| Abstract: | The properties of a polymer-concrete composed of polyester matrix and locally available rock aggregate are investigated. The formula of the concrete is found by an experimental-calculation approach in such a way as to attain a closer packing of the aggregate particles on the one hand, and to ensure the needed processing characteristics (placeability) of the mix on the other. It is shown experimentally that the material obtained has a rather high compression strength. Under prolonged compression loads, the polymer-concrete exhibits a noticeable creep behavior with a linear relation between the creep strains and stresses. After the action of half the ultimate load over 3000 h, the total strains exceed the instantaneous ones by 2.0 to 2.2 times. The accumulation of irreversible strains is also observed; however, their contribution to the total strain is small. It is found that the stress-strain relation can be represented by the equation of linear hereditary creep theory.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, University of Latvia, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 147–162, March–April, 1999. |
