Experimental investigation of the hydraulic abrasion resistance of ultra high performance concrete under sediment-laden flow

This study presents, for the first time, a hydraulic abrasion test specifically designed to assess the resistance of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) under sediment-laden flow conditions. A high-velocity water jet apparatus, simulating realistic flow-induced environments was employed to investigate the abrasion performance of UHPC in comparison with High Strength Concrete (HSC) and Normal Concrete (NC). The hydraulic condition was defined by a jet velocity of 16.1 m/s and a sand concentration of 300 kg/m³, corresponding to an impact pressure of 168.5 kPa and representative of erosive conditions encountered in actual hydraulic infrastructures. Concrete specimens at curing ages of 3, 14, and 28 days were exposed to erosive flow conditions. Surface degradation was quantified using high resolution 3D scanning technology with micron-level precision, enabling accurate characterization of both abrasion depth and volume loss. The results revealed that UHPC consistently exhibited superior abrasion resistance compared to conventional concrete, as evidenced by significantly reduced abrasion depth, crater diameter, and volume loss across all curing ages. The enhanced durability of UHPC is primarily attributed to its ultra-dense microstructure, optimized particle packing, and the incorporation of steel fibers. A logarithmic regression model was proposed to characterize the time-dependent abrasion response of UHPC. This study provides critical insights for the design and application of UHPC in aggressive hydraulic environments, while also contributing to the prediction of service life for abrasion-prone infrastructure. • - Developed a hydraulic abrasion test using sediment-laden water jet. • - UHPC showed superior abrasion resistance over HSC and NC at all ages. • - 3D scanning enabled micron-level quantification of surface degradation. • - Steel fibers in UHPC remained intact, preserving integrity under erosion. • - A regression model described the time-dependent abrasion of UHPC.