Fracture Property of PET Modified High DuctilityAlkali-Activated Concrete

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2024.1472

Abstract

Abstract: The use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) powder as an aggregate in PET modified high ductility alkali-activated concrete (PHDAC) offers significant potential for advancing sustainable high-performance concrete materials. However, the fracture behavior of PHDAC remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of different PET powder volume replacement ratio (0%, 15%, 30% and 45%) quartz sand on the fracture property of PHDAC. Three-point bending tests were conducted to analyze failure modes, and the dual-K fracture model was used to evaluate crack initiation toughness Kⁱⁿⁱ_IC, instability toughness K^un_IC, and Mode Ⅰ fracture energy G_F. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to examine the material's microstructure, exploring the mechanisms by which PET powder influences fracture behavior. The results indicate that all PET-modified specimens exhibite ductile fracture characteristics, using 15% PET powder replacement quartz sand can significantly enhance Mode Ⅰ fracture energy of the material. Due to its hydrophobic property, PET powder forms a distinct interface transition zone (ITZ) with the slurry and other aggregates, this ITZ reduces interfacial density of the matrix interface, promotes matrix cracking, and makes the material more prone to multi crack cracking as a whole.

Key words: PET powder, fracture property, alkali-activated composite, initiation fracture toughness, unstable fracture toughness, Mode Ⅰ fracture energy

CLC Number:

TU528

LIANG Zhensheng, ZHANG Botao, LIANG Ruiqing, ZENG Junfeng, GUO Yongchang. Fracture Property of PET Modified High DuctilityAlkali-Activated Concrete[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2025, 44(7): 2503-2513.

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