Classification and quantification of damage due to abrasion in various self-consolidating concrete mixtures using acoustic emission monitoring

Ridgley, Katherine E. (2018) Classification and quantification of damage due to abrasion in various self-consolidating concrete mixtures using acoustic emission monitoring. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate and compare the abrasion resistance of various self-consolidating concrete types by means of acoustic emission (AE) analysis. The variables adjusted throughout the study were the type of concrete (normal concrete and self-consolidating concrete), the type of supplementary cementing materials (SCM), the crumb rubber (CR) content and the inclusion of synthetic fibers (SF) of varying lengths and types (flexible and semi-rigid). The abrasion test was performed on cubic concrete specimens in accordance with the rotating-cutter method. Results from the three abrasion tests showed that metakaolin (MK) had the highest abrasion resistance among the mixtures which incorporated SCMs, CR was found to negatively affect the abrasion resistance of the tested samples and flexible SFs exhibited better abrasion resistance compared to their semi-rigid fiber counterparts. Also, the shorter fibers had more resistance capacity against abrasion than the longer fibers of the same type. The effect of changing the aforementioned variables on the abrasion behaviour was evaluated based on the abrasion data and with the assistance of AE analysis. AE signal characteristics such as amplitude, number of hits, and cumulative signal strength were gathered during the test period for each sample. Three additional parameters were determined through b-value analysis and intensity analysis which produced severity (Sr), and historic index (H (t)). The results from the entire study showed a direct correlation between the previously mentioned AE parameters and the abrasion damage in all tested mixtures. The results also allowed for damage classification charts to be developed using the AE intensity parameters [H(t) and Sr] to determine the ranges that indicate the extent of damage due to the abrasion of the tested specimens.

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