Reliability Based-Design Format for High Strength Concrete Beam (HSCB) With Blended Nanosilica Particles

Abstract

High Strength Concrete (HSC) has been under the spotlight of numerous studies. This paper examines how adding nano-silica influences the structural performance and durability of High Strength Concrete Beams (HSCBs) by specifically focusing on compressive strength, flexural strength, durability parameters, and reliability-based design.

To identify the physical, chemical, and microstructural properties of materials, experimental procedures entailed characterization by sieve analysis, specific gravity, moisture content, XRF, and SEM. Additions of 0, 3, 5, and 7 percent (by cement) of nano-silica in concrete mixes were made, and the compressive and flexural tests were performed with specimen ages at 7, 14, and 28 days, and also tested against durability under sulphate, acid, chloride attack, and freeze-thaw experiments.

Descriptive statistics, goodness-of-fit tests, Monte Carlo simulation, and First-Order Reliability Methods were all used to test the consistency of performance. The 5% nano-silica mix proved the best overall performance in terms of achieving the highest compressive and flexural strengths (74.5 MPa and 6.8 MPa respectively) at 28 days, and resisted durability better than the control mix. Reliability-based evaluation also established that the 5 percent nano-silica mix attained the highest reliability index, showing its applicability.

In conclusion, nano-silica at 5% increases the service life and mechanical properties of HSCBs.