Fresh and Hardened Properties of Self-Consolidating Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

Traditional fiber-reinforced concrete tensile and shear resistance has been known to be enhanced by the addition of steel fibers to a concrete mixture. Plain concrete workability, however, has also been known to be impeded by fibers. In this study, self-consolidating fiber-reinforced concrete (SCFRC) mixtures were developed to improve workability for prestressed concrete beam application. In this study, extensive SCFRC and traditional fiber-reinforced concrete mixture fresh and hardened properties have been produced through use of two different types and variable amounts of hooked steel fibers. The satisfactory workability and stability of the SCFRC mixtures were demonstrated at up to a fiber factor of 55. Greater normalized tensile strength has been proven in SCFRC mixtures in general than, for the same fiber factor, the traditional fibrous concrete mixtures. The concrete mixture's workability requirements were found to govern optimum fiber content.