Concrete with an outer plastic protective shell

Abstract

Concrete is a multi-phase complex composite based on cement. The post-peak behavior of concrete is unpredictable and influences the overall performance of the concrete. Engineering plastics used in the present study as a external shell to increase the post-peak deformations of concrete cylinders. The applicability and efficiency of the proposed external plastic shell for concrete cylinders jacketing evaluated experimentally. The protective shell slipped on the concrete cylinders after the curing period. In order to evaluate the individual load contribution of the two components, a small gap of 1.2 mm introduced between the two and the specimens capped on the top and tested under compression. Test results show a ductile post-peak response with strain-softening and the formation of two peak loads.