Development of a new Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composite (UHPFRCC) for impact and blast protection of structures

Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites (UHPFRCCs) represent a class of cement composites which have superior characteristics in terms of material properties. Their mechanical and fracture behaviour is substantially enhanced compared to other types of concrete. The aim of the specific paper is to present the results of an extended work focused on the development of the first UHPFRCC with the use of constituent materials available in Cyprus. The paper presents results on a broad variety of mechanical properties and the effect of several parameters on the strength development and the rheological characteristics of the produced material. Furthermore, the developed material should have certain properties and specifications, so as to have a sufficient response against blast and impact loading conditions. The optimum mixture has a water-binder ratio equal to 0.16 and volume fraction of steel fibres equal to 6%. The average compressive strength and specific fracture energy obtained for this mixture were around 175 MPa and 26000 N/m, respectively.