete. In authors’ opinion, concrete based on waste aggregate creates much more complex environment for fiber reinforcement than traditional cement matrix. Recognizing the need of comprehensive approach to this problem, authors conducted a thorough research program. Concrete based on waste red ceramic aggregate was modified by different volumes of varied engineered steel fiber. Conducted tests covered full mechanical characteristics. Strength classes according to fib model code were assigned to tested fiber concretes. The best mixes were pointed out.
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