Experimental study on mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete with polypropylene fiber under combined compression‐shear loading

Abstract

To investigate the mechanical properties of polypropylene fiber recycled aggregate concrete (PPFRAC) under compression‐shear, 69 recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) specimens were tested with the parameters of polypropylene (PP) fiber volume content (0, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 kg/m3), recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement rate (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%), and normal stress (0, 3, and 6 MPa). In the tests, the failure pattern of the specimens was observed, and the effects of the polypropylene fiber content on the direct shear stress, compression‐shear stress, initial shear stiffness, and shear ductility coefficient of the PPFRAC were thoroughly investigated. The results show that as the polypropylene fiber content increases, the direct shear stress of concrete (Natural aggregate concrete and 100% recycled coarse aggregate concrete [100%RCA]) first increases and then decreases gradually. Meanwhile, the best PP fiber content is 0.9 kg/m3 in this study. Furthermore, the compression‐shear stress‐displacement curves of specimens were obtained. The compression‐shear strength under normal stress at 6 MPa is approximately 230% greater than at 0 MPa. However, the peak shear stress of concrete is almost not affected by the replacement rate of RCA. Finally, based on the Mohr circle theory, the compression‐shear calculation model of PPFRAC is verified, and the optimal calculation formula is given.