An Experimental Study on Addition of Carbon Nanotubes to Improve the Performance of UHPC

Concrete plays an important role in construction industry. Over the last twenty five years, amazing progress were gained in the research and use of Ultra high performance concrete, as it can provide a durable and cost effective structures. High compressive and tensile strengths, high ductility, and toughness, high flow ability and durability are the outstanding mechanical properties of UHPC. Also, it resists all kinds of corrosion, resulting in maintenance-free constructions. UHPC shows very high brittleness due to its exceptionally high compressive strength and is considered as a weakness. However, UHPC has its drawbacks in terms of tensile strength and brittleness. Hence, these encourage the development of high strength and better performance concrete and create the need to research on the use of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) in UHPC. This is because CNT was believed to be able to further improve concrete’s mechanical properties due to its impressive characteristics. In this study, carbon nanotubes is added in different percentages (0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12 and 0.15%) and finding optimum percentage which contributes maximum strength to the UHPC.