Experimental on Ultrasonic Testing of Ultra-High-Toughness Cementitious Composite Under Mechanical Loading Damage

In order to study the damage degree and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) of ultra-high-toughness cementitious composite (UHTCC), this paper conducted mechanical load damage tests on three types of fiber-reinforced UHTCC. The study showed a clear correlation, with the UPV of the specimens decreasing significantly as the damage degree increases. A model for determining the damage stage of materials using UPV was proposed. It is noteworthy that this sensitivity varies among different fiber types, with Polyethylene Fiber (PEF) and Steel Fiber (SF) samples exhibiting more significant UPV reductions compared to Polyvinyl Alcohol Fiber (PVAF) samples. These findings provided a reference for the study of damage assessment methods for UHTCC structures based on UPV tests. This approach can serve as an early warning system to prevent catastrophic failures of UHTCC structures, enhancing their safety and durability in civil engineering applications.