Rate effect on the mechanical properties of eight types of high-strength concrete and comparison with FIB MC2010

This paper reports recent experimental results on the rate sensitivity of mechanical properties for eight types of performance-designed high-strength concrete. In particular, compressive tests were conducted using a hydraulic servo-controlled testing machine at strain rates from 2.1 × 10−7 s−1 to 2.1 × 10−4 s−1. The experimental results show that the compressive strength and the elastic modulus increase with an increase in the strain rate. Moreover, the empirical formulas showing the variation between the compressive strength, the elastic modulus and the strain rate for each type of concrete are presented, respectively. Compared with the empirical formulas of the FIB Model Code 2010 (MC2010), it is clear that the predictions from the Code are in a good agreement with the experimental results, and the lowest limit of the empirical formulas for strain rate can be extended to 10−7 s−1 instead of originally proposed 10−5 s−1 in the order of magnitude. However, for predicting quasi-static mechanical properties, the Code is not appropriate since the relative error would reach 90%.

► Study the rate effect of eight types of HSC on compressive behavior.
► FIB Code can represent strain rate effect on mechanical properties appropriately.
► In Code, the limit of strain rate in formulas can be set 10−7 s−1 instead of 10−5 s−1.
► For predicting quasi-static mechanical properties, the Code is not appropriate.
► Rate effect on fracture energy, it is not sensitive firstly and then pronounced.