An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Concrete is weak in tension and strong in compression. The concept of using steel fiber in the concrete
improves the mechanical characteristics. Earlier applications include addition of straw to the mud bricks, horse
hair to reinforce plaster.
Use of continuous steel fiber reinforcement in concrete increases strength and ductility, but it requires
careful placement. Alternatively, introduction of fibers in discrete form in plain concrete or reinforced concrete
gives better results. The modern development of steel fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) started in the early sixties.
The steel fibers are mostly used fiber, in fiber reinforced concrete. According to many researchers, the addition of
steel fiber into concrete creates low workable or inadequate workability to the concrete.
Therefore, to solve this problem super-plasticizer is added, without affecting other properties of concrete.
Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) reinforced with more or less randomly distributed fibers. In FRC, thousands of
small fibers are dispersed and distributed randomly in the concrete during the mixing, and thus it improves
concrete properties in all directions. It has been successfully used in construction during its excellent flexural-
tensile strength, resistance to spitting, impact resistance and excellent permeability and frost resistance. It is an
effective way to increase toughness, shock resistance and resistance to plastic shrinkage cracking of the concrete.
Steel Fiber in concrete improves ductility and its load carrying capacity. The mechanical properties of
steel fiber reinforced concrete are much improved by the use of hooked fibers than straight fibers. Due to the
addition of 1.5 percent steel fiber increase the flexure strength by 67 percent, the splitting tensile strength by 57
percent and the impact strength 25 times. The toughness index of FRC is increased up to 20 times (for 1.5 percent
hooked fiber content) indicating excellent energy absorbing capacity.
The flexural toughness of specimens with high strength self-compacting concrete is more than that of the
specimens with medium strength self-compacting concrete. With a fiber volume fraction of 2%, the energy
absorbed by the specimen during the test was 33 times higher than the flexural toughness of plain concrete.

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE SURVEY

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

CHAPTER 3

STEEL FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE PROPERTIES

3.1 General
Plain, unreinforced concrete is a brittle material, with a low tensile strength and a low strain capacity.
Steel fiber reinforcement is widely used as the main and unique reinforcing for industrial concrete floor slabs,
shotcrete and prefabricated concrete products. It is also considered for structural purposes in the reinforcement of
slabs on piles, tunnel segments, concrete cellars, foundation slabs and shear reinforcement in restressed elements.
In tension, SFC fails only after the steel fiber breaks or is pulled out of the cement matrix. The role of randomly
distributed discontinuous fibers is to bridge across the cracks that develops and provide some post- cracking
ductility. The real contribution of the fibers is to increase the toughness of the concrete under any type of loading.
When the fiber reinforcement is in the form of short discrete fibers, they act effectively as rigid inclusions in the
concrete matrix.

3.2 Mix design of steel fiber reinforced concrete

As with any other type of concrete, the mix proportions for Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFC) depend
upon the requirements for a particular job, in terms of strength, workability, and so on. Several procedures for
proportioning SFC mixes are available, which emphasize the workability of the resulting mix. However, there are
some considerations that are particular to SFC. In general, SFC mixes contain higher cement contents and higher
ratios of fine to coarse aggregate than do ordinary concretes, and so the mix design procedures the apply to
conventional concrete may not be entirely applicable to SFC. Commonly, to reduce the quantity of cement, up to
35% of the cement may be replaced with fly ash (Nguyen Van, 2006). In addition, to improve the workability of
higher fiber volume mixes, water reducing admixtures and, in particular, superplasticizers are often used, in
conjunction with air entrainment. The range of proportions for normal weight SFC is shown in Table 3.1.

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

Table 3.1: Range of proportions for normal weight fiber reinforced concrete (steel fiber reinforced
concrete, Nguyen Van).
Property Mortar 9.5mm Maximum 19mm Maximum
aggregate size aggregate size
Cement (Kg/m3) 415-710 355-590 300-535

w/c ratio 0.3-0.45 0.35-0.45 0.4-0.5

Fine/coarse Aggregate 100 45-60 45-55

(%)
Entrained air (%) 7-10 4-7 4-6

Fiber content (%) by

volume
Smooth steel 1-2 0.9-1.8 0.8-1.6
Deformed steel 0.5-1 0.4-0.9 0.3-0.8

3.3 Properties of steel fiber reinforced concrete

3.3.1 Compressive strength
Fibers do little to enhance the static compressive strength of concrete, with increases in strength ranging
from essentially nil to perhaps 25%. Even in members which contain conventional reinforcement in addition to
the steel fibers, the fibers have little effect on compressive strength. However, the fibers do substantially increase
the post-cracking ductility, or energy absorption of the material.

Figure 3.1: Stress-Strain curves in compression for SFRC

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3.3.2 Tensile strength

Fibers aligned in the direction of the tensile stress may bring about very large increases in direct tensile
strength, as high as 133% for 5% of smooth, straight steel fibers. However, for more or less randomly distributed
fibers, the increase in strength is much smaller, ranging from as little as no increase in some instances to perhaps
60%, with many investigations indicating intermediate values, as shown in Figure 3.1. Splitting-tension test of
SFRC show similar result. Thus, adding fibers merely to increase the direct tensile strength is probably not
worthwhile. However, as in compression, steel fibers do lead to major increases in the post cracking behavior or
toughness of the composites.

Figure 3.2: Influence of fiber content on tensile strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete

3.3.3 Flexural strength

Steel fibers are generally found to have aggregate much greater effect on the flexural strength of SFC
than on either the compressive or tensile strength, with increases of more than 100% having been reported. The
increase in flexural strength is particularly sensitive, not only to the fiber volume, but also to the aspect ratio of
the fibers, with higher aspect ratio leading to larger strength increases. Figure 3.2 describes the fiber effect in
terms of the combined parameter Wl/d, where l/d is the aspect ratio and W is the weight percent of fibers. It
should be noted that for Wl/d > 600, the mix characteristics tended to be quite unsatisfactory. Deformed fibers
show the same types of increases at lower volumes, because of their improved bond characteristics.

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

Figure 3.2: The effect of Wl/d on the flexural strength of mortar and concrete (steel fiber reinforced
concrete, Nguyen Van)
3.3.4 Impact resistance
Steel fibers added to greatly improve the impact resistance of concrete, and in a certain dosage range,
impact resistance and steel fiber content is positively related. Steel fiber reinforced concrete with good plastic
deformation capacity, greatly improved the ordinary concrete brittle defects, even after the formation of cracks in
shock, steel fiber can delay the extension and expansion of cracks. In the dynamic case, the ability of anti-broken
loose durability SFRC increased dramatically, concrete cracking, although in this case, but will not break
immediately, based on this capacity steel fiber reinforced concrete pavement is particularly suitable for a number
of projects, such as: road pavement, pavement, airport runways.
3.3.5 Fatigue resistance
In the fatigue performance of steel fiber reinforced concrete is better than Portland cement concrete.
Under repeated loading, Portland cement concrete prone to small cracks, after adding steel fibers, steel fibers can
delay minor cracks even produce may also limit further expansion. Tests show that steel fiber content on the
fatigue performance of concrete also affect the steel fiber content increases, fatigue strength and fatigue life of
concrete will be increased accordingly.

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Road pavement materials can be used steel fiber reinforced concrete, it has been greatly improved
durability, but also can be correspondingly reduced pavement thickness. In other words, under the same
conditions as the cross section, the service life of steel fiber reinforced concrete pavement longer than ordinary
concrete pavement.
3.3.6 Other properties
Steel fibers added to make the shrinkage properties of concrete has also been enhanced, this is because the
concrete during drying shrinkage of steel fiber has the ability to inhibit the contraction. Tests show that the
volume fraction of 1% steel fiber reinforced concrete shrinkage rate was 20% less than in the same proportion of
ordinary concrete.
Durability is very important to many engineering performance. Is one of the forms of the durability of
freezing thawing resisting, freeze-thaw damage is also common in engineering damage type. Freezing-thawing
resisting performance test show that steel fiber reinforced concrete completely destroys the freeze-thaw cycles is
much greater than normal concrete. Under the condition of bad environment using the properties of steel fiber
reinforced concrete is obviously better than ordinary concrete, so the durability of steel fiber reinforced concrete
has good use for a long time. The permeability resistance, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, heat resistance and
so on are also good performance of steel fiber reinforced concrete.

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

CHAPTER 4

TYPES OF FIBER-REINFORCED CONCRETE

4.1 Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete

A number of steel fiber types are available as reinforcement. Round steel fiber is the commonly used type
are produced by cutting round wire into short length. The typical diameter lies in the range of 0.25 to 0.75mm.
Steel fibers are having a rectangular cross section are produced by silting the sheets about 0.25mm thick. Fiber
made from mild steel drawn wire conforming to IS:280-1976 with the diameter of wire varying from 0.3 to
0.5mm have been practically used in India. Deformed fibers, which are loosely bounded with water-soluble glue
in the form of a bundle are also available. Since individual fibers tends to cluster together, their uniform
distribution in the matrix is often difficult.
. Steel fiber-reinforced concrete uses thin steel wires mixed in with the cement. This imparts the concrete
with greater structural strength, reduces cracking and helps protect against extreme cold. Steel fiber is often used
in conjunction with rebar or one of the other fiber types.

Figure 4.1: Steel fiber reinforced concrete

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4.2 Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Cement Mortar and Concrete

Polypropylene is one of the cheapest and abundantly available polymers. Polypropylene fibers are
resistant to most chemical and it would be cementitious matrix which would deteriorate first under aggressive
chemical attack. Its melting point is high (about 165 degrees centigrade). So that a working temperature about
100 degree centigrade may sustained short periods without detriment to fiber properties.
Polypropylene fibers being hydrophobic can be easily mixed as they do not need lengthy contact during
mixing and only need to be evenly distressed in the mix. Polypropylene are short fibers in small volume fractions
between 0.5 to 15 commercially used in concrete.

Figure 4.2: Polypropylene fiber reinforced cement mortar and concrete

4.3 Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Glass fiber is made up from 200-400 individual filaments which are lightly bonded to make up a stand.
These stands can be chopped into various lengths, or combined to make cloth mat or tape. Using the conventional
mixing techniques for normal concrete it is not possible to mix more than about 2%( by volume) of fibers of a
length of 25mm.
The major appliance of glass fiber has been in reinforcing the cement or mortar matrices used in the
production of thin sheet products. The commonly used varieties of glass fibers are E-glass in the reinforced of
plastics and AR glass. E-glass has inadequate resistance to alkalis present in the Portland cement where AR glass

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

has improved alkali resistant characteristics. Sometimes polymers are also added in the mixes to improve some
physical properties such as moisture movement.
Glass fiber-reinforced concrete uses fiberglass, much like you would find in fiberglass insulation, to
reinforce the concrete. The glass fiber helps insulate the concrete in addition to making it stronger. Glass fiber
also helps prevent the concrete from cracking over time due to mechanical or thermal stress. In addition, the glass
fiber does not interfere with radio signals like the steel fiber reinforcement does.

Figure 4.3: Glass fiber-reinforced concrete

4.4 Asbestos Fibers

The naturally available inexpensive mineral fiber asbestos has been successfully combined with Portland
cement paste to form a widely-used product called asbestos cement. Asbestos fibers are thermal mechanical and
chemical resistance making them suitable for sheet product pipes, tiles and corrugated roofing elements. Asbestos
cement board is approximately two or four times that of unreinforced matrix. However due to relatively shirt
length(10mm) the fiber has low strength. The below figure shows asbestos fibers.

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

Figure 4.4: Asbestos fibers

4.5 Carbon Fibers

Carbon fibers from the most recent and probability the most spectacular addition to the range of fibers
available for commercial use. Carbon fiber comes under the very high modulus of elasticity and flexural strength.
These are expansive. Their strength and stiffness characteristics have been found to be superior even to those of
steel. But they are more vulnerable to damage than even glass fiber, and hence are generally treated with resin
coating.

Figure 4.5 Carbon fibers

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

4.6 Organic Fibers

Organic fibers such as polypropylene or natural fiber may be chemically more inert than either steel or
glass fibers. They are also cheaper, especially if natural. A large volume of vegetable fiber may be used to obtain
a multiple cracking composite. The problem of mixing and uniform dispersion may be solved by adding a super
plasticizer.

Figure 4.6: Organic fibers

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

CHAPTER-5

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

5.1 Advantages
Fast and perfect mixable fibers and High performance and crack resistance.
Optimize costs with lower fiber dosages.
Steel fibers reinforced concrete against impact forces, thereby improving the toughness characteristics of
hardened concrete.
Reinforcing concrete with Steel fibers results in durable concrete with a high flexural and fatigue flexural
strength, improved abrasion, spalling and impact resistance.
The elimination of conventional reinforcement, and in some cases the reduction in section thickness can
contribute to some significant productivity improvements.
Steel fibers can deliver significant cost savings, together with reduced material volume, more rapid
construction and reduced labour costs.
The random distribution of Steel fibers in concrete ensures that crack free stress accommodation occurs
throughout the concrete. Thus, micro cracks are intercepted before they develop and impair the
performance of concrete.
Steel fibers are a far more economical design alternative.

5.2 Disadvantages
Steel fibers will not float on the surface of a properly finished slabs; however, rain damaged slabs allow
both aggregate and fibers to be exposed and will present as aesthetically poor whilst maintaining structural
soundness.
Fibers are capable of substituting reinforcement in all structural elements (including primary
reinforcement), however, within each element there will be a point where the fiber alternatives coat
saving and design economies are diminished.
Fiber concrete wastages are more which makes investments high. Strict control of concrete wastage must
be monitored in order to keep it at minimum. Wasted concrete means wasted fibers.

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

CHAPTER-6

APPLICATIONS OF STEEL FIBER REINFOTRCED CONCRETE

The uses of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete over the past thirty years have been so varied and so
widespread, that it is difficult to categorize them. The most common applications are pavements, tunnel linings,
pavements and slabs, shotcrete and now shotcrete also containing silica fume, airport pavements, bridge deck slab
repairs, and so on. There has also been some recent experimental work on roller-compacted concrete (RCC)
reinforced with steel fibers. The list is endless, apparently limited only by the ingenuity of the engineers involved.
The fibers themselves are, unfortunately, relatively expensive; a 1% steel fiber addition will approximately
double the material costs of the concrete, and this has tended to limit the use of SFRC to special applications.

6.1 Application in water resources and hydropower engineering

Pump pipe as integral components of water resources and hydropower engineering, there are many kinds
of, the materials of the steel fiber concrete pump pipe because of has many advantages, become a kind of pump
pipe in general use of (among) all the pump pipe, steel used for the production of steel fiber concrete pump pipe
at least, and not as easy as made of pure steel tube corrosion, transportation and installation is convenient,
maintenance cost is relatively low. As a result of the existence of a lot of advantage, make steel fiber concrete
pump pipe is widely used.

6.2 Structural engineering applications

Steel fiber concrete has excellent durability, bending resistance, crack resistance, impact resistance and
other characteristics, so you can try to apply steel fiber reinforced concrete in various aspects to demand higher
part, make it play a better role. Experimental research shows that link beam-column node is an important power
transmission parts, usually need to pass a large force, this will envoys points become easily damaged part of the
frame structure, to study found that the destruction of the node seismic action will cause a different degree of
damage of the node, it also caused the engineering and domestic and foreign scholars to the attention of the
seismic problems. The traditional method to improve seismic intensity of the node is, in the node to join the
stirrup, stirrup can improve the tensile strength of nodes, this method although the effect is obvious, but the
construction is difficult, is not convenient. If the node USES the steel fiber reinforced concrete can overcome the
above shortcomings, and significantly improve the seismic intensity.

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An Experimental study on Steel Fiber Reinforcement Concrete 2016-17

6.3 The Bridge engineering application

Steel fiber reinforced concrete has good crack resistance, flexural properties, fatigue resistance, impact
resistance, resistance to shrinkage, but also good toughness, therefore, the steel fiber reinforced concrete is widely
used in bridge engineering. Due to these excellent properties of steel fiber reinforced concrete has above, make
the steel fiber reinforced concrete bridge deck to be the same as the other bridge deck driving conditions at the
same time can reduce the thickness of surface layer, such not only can save material, reduce the maintenance
fee also can make the maintenance, prolong the service life of the bridge deck.

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CONCLUSION

Steel fiber concrete has many excellent properties, such as: crack resistance, durability and resistance to
bending properties, impact resistance, etc., but also have shortcomings, steel fiber is too expensive, the cost of
steel fiber reinforced concrete Improve, economy.
In terms of application, the application of steel fiber reinforced concrete is very broad, the most typical
application is the application of water resources and hydropower engineering, structure engineering, bridge
engineering application. Also, there are some problems in the application process, such as the production process
and construction technology is not enough mature, to further standardize and perfect, only to solve these
problems, to make the steel fiber concrete get more extensive application

Properties of Concrete Improved by adding Steel Fibers

Flexural Strength: Flexural bending strength can be increased of up to 3 times more compared to
conventional concrete.
Fatigue Resistance: Almost one and half times increase in fatigue strength.
Impact Resistance: Greater resistance to damage in case of a heavy impact.
Permeability: The material is less porous.
Shrinkage: Shrinkage cracks can be eliminated.
Corrosion: Corrosion may affect the material but it will be limited in certain areas.

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