The influence of steel fiber on water permeability of concrete under sustained compressive load

Abstract

In order to investigate the influence of steel fibers on the water permeability of concrete at serviceability stage, a self-designed device was adopted and the permeability test was conducted on hollow cylindrical specimens under a sustained compressive load. The combined effect of steel fiber and compressive load on water permeability of concrete was analyzed. Ultrasonic pulse velocity was also measured to verify the damage of the concrete caused by the compressive load. The results demonstrated that the water permeability of the concrete was affected by the compressive load, a significant increment in the permeability coefficient occurred when the applied load exceeded the threshold value. The addition of steel fiber demonstrated positive effects on permeability of concrete under compressive load. The threshold value corresponding to permeability properties of the concrete under compressive load was improved with the increasing of fiber content. The ultrasonic pulse velocity of the concrete under compressive load was also influenced by addition of steel fiber. The variation of the ultrasonic pulse velocity has a certain similarity with the variation of the permeability coefficient of the specimen under compressive load. Ultrasonic pulse velocity test may be an efficient method to evaluate the permeability of concrete at service load.