Triaxial behavior of concrete containing recycled fibers- an experimental study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the behavior of recycled steel fiber-reinforced concrete (RSFRC) under true triaxial tests. Sixteen cylindrical specimens were used to assess the effect of recycled steel fibers (RSFs) on compressive and tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity, while 80 cubic specimens with RSFs of 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 kN.m-3 were used for true triaxial tests. Experiments were performed with three loading protocols based on the Lode angle. The findings suggested that the presence of RSF has a significant effect on the behavior of the specimens in the post-peak area. Moreover, the findings indicated that the higher the density of RSF, the higher the final triaxial strength in load combinations close to the tensile meridian. This effect was less pronounced when the Lode angle shifted from the tensile meridian to the compressive meridian. The coefficient kθ was proposed to modify the meridian curves and its value depended not only on the characteristics but also on the volume of the fibers but also on the Lode angle. Comparison of laboratory results with the results for the proposed coefficient kθ showed good agreement.