REINFORCED AER-TECH NOVEL MATERIAL A STRUCTURALLY EFFECTIVE MATERIAL

The Aer-Tech material was initially envisaged as a void filling and fireproofing material, but recent research findings has shown great structural potential. The structural effect of Aer-Tech material conforms with the analogy as stated in (Moseley, Hulse and Bungey.1999) that areas of tension on a reinforced Aer-Tech material are prone to undergo cracking. Ultimately, the ductility of reinforced Aer-Tech beam is primarily important in justifying structural capability of the material. Since, from structural standard it is paramount for a ductile structural material to undergo large deflection at near maximum load carrying capacity, by providing ample warnings to an impending failure. This paper had shown clearly that Aer-Tech material displacement ductility ratio taken in terms of µ = ∆u ⁄∆y, which is the ratio of ultimate moment to first yield deflection. Where ∆u is the deflection at ultimate moment and ∆y is the deflection when the steel yield. In general, high ductility ratios confirm that structural member is capable of undergoing large deflection prior to failure. Consequently, the result of this investigation on Aer-Tech reinforced beam ductility, shows that Aer-Tech material possess relatively good ductile characteristics as beam shows clear signs of cracks on beam long before failure. Other results of Aer- Tech material stress and strain behaviour had further confirm Aer-Tech material as a structural effective material comparable to conventional concrete since the ultimate experimental failure load of Aer-Tech material is 38.7 KN, whilst the theoretical calculated ultimate load is 35 KN. The nearness of experimental and theoretical failure load confirms structural capability of Aer-Tech material.