Static mechanical properties and mechanism of C200 ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) containing coarse aggregates

Abstract In this paper, C200 ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) containing coarse aggregate was prepared. Firstly, four different maximum size and three different type of coarse aggregate having significant differences in strength, surface texture, porosity and absorption were used to prepared the mixtures. Secondly, the effect of maximum size and type of coarse aggregate on the workability of the fresh UHPC and the mechanical behaviour of harden UHPC were investigated. Finally, a series micro-tests including mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted and the mechanism of the C200 UHPC were discussed. The results show that the type and maximum size of coarse aggregate have significant effect on the workability and mechanical properties of C200 UHPC. The basalt coarse aggregate with maximum size of 10mm can be used to prepare the C200 UHPC. The compressive strength and flexural strength of the C200 UHPC is 203MPa and 46MPa at 90 day, respectively. Besides, the micro-tests data show that the C200 UHPC has a compacted matrix and strong interface transition zone (ITZ), which make the aggregate potential strength fully used.