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In typical precast construction practice of floor slabs using precast concrete hollow core unit (HCU), in-situ concrete is cast on top of the HCU to obtain smooth and even floor finish. The surface of the HCU is seldom given proper treatment prior to casting the concrete topping. The texture and surface moisture condition of the HCU just before receiving concrete topping may affect the overall strength of the slabs when the concrete topping and the HCU act compositely during service. This paper presents the experimental study on shear-flexure capacity of composite slabs using HCU and concrete topping. Full scale three point load test are carried out on 14 composite slab specimens with different surface roughness and surface condition of the HCU before casting the concrete topping. The surface roughness considered is smooth and rough, while the moisture conditions are dry, ponded and optimum wet. The effect of the longitudinal joint between the HCU panels is also considered. The experimental results are also compared with predicted values using the available equation in Eurocode 2 and an equation published by a previous researcher. The results of the experiment show that the HCU surface condition and longitudinal joint affect the stiffness and shear-flexure strength of the slabs. The optimum HCU surface condition which can produce highest stiffness and shear strength is rough and wet conditions, while the longitudinal joint between HCU panels reduces the slab shear strength. The interfacial horizontal shear is not the factor that governs the strength and behaviour of the slabs. The equation available in Eurocode 2 gives non-conservative prediction of the shear strength. In contrary, the equation published by the previous researcher gives conservative prediction of the shear strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plain and fibrous concrete were tested under three multiaxial stress state. • Strength and behaviour of concrete were analysed with respect to the stress ratio. • Failure modes of concrete under uniaxial and multiaxial stress state were compared. • Failure criterions of concrete under multiaxial stress state were proposed. This study involves the investigation of the effects of steel fibre content volume on the biaxial stress behaviour of steel fibre self-compacting concrete (SFSCC) at different stress ratios. This study covers compression-compression, compression-tension, and tension-tension stress regions. The results are discussed in terms of the uniaxial and biaxial strength, stress-strain relationship, and failure mode of SFSCC specimens. In terms of strength, 1.0% fibre volume fractions showed the highest increment in biaxial compression and compression-tension, which were 55% and 84%, respectively, when compared to plain concrete. This improvement was due to the integration of steel fibre. In contrast with compression strength, biaxial tension strength decreased in comparison to uniaxial tensile strength. Additionally, based on the octahedral stress space, the failure criteria of concrete for each region were proposed in a quadratic polynomial equation, and the parameters were derived from a regression analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the filter medium study was to determine the influence that various filter fabrics, fixing methods and reciprocal usage have on the efficiency of air and excess mix water removal from CPF cast concrete. The goal is to significantly reduce the water/cement (w/c) ratio at the near surface of the slab so that specific surface performance characteristics could be monitored. A general factorial was used for the design of experiments with the results being statistically analysed using a one and two-way ANOVA and interaction plots. A range of tests including permeability, surface quality, surface hardness, surface strength and ISAT are used to determine the effectiveness of each system. Results are compared to a control sample which was cast against impermeable plywood formwork. The textiles were developed around pore size guidelines which were determined through a particle size distribution study for EN 197-1 cement (CEM). The influence of the textile permeability with reciprocal usage was a dominant factor in affecting near surface performance properties of the cast slabs. Surface hardness, surface tensile strength and absorptivity were shown to increase by various amounts depending upon the factors involved. It was concluded that an effective CPF liner can be constructed from a glued or stapled PP, PE or N6 filter medium with no drainage medium present. However, longevity of the system and optimum surface characteristics were found using a PE textile specifically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The critical elements associated with a CPF drainage medium and their associated effects on the near surface performance of vertically cast concrete slabs are the focus of this study. A range of board absorption levels, textured features and texture depth are investigated using a Taguchi orthogonal array approach. A permeable polypropylene filter layer was used in conjunction with the various drainage mediums. Statistical software was utilised to determine significant variables as a function of the near surface performance. The range of tests used to characterise the surface performance of the various drainage mediums include surface roughness, surface hardness, surface tensile strength and water absorption. Results are compared to a control sample which was cast against impermeable plywood formwork. All drainage medium permutations showed similar evidence of water/cement ratio reduction at the near surface region of the concrete slab. Surface quality was analysed using quantitative methods and showed significant improvements for all systems over the control. The results for the systems studied indicate that the features of a drainage medium are not critical to the functionality of a CPF liner to reduce the near surface w/c ratio. In fact, it is indicated that the absence of a drainage medium has the same enhancement in near surface concrete slab properties as that of a complex structure when compared to the control sample. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influence of concrete mixes and commonly used mineral additions and their effects on the near surface performance of vertically cast concrete against controlled permeable formwork (CPF) are the focus of this study. Three grades of concrete (C25, C30 and C45) and mineral additives including GGBS and PFA have been tested for surface performance in situ with CPF. The various loadings were chosen to represent the minimum and maximum levels seen in standard industry practice. The range of tests used to characterise the near surface performance include subjective assessment of surface quality, surface hardness and surface tensile strength. Permeability studies of the liners after casting indicate that no excessive embedding of fine particles occurred irrespective of constituents used. Surface quality was dramatically improved in each case and changes to surface colour through densification were quantified. Near surface performance studies indicated a significant improvement for all systems studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The comparison between shallow recess and deep recess beam. • The substitution of bar reinforcement with the steel fibre reinforcement. • The influence of a v / d ratio in the failure mode of the beam half-joints. • Two semi-empirical equations were proposed based on the failure mode of beam. A complex geometry of precast reinforced concrete half-joint beams has resulted from the high shear force at the recessed ends of such beams. Immense levels of reinforcements are provided close to the re-entrant corner of these beams to prevent the propagation of diagonal cracks and sudden failure. However, this condition leads to reinforcement congestion and affects the bond between concrete and reinforcing steel due to improper concrete filling around the congested bars. Hence, the use of steel fibre self-compacting concrete (SFRSCC) was found to combine the advantages of eliminating the vibration works, and reduction of secondary reinforcement. An experimental study was conducted to examine the ability of 1.0% by volume of steel fibre to partially replace the traditional reinforcements on two types of half-joint beams (short recess (SR) and deep recess (DR) beams). Other factors taken into account is the variance in shear span values and nib height, as well as the ratio of shear-span-to-depth, a v / d. Observations showed that the replacement of 1.0% by volume of steel fibre volume fraction is possible only when substituting at least 50% of the vertical or horizontal reinforcement in SR beams. Meanwhile, the replacement over diagonal reinforcement is seemed to be not enough and the replacement is only promising in substituting part of stirrups in DR beams. The variance in the shear-span-to-depth a v / d ratio affects the shear failure mode of the beam half-joints. Two semi-empirical equations for predicting the shear strength of precast SCC and SFSCC beam-half joints are developed based on the analysis of failure modes. The first equation, which relies on the crushing of the concrete strut, was found to suit the SR beams, while the equation for DR beams suits the theoretical of reinforcement yielding. The two equations give a good correlation with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]