Participants Names: B.ANAND & D.C.NAVEEN College Name : Indira Institute of Engineering & Technology, Tiruvallur.

602001 Title of the paper: DUCTAL CONCRETE - A High Performance Construction Material Contact Number: 9994765325 9842176424 Mail : anand19civil@gmail.com naveencivil24@gmail.com

DUCTAL CONCRETE (A High Performance Construction Material)

ABSTRACT
Now a days we are expecting high performance in all the fields of work which does not exclude concrete also. At an estimated rate of 5 billion cubic yards per year, concrete is the second most widely consumed substance on earth, surpassed only by water. Our innovative thinking and modern construction techniques leads to the emerging of high performance concrete. one such advancements in ultra high performance concrete is DUCTAL concrete. What is your idea of the perfect building material? Would it have the strength of steel? The versatility of concrete? The flexibility of plastic or wood? The durability of stone? The aesthetic richness of ceramics? What if you could get it all-in-one and customize the properties to suit your project? With Ductal, you can combine all of these! Unlike any other material, it combines superior properties that provides engineers, architects, artists and users with new freedom to design innovative solutions and to DO MORE WITH LESS. In this paper we discussed about the principles, characteristics, types, performance and advantages of the ductal concrete compared to conventional one.

INTRODUCTION
Ultra-high performance concrete is a new cementitious material with strength more than 150 N/mm and other perfect properties. Basic principle to improve the concrete properties is the reduction of defect places, such as micro cracks and capillary pores. Ductal concrete is one such high-performance construction material by Lafarge that may create new possibilities for the world of decorative concrete. Ductal, a revolutionary, ultra-high-performance material that delivers up to 30,000 psi compressive strength and rivals the strength of metal. . This is closely related to the material's amazing ability to bend (within limits) without breaking - a property called "ductility" and the inspiration for its name. The material's strength enables it to be used in very thin sections. This, in turn, reduces the self weight of a structure and allows the use of larger pieces with fewer joints and hence it pays way for the innovative construction.

WHAT IS DUCTAL?
Ductal is a new revolutionary ultra-high performance concrete material that offers a unique combination of superior characteristics including strength, durability, aesthetics and ductility. Ductal concrete incorporates strengthening fibers and opens the horizon to ultra-high performances.

KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE DUCTAL TECHNOLOGY

Ductals superior technical characteristics are due to the following four principles

Reactive Gradation Ductility Rheology Aesthetics

REACTIVE GRADATION PRINCIPLE

The raw materials in Ductal are selected for their complimentary properties of size, shape and chemical reactivity. Ductal uses "modified compact grading" to promote a highly effective fiber-matrix interaction. It is made without large aggregates, and all the mineral components are in the sand-size range.

COMPONENTS Cement Silica fume Mineral fillers(nano fibers) Water Fibers(metallic or organic) Sand Superplasticizer

Microscopic view of ductal concrete

Comparison of gradation

DUCTILITY PRINCIPLE
Ductal derives its name from the word "ductility" which means that, unlike other brittle materials, it has the ability to deform while continuing to carry loads - even after the first sign of cracking. Its ductile behaviour was developed from a thorough understanding of the fibrematrix interaction. The fibre-matrix slippage/breakage ratio during loading and over-loading provides a ductile behaviour with finely and well-dispersed micro cracking, unlike conventional concrete or fibre-reinforced cements.

RHEOLOGY PRINCIPLE
A key property of Ductal is its ability to have a range of fluidities from virtually selfplacing to dry-cast. Lafarge has developed a formulation model based on years of research and a 5

thorough understanding of the interactions between cements Silica Fumes and Superplasticizers. The result is a range of products with properties specifically formulated to each customers requirements.

AESTHETIC PRINCIPLE
Like a chameleon, Ductal has the ability to replicate the surface texture and shape of the mould. This feature is a result of the use of very fine powders and the fluidity, combined with Ductals ability to be colored, gives artists and architects a new material with superior surface aspect and high aesthetic appeal.

Ductal concrete in different colors and textures

HISTORY AND EVOLUTION

Ductal is a story of change and innovation. Researchers at Lafarge and partners, Bouygues and Rhodia developed Ductal, a material that provides a unique combination of superior strength, ductility, durability and aesthetics compared to traditional materials like concrete, steel, wood and plastics. Following more than a decade of research by a large multi-discipline team, four patents have been taken between 1994 and 2001. Ductal is constantly breaking new ground with architectural and engineering firms in Europe and prototypes were first introduced to North America in 1998. Today, this ultra-high performance ductile material is providing new, innovative solutions to old problems; solutions that reduce the global cost of construction by using less materials, faster construction, reduced labour, reduced maintenance and increased usage life.

TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Ductal is an ultra-high performance material with ductility, utilizing metallic or organic fibres. It is mouldable in the form of dry-cast, fluid or self-consolidating with properties adaptable to the demands of each application. Available in custom-blended 80 lb paper bags or 1,000 - 2,000 lb bulk bags, depending on the type of fiber required (metal or organic).

STRENGTH:
Compressive * Flexural * Youngs Modulus (E) Total Fracture Energy Elastic Fracture Energy 24,000 - 33,000 PSI 4,500 - 7,200 PSI 8 - 8.5 x 106 PSI 1,300 - 2,000 lb (F)-ft/ft2 1.4 - 2.1 lb (F)-ft/ft2 160 - 230 MPa 30 - 50 MPa 55 - 60 GPa 20,000 30,000 J/m2 20 - 30 J/m2

* For characteristic design properties

RHEOLOGY:
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Fluid to self-compacting: Flow (Abrams cone) Flow (ASTM shock table) 20 - 30 inches 10 inches 50 - 70 cm 25 cm

DURABILITY:
Chloride ion diffusion (C1) Carbonation penetration depth Freeze/thaw (after 300 cycles) Salt-scaling (loss of residue) Abrasion (relative volume loss index) 0.02 x 10-11 ft2/s <0.02 inches 100% <0.0025 lb/ft2 1.2

OTHER CHARACTERS:
Density Entrapped air content Capillary porosity (>10 mm) Total porosity Post cure shrinkage Creep coefficient 2.45 2.55 2 - 4% <1% 2 - 6% 0 0.2 - 0.5

PRE-MIX:
Ductal can be mixed in a normal industrial concrete mixer. The use of a pre-mix simplifies the batching sequence and the length of mixing time.

PLACING:
Ductal is adaptable to any placing technique such as Cast-in-place, pumping, injection, extrusion etc

CURING:
Normal curing at 70 F (20 C) produces the following performances: 24 hours after initial set: at 28 days: in 4 days. fc> 15,000 PSI fc> 25,000 PSI 100 MPa 180 MPa

A thermal treatment of 195 F (90 C) applied after final set produces up to 33,000 PSI (230 MPa)

MOULDING:
Texture: The fineness of the materials and the fluidity of the mix provide a material with a high ability to replicate the micro-texture of the form surface or special mould textures. it can be moulded in to any shape depending on our requirement as it has the ability to bend which makes it unique in its character when compared to other.

COLORS:
Light grey to black and available in a variety of colors upon request. It is just like a chameleon what ever we apply to it we will get back the same. it has the ability to absorb what ever the color we apply.

PRE-STRESSING:
There is no need to reinforce with passive reinforcing bars normally used in reinforced concrete. Ductals mechanical properties are even further increased by the use of pre-stressing (pre or post-tension). The strength of Ductal allows for solutions to be designed with smaller elements, without the use of passive reinforcement (reinforcing steel) and, in most applications, without pre-stressed or post tensioned reinforcement.

TYPES OF DUCTAL CONCRETE:

Ductal an ultra high performance concrete is basically classified in to

Ductal with organic fibres

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 Ductal with metallic fibres

Organic fibers are typically used where human contact is expected because the steel fibers are extremely small (0.2 mm diameter, 13 mm long) and can easily puncture human skin.

COMPARISON BETWEEN DUCTAL WITH ORGANIC FIBRES AND METALLIC FIBRES

PERFORMANCE:
Under extreme load, this ductile concrete behaves similar to steel by bending rather than cracking. Its ductile behavior comes from well-dispersed micro-cracking which makes good use of the fiber-matrix interaction and its slippage/breakage ratio. Simply put, the micro-cracking of the more brittle cement matrix engages the more ductile fibers in resisting the load. ORGANIC FIBRES Compressive Flexural Youngs Modulus (E) Density Capillary porosity Total porosity 17000 22000 psi 2200 3600 psi 6500 7200 ksi 2.2 2.4 <1% 3 6% METALLIC FIBRES 23000 33000 psi 4000 7200 psi 8 8.5 x 106 psi 2.45 2.55 <1% 2 6%

Because of the modified compact grading used in Ductal formulations, its surface is very dense, which also reduces its porosity and improves its resistance to abrasion, scratching, and pollution. To further enhance its durability, increase mechanical properties, and maximize dimensional stability, Ductal can be heat-treated.

INNOVATIVE FEATURES:
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Ductals unique combination of superior properties enabled the designer to create thinner sections and longer spans for a tall structures.

This is the first known use of UHPC used in a long-span roof system. No need of use of steel reinforcements The lightweight system did not impact the foundation design. Reduction in non-renewable resources: due to a reduction in the total quantity of materials
consumed and the use of recycled materials in Ductal (such as Silica Fume).

The Ductal is air and water-tight, thereby resulting in reduced environmental impact
and reduced maintenance.

Due to the lightweight design, the precast panels were easily transported The ductile behavior of this material is a first for concrete. It has the capacity to deform and
support flexural and tensile loads, even after initial cracking.

DUCTAL PROJECTS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE:

To date, Ductal has been used for a number of innovative solutions including projects such as: acoustic sound panels, seawall and bridge anchor plates and beams for a power plant cooling tower. In Seoul, Korea, a pedestrian bridge named The Footbridge of Peace, has a 425 (130 m) arch constructed entirely with Ductal. Considered a building feat, the bridge has no middle supports and a platform thickness of just 3cm. In North America, Ductal products are supplied by Lafarge and custom formulated for each new application or project. Currently the team is focusing efforts on priority target markets with a medium to long-term strategy geared towards applications such as structural wall panels, leave-in-place forms, poles/piles, seismic elements and bridges.

CASE STUDY ON DUCTAL MADE SHERBROOKE BRIDGE

Project Location: Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada Contractor: Pomerleau Precaster: Bton Bolduc Ductal Volume: 42 m3 11

Constructed with Ductal, this 60 pedestrian bridge spans m (190 ft) with a deck thickness of just This project features several technological innovations: 3 cm (1").

Absence of passive reinforcements Miniaturized pre-stressing diagonals in confined ductal

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CONCLUSION:
Clearly, this ductile concrete will be the exciting news for leading-edge structural engineers and architects who challenge themselves to "do more with less." It should be exciting news, too, for everyone interested in decorative concrete. That's because the performance of the new material demands a reassessment of the aesthetic and functional possibilities of concrete construction. And it is so durable that it can be used without fear of the elements for enduring structures and monuments. Further research is going on this and it will surely make revolution in concrete world.

REFERENCE: www.imagineductal.com www.lafragenorthamerica.com Journal of New construction and building materials

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