Failure mechanism of steel fiber pullout in UHPC affected by alternating cryogenic and elevated variation

This paper investigates the pullout response of straight and hooked-end steel fiber embedded in Ultra-high Performance Concrete (UHPC) subjected to alternating cryogenic (−170 °C) and elevated (200 °C) temperature variation. The temporal evolution of Acoustic Emission (AE) parameters and failure behavior during the pullout process were monitored in situ using the AE test. Additionally, changes in the UHPC microstructure were also evaluated. Results showed that in addition to the UHPC matrices exposed to elevated temperature, the compressive and flexural strength of UHPC matrices subjected to single or multiple cycles were generally higher than those at ambient temperature. Whereas the bond strength/pullout energy of straight fiber increased with a single cycling exposure of UHPC specimens to either cryogenic or elevated temperature, the improvement in the pullout performance of the hooked-end fiber was obtained only after the post-cryogenic thawing of specimens. Moreover, the exposure to an increased number of temperature-variation cycles caused the pullout strength and energy of both fiber groups to gradually decrease. Nonetheless, the pullout performance of the hooked-end fiber was significantly and consistently superior to that of the straight fiber, regardless of the exposure temperature or cycles. The AE test confirmed that the pullout process of both fibers was mainly characterized by tensile failure, with a marginal occurrence of shear failure for the hooked-end fiber. When the UHPC was exposed to various temperatures, the fiber pullout behavior was predominantly influenced by the physical structure of the fibers, thermal deformation proclivity of the matrix, and the competition between mechanisms such as pore moisture phase change, secondary hydration, and the composition of hydrates.