Dynamic properties of CO2-cured foam concrete at different loading rates: Effect of the foam admixtures and addition of polypropylene fiber

Abstract

This paper investigated the dynamic mechanical properties of CO2-cured foam concrete under varying conditions, focusing on the effects of foam admixture and fiber reinforcement. The study tends to enrich the knowledge regarding the performance of CO2-cured foam concrete under different loading rates, especially in relation to density and matrix strength. The foam admixture of the specimens ranges from 26% to 55%, achieving density from 600 kg/m3 to 1,000 kg/m3. The specimens were loaded at strain rates from 80 s-1 to 398 s-1. Experimental results revealed the dynamic elastic modulus, dynamic compressive strength, and Dynamic Increase Factor (DIF) showed a strong correlation with the foam admixture and density. In addition, the incorporation of polypropylene (PP) fibers effectively improved the mechanical behavior of the foam concrete, achieving up to a 17% increase in dynamic compressive strength. This comprehensive analysis highlights the critical role of foam admixture and fiber reinforcement in determining the dynamic properties of CO2-cured foam concrete and provides valuable insights for optimizing the dynamic performance of foam concrete in various construction applications.