Multi-microcracking in UHPC: real case application
One of the key features of UHPC is its ability to create multiple microcracks closely spaced to each other under certain conditions. This is the so-called multi-microcracking process that characterises strain-hardening materials, i.e. those materials that are able to hold a constant stress throughout a crack even at high strain values. However, one may consider that multi-microcracking is not a property of UHPC, i.e. a material property, but a property of the structure made with it. It means that even though we have obtained a strain-hardening behaviour in lab conditions using standard specimen and tests methodologies, it is possible that our designed structure behaves as a strain-softening one. Why is that? The answer is found in the fact that development of strain-hardening process in a structure mainly depends on (i) the nature of forces acting on it and (ii) fibre orientation inside the element which may differ a lot depending on element thickness and pouring system. Therefore, even though UHPC shows a strain-hardening behaviour under standard lab conditions, we need to know in which situations we can consider it or not in design. In this post we show a structural application in which consideration of strain-hardening behaviour is not only possible but a also a must to predict its real behaviour. Do you want more info? Keep reading 🙂
Merry Christmas and happy New Year ! – RDC
As year 2017 is drawing to a close, and for sure, your agenda is full of feasts, family gatherings and wonderful presents, we think it is the right time to take a short break and wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from all the RDC staff. Let us seize this post to look back over the most important milestones of the year and look forward to what it is yet to come in 2018. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog !!
The roofing of the Montpellier – South of France TGV Station
The 3rd International Symposium on UHPC took place in Montpelier on October 2 to 4, 2017, showing that projects and constructions using UHPC has gained an incresingly importance not only in Europe, but also in Asia and North America. RDC was there to (i) learn the more recently know-how developed by the international research community and companies and (ii) to share our own experience in developing competitive standardised products made of UHPC and also the advances on the Spanish design guidelines in which members of RDC has an important role. In this post we talk about the roofing of the Montpellier – South of France TGV Station. Do you want to know this structure?
The beginnings of RDC
In our blog section “Into our everyday life” we are going to share with you our evolution as a company, the more recent activity of us, who we are, what we are doing right now, where we are, in which projects we are involved, etc. As a starting point to getting in touch with us, I think it is important for you to know who we are, our background. Do you want to know the story of the beginnings of RDC?
