Abrasion Resistance of Ultra High Performance Concrete

This chapter delves into the abrasion resistance of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC), focusing on the influence of steel fiber content. The study investigates two primary erosion causes: cavitation and abrasion, highlighting the damage mechanisms in hydraulic structures. It compares the abrasion resistance of Normal Strength Concrete (NSC), High Strength Concrete (HSC), and UHPC, emphasizing the superior performance of UHPC due to its dense microstructure. The research involves three UHPC mixtures with varying steel fiber dosages (0%, 0.5%, and 1% by volume) and employs the ASTM C1138 underwater method to simulate abrasive conditions. The results reveal that increasing fiber content leads to higher volume loss, attributed to the rigidity of steel fibers causing microcracks and delamination. Despite its high compressive strength, the mix with 1% fiber content exhibits the lowest abrasion resistance. The study concludes that UHPC without fibers offers the best abrasion resistance, while the mix with 0.5% fibers initially performs well but deteriorates over time due to fiber vibration. The chapter provides valuable insights into the abrasion mechanisms of UHPC and the role of steel fibers in enhancing or diminishing abrasion resistance.