08.02.2010
Bonded Concrete
Even the Romans valued the properties of concrete. The popular building material has improved over time and continues to develop further. Into UHPC—ultra-high-performance concrete—which is characterised by its extremely high density and compression strength. Its special strength, however, has not yet been sufficiently studied in practical applications. It's time for science to put the pressure on: in two projects, researchers at the Institut für Massivbau (Institute for Solid Construction) at RWTH Aachen are testing the load-bearing performance of the ultra-high-performance concrete in composite girders and in prestressed concrete girders. Does the UHPC deliver what it promises? To project page
In order to watch the videos you need a Flash Player upgrade or you need to install Flash Player if it's missing. You can download the Player for free at Adobe
Bonded Concrete: Episode 11, 01/02/2010
Between Pressure and Tension
The "failure with warning" was a resounding success, to everyone’s satisfaction. What follows next is the evaluation and analysis of the data from the experiment. What the researchers are primarily interested in is the point in time when the beam failed. To find this out, they study two things: On the one hand the deflection and deformation, and on the other the extension. The individual measuring points are entered in diagrams. This allows the researchers to compare the various experiments better and conduct a more detailed analysis of the beam tests.
01.02.2010
Between Pressure and Tension
It all depends on the timing! What happens during the test before the beam fails? An analysis of the data gathered during the experiment will hopefully answer this question...
25.01.2010
A New Failure Pressure?
Today it’s the composite beam’s turn – will the steel and concrete hold together?
18.01.2010
Destructive Testing - Part Two
Another exciting moment for the researchers from Aachen has arrived – the other end of the concrete beam is ready to be subjected to a load of several tons.
11.01.2010
There’s a Crackling in the Concrete!
Destructive testing: The going gets tough for UHPC – how much weight can it withstand? Will the beam break?
14.12.2009
Prestressed
Will the UHPC beam be able to stand the transfer of the prestressing force? The tension in the lab is rising!
23.10.2009
Tension Guaranteed
Strands, formwork and concrete – you need just the right tension to make a UHPC beam!
23.09.2009
Loading Is Measurable
Concrete and steel under the magnifying glass: Experiments with deformation and crack behaviour—how do you see cracks that are less than a thousandth of a millimetre wide?
07.09.2009
High-strength Ingredients
What is made of basalt, sand, cement, microsilica, quartz powder and steel fibres? I’ll give you a clue: It goes on to have a very dense microstructure…
06.08.2009
A Dream Team
Steel and concrete meet. The question is: How will they actually hold together? The search for the right combination of materials begins…
13.07.2009
Failure Welcome
Ceilings, buttresses and beams – you need to withstand considerable burdens if you want to be strong in real life in the future. UHPC also needs to be crash tested – will it display tensile-compressive failure as hoped?
30.06.2009
The Mixture Makes It!
All concrete is not created equally: UHPC can withstand much more than normal concrete. Above all, this saves resources. With ultra-high-performance concrete, it's possible to create modern filigree structures.
The Projects
Everything about wave hunters, discrete optimisers and love à la Darwin—here, you'll experience what lies behind the individual projects as you follow the research diaries and get to know the scientists.
Function through Diversity
Pioneering work in China: The largest ever forest experiment on biodiversity
Newsletter
We'll gladly inform you when there's something new to see on the site. Via E-Mail or SMS!
DFG Science TV on
