Technical Note on Finite Element Analysis of Macroscopic Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Concrete Columns

This pilot study exposes the first ever made of its kind and reveals behaviour of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) bar reinforced concrete columns at macroscopic level. The Ultra High Strength Concrete columns having compressive strength from 100 Mpa to 1000 Mpa and reinforced with CNT bars were simulated using finite element analysis software ANSYS 18. Among the twenty simulated compressive members, strength enhancement of 75% than their counterparts made of steel reinforced concrete columns was explored. The investigation was further extended to derive equations to find the compressive strength of CNT reinforced concrete columns. This novel equation reveals the column capacity of slender compression members reinforced with CNT bars. The feasibility of using CNTs as reinforcements at macro level were analysed analytically and the results proved positivity.