Effect of metallic aggregate on strength and fracture properties of HPC

In order to make clear the effect of metallic aggregate on strength and fra cture properties of high-performance concrete (HPC), two control concretes made of conventional coarse aggregate with minimum compressive strength of about 60 and 80 MPa. and three concretes with 25%, 50% and 75% of conventio nal aggregate replaced by metallic coarse aggregate for each control concre te were fabricated and studied in laboratory, respectively. Compressive str ength, splitting tensile strength and complete load-deflection curve of the se materials were measured. Additionally, a quantitative roughness analysis of the fracture surfaces was conducted to characterize the fracture surfac e's roughness. The results show that compressive strength, splitting tensil e strength and fracture energy increase as the metallic aggregate replaceme nt volume increases. An explanation based on analysis of the fracture surfa ce is proposed for the metallic aggregate's toughening effect on HPC. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.