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Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has promising applications in civil engineering. However, the elastic modulus of UHPC is relatively low compared with its compressive strength, which may result in insufficient stiffness in service. This work was carried out to explore the feasibility of producing UHPC with high elastic modulus by nano-Al2O3 (NA). Based on particle densely packing theory, the initial mixture of UHPC was designed via the modified Andreasen and Andersen model. An experimental investigation was conducted to systematically examine the effects of NA on different properties of UHPC, including its fluidity, mechanical properties, durability, and microstructure. It was found that: (1) Compared with UHPC without NA, the flexural strength, compressive strength, and elastic modulus of UHPC were improved by 7.38–16.87%, 4.08–20.58%, and 2.89–14.08%, respectively, because of the incorporation of NA; (2) the addition of NA had a prohibiting impact on the threshold pore diameter and porosity of UHPC, which suggested that NA could be conducive to its pore structure; (3) the incorporation of NA led to a decline of 2.9–11.76% in the dry shrinkage of UHPC, which suggested that incorporating NA in a proper amount could reduce the risk of cracking and alleviate the dry shrinkage of UHPC; (4) the optimal amount of NA in UHPC was 1.0%, considering the effects of NA on workability, mechanical properties, microstructure, and the durability of UHPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has received increasing attention in recent years due to its remarkable ductility, durability, and mechanical properties. However, the manufacture of UHPC can cause serious environmental issues. This work addresses the feasibility of using aeolian sand to produce UHPC, and the mix design, environmental impact, and mechanical characterization of UHPC are investigated. We designed the mix proportions of the UHPC according to the modified Andreasen and Andersen particle packing model. We studied the workability, microstructure, porosity, mechanical performance, and environmental impact of UHPC with three different water/binder ratios. The following findings were noted: (1) the compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young's modulus of the designed UHPC samples were in the ranges of 163.9–207.0 MPa, 18.0–32.2 MPa, and 49.3–58.9 GPa, respectively; (2) the compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young's modulus of the UHPC increased with a decrease in water/binder ratio and an increase in the steel fibre content; (3) the compressive strength–Young's modulus correlation of the UHPC could be described by an exponential formula; (4) the environmental impact of UHPC can be improved by decreasing its water/binder ratio. These findings suggest that it is possible to use aeolian sand to manufacture UHPC, and this study promotes the application of aeolian sand for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]