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• UHPC with high elastic modulus was designed via MAA particle packing model. • Workability, microstructure, and mechanical strength of HMUHPC were studied. • Elastic modulus of HMUHPC ranged from 40.5 GPa to 49.3 GPa. • Optimal content of steel chips in HMUHPC was 50 wt%. Elastic modulus is one of the key parameters to weigh the stiffness of concrete members and structural design in civil engineering. Despite its excellent performance in durability and mechanical properties, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is featured with relatively low elastic modulus, which prevents UHPC from being applied in a much larger scope. This study was conducted to explore the feasibility of preparing UHPC with high elastic modulus (HMUHPC) by using steel chips. The modified Andreasen and Andersen (MAA) particle packing model was used to design the initial mixture of HMUHPC. Based on this, some steps were followed to investigate the impacts of varying contents of steel chips on HMUHPC with regard to its mechanical properties, workability, and apparent density. In addition, attention was also paid to how steel chips affected the microstructure of HMUHPC and the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) propagated in HMUHPC. It was found that: 1) Due to the addition of steel chips, there was an increase from 9.65% to 21.73%, 6.38% to 15.85%, 1.28% to 10.49%, and 3.11% to 16.44%, respectively, in the elastic modulus, compressive strength, flexural strength, and apparent density of HMUHPC; 2) The addition of steel chips could reduce the porosity of HMUHPC and optimize its pore size distribution; 3) Considering the effects of steel chips on HMUHPC regarding its microstructure, mechanical properties, and workability, the optimal content of steel chips in HMUHPC was 50 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UHPC with high elastic modulus was design by MAA particle packing model. • Workability, microstructure, and mechanical strength of HEMUHPC were studied. • Elastic modulus of HEMUHPC ranged from 40.50 GPa to 47.13 GPa. • Relationship between elastic modulus and compressive strength was a power function. • Optimal content of alumina micro-powder in HEMUHPC was 10%. Elastic modulus is an important parameter in engineering structural design for evaluating the stiffness of concrete members. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has excellent mechanical properties and durability, but the relatively low elastic modulus prohibits the widespread use of the UHPC. In this study, high elastic modulus UHPC (HEMUHPC) was designed according to Modified Andreasen and Andersen particle packing model proposed by Funk and Dinger. Effects of alumina micro-powder (the content of alumina is higher than 99%, and the particle size is lower than 100 μ m) on the workability, microstructure, and mechanical properties of HEMUHPC were systematically investigated. The reason for the improvement of elastic modulus of HEMUHPC was revealed by nano indentation test. It was found that, 1) the porosity and threshold pore diameter of HEMUHPC were reduced because of the addition of alumina micro-powder; 2) the flexural strength, compressive strength, and elastic modulus of HEMUHPC were increased by 3.54–11.23%, 8.89–22.83%, and 6.19–16.37%, respectively, due to the addition of alumina micro-powder; 3) the optimal content of alumina micro-powder was 10%, considering its effects on the workability, mechanical properties, and microstructure of HEMUHPC; 4) Nano indentation experiments showed that the elastic modulus of the alumina micro-powder was 90–135 GPa, which is much higher than the elastic modulus of hydration products of HEMUHPC, and thus the elastic modulus of the HEMUHPC matrix could be improved, due to the addition of alumina micro-powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]