Effect of Steel fiber volume fraction on the Mechanical behavior of Ultra-high Performance concrete composites

In order to investigate the effect of fiber volume fraction on the mechanical behavior of ultra-high performance concrete composites (UHPCC), five different volume fractions of macro steel fibers (Vf = ۰.۵, ۱, ۱.۵, ۲ and ۲.۵%) are used within identical mortar matrix. Ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) mix was designed to achieve a compressive strength of ۱۵۵ MPa based on the particle packing method. For ۱۲ series of UHPCC mixes, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity at ۲۸ days are determined. Test results showed a significant improvement in splitting tensile and flexural strengths of UHPFRC with the addition of steel fibers. The maximum values of compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths obtained are ۱۵۵.۳۹, ۱۷.۷۶, and ۳۲.۵۰ MPa respectively. Stress-strain behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete composites is studied and elastic modulus values evaluated are in the range of ۳۹.۵۲-۴۷.۹۹ GPa. Empirical expressions are developed based on the test results in terms of fiber volume fraction to predict the ۲۸-day strengths of UHPFRC. Comparing the experimental values of earlier researchers to the ones predicted by empirical equations, the average absolute error (AAE) value obtained is within ۵%. The proposed model's predictions are in good agreement with the experimental values. Relationship between compressive and flexure strengths of UHPFRC is developed with R۲=۰.۹۹ and validated.

Keywords:

Alccofine , Crimped steel fiber , UHPCC , UHPFRC , stress-strain behavior , empirical expression