Abstract
The use of self-compacting concrete (SCC) reinforced with fibers has great potential in the precast concrete industry as the concrete can be delivered straight into the moulds, without any vibration or compacting effort. Similarly, it has the potential to replace traditional steel reinforcement depending on the design requirements. Novel synthetic fibers have recently become available in the market, but still, limited information is available on the performance of SCC reinforced with such fibers. This paper investigates the use of twisted-bundle macro-synthetic fiber in self-compacting concrete. Three different concrete mixtures with fiber dosage of 4, 6, and 8 kg/m3 were produced in large scale batches, and their performance was compared in terms of slump-flow, compressive strength, split tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and flexural strength. Moreover, a comprehensive evaluation of the post-cracking residual strength is presented. It was found that the mixture with 4 kg/m3 fiber content has the most satisfactory flowability, whereas 8 kg/m3 mixture achieved the highest residual flexural strength. Based on the observed post-cracking behavior, a simplified stress-crack opening constitutive law is proposed. Since the fiber dosage affects the residual flexural strength, a factor related to fiber content is recommended while determining the ultimate residual flexural strength.
Highlights
Fiber-reinforced concrete has gained wide popularity due to the beneficial effect of fibers in improving toughness and ductility, crack resistance, tensile strength, impact and fatigue resistance, and durability [1,2,3,4,5]
This paper presents the findings of experimental investigations conducted on the effect of twisted-bundle macro-synthetic fibers on the compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and residual flexural performance of high strength self-compacting fiber-reinforced concrete, as well as the fresh properties of the self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixtures
The major difference between the two mixtures was seen in the 28-day split tensile strength, where FF6 had 28% higher tensile strength compared to the FF4 mixture
Summary
Fiber-reinforced concrete has gained wide popularity due to the beneficial effect of fibers in improving toughness and ductility, crack resistance, tensile strength, impact and fatigue resistance, and durability [1,2,3,4,5]. The use of macrofibers, such as steel fibers, as reinforcement in concrete is well-established in applications such as industrial pavements, precast structural elements, tunnel lining, etc. Several guidelines and specifications for steel-fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) are currently available to support the design of elements and structures with such material [6,7,8,9]. In applications such as the precasting of thin elements, the use of rigid steel fibers is not the most suitable option, due to the reduced concrete workability, difficulties in placement and finishing, as well as hazards in handling due to the stiffness of the fibers.
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