Thin Cementitious Slabs reinforced with Stainless Steel Fibers

Abstract

This experimental research by the present authors is to determine the engineering properties such as compressive strength, split-tensile strength, mortar flexural strength and impact energy strength of Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composite (FRCC) using a new non-corrosive reinforcing material, namely Stainless Steel (SS) fibers. For this purpose, reference specimens (cubes, cylinders and prisms) as well as FRCC slabs of size 250 mm X 250 mm X 25 mm thick were cast. The reinforcing SS fibers of 12.5 mm length with aspect ratio of 28 were used in discontinuous form, and the specimens were cast with varying proportions of SS fibers varying from 0.5% to 2.5% (to volume of specimens). The impact study was conducted on test specimens using a simple free-fall velocity method, using 1 kg steel ball, dropped from a height of 600 mm in a repeated manner and the number of blows received on initial and final cracks (on ultimate failure) were studied. The energy absorbed by the cementitious slabs (test specimens) reinforced with SS fibers has been compared with the control specimens cast with plain cement mortar (without fibers). In general, the results show that there is an increase in the compressive, split-tensile and mortar flexural strength and also the energy absorption capacity of specimens cast with fibrous mortar using SS fibers (0.5-2.5%), when compared to specimens made of plain cement mortar. The initial and final crack widths (during ultimate failure) on the slabs were observed, and the Residual Impact Strength (IRS) Ratio of test and control specimens has been compared. The various applications of using thin, non-corrosive cementitious slabs are brought out in this study.