Compressive Stress-Strain Behavior of Small Scale Steel Fibre Reinforced High Strength Concrete Cylinders

Abstract

An experimental investigation was carried out to generate the complete stress-strain curves of steel fibre reinforced high strength concrete under axial compression. The experimental program consisted of testing 100 x 200 mm concrete cylinders. The experimental variables of the study were concrete strength levels (58.03 MPa and 76.80 MPa), volume fractions (0.5% to 2.0%) and aspect ratios (20 and 40) of flat crimped steel fibres. The effect of the mixed aspect ratio of fibres on the stress-strain behavior of steel fibre high strength concrete was also studied by blending short and long fibres. The effects of these variables on the stress-strain curves are presented and discussed. The results indicate that high strength concrete can be made to behave in a ductile manner by the addition of suitable fibres. It is concluded that short fibres are more effective in controlling early cracking, thereby enhancing the strength of the composite, whereas long fibres are more effective in providing post peak toughness. Concrete strength seemed to have an adverse effect on the deformability of fibre reinforced high strength concrete. Based on the test data obtained, a simple model is proposed to generate the complete stress-strain relationship for steel fibre reinforced high strength concrete. The proposed model has been found to give a good representation of the actual stress-strain response.