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 ACI MATERIALS JOURNAL
Title no. 91-M43
Concrete Reinforced with Deformed Steel Fibers, Part I:
Bond-Slip Mechanisms
by Nemkumar Banthia and Jean-Franois Trottier
Bond-slip characteristics were investigated for three deformed steel fibers
bonded in concrete matrixes with different strengths. Fibers were aligned at
0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 deg with respect to the loading direction, and com-
plete load-versus-slip curves were obtained. It was found that the bond-slip
characteristics of fibers aligned with respect to the loading direction were
significantly superior to those for inclined fibers. Inclined fibers supported
smaller peak pullout loads and absorbed less pullout energy than the
aligned fibers. A high-strength matrix often caused brittle fiber and matrix
failures, and led to reductions in the energy-absorption capability. The
paper provides interpretations of the bond-slip curves based on various
micromechanical processes in the matrix and fiber, and identifies the con-
ditions that lead to a brittle response. The bond-slip information generated
in this study for the various deformed fibers will be correlated to the actual
behavior of fiber reinforced concrete in the second part of this paper.
Keywords: bond-slip; fibers ; pullout tests; reinforced concrete; steel
fibers; toughness.
The idea of using discontinuous, ductile fibers to reinforce
brittle materials is not new, yet interest in reinforcing con-
crete with steel and other fibers has grown steadily within the
past 30 years, based on pioneering research done in the
1960s. The current uses of steel fibers in concrete or shot-
crete include shear reinforcement in structural elements,
blast-resistant structures, precast products and tilt-up con-
struction, tunnel linings and slope stabilization works, re-
pairs and rehabilitation, and, perhaps most significantly,
slab-on-grade applications.
As with any other composite, the importance of fiber-ma-
trix bond in fiber reinforced concrete is well recognized. In a
cement-based composite under tension or flexure, the brittle
matrix is almost always the first to fail by cracking. Fibers,
if well bonded in the matrix, transmit stresses across these
matrix cracks and preserve the load-carrying capacity of the
section. The resistance of the section to further crack open-
ing depends largely on the bond-slip characteristics of the
bridging fibers, and a number of possibilities, including
complete fiber pullout to fiber fracture across a crack, exist.
The effectiveness of a given fiber as a medium of stress
transfer is often assessed using a single fiber pullout test,
where fiber slip is monitored as a function of the applied fi-
ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994
TECHNICAL PAPER
ber load. In spite of a belief sometimes held, that no correla-
tion exists between the behavior of a fiber in a single fiber
pullout test and its behavior in a real composite,1,2 single fi-
ber pullout tests are routinely conducted to optimize fiber
and matrix characteristics and understand the mechanisms of
fiber reinforcement.
Pullout characteristics of steel fibers embedded in cemen-
titious matrixes have been studied as a function of several
variables, including the rate of load application,3,4 tempera-
ture of the environment,5 processing variables and matrix
quality,6-8 and other test variables such as fiber inclination,
etc.9 In addition, a number of matrix and fiber modifications
have been examined as a way of improving the bond-slip
characteristics of fibers in a cementitious matrix. These in-
clude matrix modifications like silica fume and polymer
additions10-12 and fiber surface modifications such as coat-
ings, surface indenting, and notching.13-15
Among the various attempts made to improve the bond-
slip characteristics of steel fibers bonded in cementitious ma-
trixes, the most effective is mechanical deforming. Steel fi-
bers have a distinct advantage over other fibers in terms of
the relative ease with which they can be deformed and in-
dented to improve their anchorage in concrete. Mechanical
deformations in the form of a hook, cone, or crimp placed at
the end or along the fiber length to provide positive end-an-
chorage in concrete have proven to be very effective in im-
proving pullout resistance.16-18 It is not surprising, therefore,
that almost all commercially available fibers at present are
mechanically deformed.
Unfortunately, most of the fiber-matrix bond-slip studies
to date have investigated straight fibers without any defor-
mations. Our understanding of deformed fibers, therefore, is
limited and largely inadequate. No general theory relating fi-
ACI Materials Journal , V. 91, No. 5, September-October 1994.
Received May 26, 1993, and reviewed under Institute publication policies. Copy-
right 1994, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including the making
of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent dis-
cussion will be published in the July-August 1995 ACI Materials Journal if received
by Apr. 1, 1995.
435
Nemkumar Banthia is an associate professor of civil engineering in the Department
of Civil Engineering, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Colum-
bia, Canada. He serves on various ACI, RILEM, and CSCE committees and has con-
ducted extensive research on fiber reinforced cement composites.

Jean-Franois Trottier was a graduate student at Laval University, Quebec, when

this work was carried out. Now he is an assistant professor of civil engineering in the
Department of Civil Engineering, the Technical University of Nova Scotia, Halifax,
Nova Scotia, Canada.

Table 1Fibers investigated

Tensile
Fiber Longitudinal Cross-section Length, Size, mm strength, Weight,
code profile shape mm g
MPa

F1 Hooked-end Circular 60 0.8 diameter 1115 0.263

F2 Crimped Circular 40 1.0 diameter 1037 0.280

F3 Twin-cone Circular 62 1.0 diameter 1198 0.403

Table 2Mix proportions

Cement Water, Aggregate Sand, Water-reducing Air-entraining
Mix agent, ml/100 kg agent, ml/kg
Type I, kg/m3 kg/m 3 10 mm, kg/m3 kg/m3 (cement) (cement)
Normal strength 373 168 975 800 200 0.1
concrete I
Midstrength 420 147 975 800 220 0.2
concrete II
High-strength 452 136 1030 780 495 0.1
concrete III

ber geometry to pullout or composite behavior presently ex-
ists and, consequently, all of the commercial geometries are
only intuitive.
In the case of a deformed fiber, both fiber and matrix are
severely stressed during pullout, and instances of fiber frac-
ture and matrix splitting occur more commonly than in
straight fibers.10 With the transfer of stresses not only
through elastic or frictional interfacial bond but also through
anchorage, a number of existing theories developed for
straight fibers are of limited usefulness for deformed fibers.
Further complications arise when fibers are inclined with re-
spect to the loading direction, and the stress field in the vi-
cinity of the fiber becomes highly complex, as occurs in an
actual composite. Clearly, material properties like elastic
modulus, strength, strain capacity, etc., for both fiber and
matrix, are more significant in the case of deformed fibers
than for straight fibers.
An attempt is made in this study to clearly understand the
influence of various test and material variables on the bond-
slip characteristics of deformed steel fibers. Three deformed
fibers with widely different geometries were chosen. Fibers
were inclined at various angles with respect to the loading di-
rection, and the effect of inclination on the bond-slip curves
was examined. A particular attempt was made to identify the
factors that prompted a brittle response. In the second part of
this paper, the toughness characteristics of concretes rein-
forced with various volume fractions of deformed fibers will
be determined and related to the bond-slip observations of
this paper.
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
Significant research has so far been conducted to under-
stand the pullout characteristics of straight, undeformed steel
fibers bonded in cement-based matrixes. Straight, unde-
formed fibers, however, are rarely used in practice, and all
commercial fibers available today are deformed in geometry.
Therefore, the need exists to clearly understand the effects of
fiber geometry, matrix properties, loading characteristics,
etc., on the bond-slip characteristics of deformed fibers, and
to correlate these to the actual behavior of steel fiber rein-
forced concrete. Bond-slip characteristics of various de-
formed fibers embedded in matrixes with different strengths
and inclined at various angles with respect to the loading di-
rection are investigated here. In the second part of this paper,
that bond-slip information will be correlated with the tough-
ness of fiber reinforced concrete.
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
Three deformed fibers shown in Table 1 were chosen for
the pullout tests. Two of these fibers (F1 and F3) were end-
deformed and the third (F2) was fully deformed. Fibers F1
and F3 were investigated as received. Fiber F2, with a com-
mercial length of 60 mm, was shortened by chopping its ends
to a reduced length of 40 mm. This was done to avoid fiber
fracture during the pullout test. Fibers had circular sections

436 ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994

 Table 3Properties of fresh concrete
Vebe
Mix Slump, mm Air, percent Initial slump,
Time, sec
cm
Normal strength 165 4.0 4.25 3.6
Midstrength 170 5.5 5.0 4.5
High-strength 205 4.5 7.0 3.4

Table 4Properties of hardened concrete

Compressive Modulus of Modulus of
Mix
strength, MPa elasticity, GPa rupture, MPa
Normal strength 40 39 5.19
Midstrength 52 38 7.19
High-strength 85 46 10.16

Fig. 1Photograph of pullout test in

progress

but different diameters. They also had different tensile

strengths.
Three concrete mixtures, shown in Table 2, were investi-
gated as matrixes. Cement Type I and a maximum aggregate
size of 10 mm were employed. The fresh concrete properties
of these normal strength, midstrength, and high-strength
mixes are given in Table 3. In Table 3, the air contents and
slump values are also reported, along with the Vebe time val-
ues for the three mixes. All mixes were adequately workable
and had normal air contents.
The compressive strength and modulus of elasticity for the
three mixes were determined at 28 days using 100 x 200-mm
cylinders per ASTM C 39 and C 469. Beams (100 x 100 x
350 mm) were also cast and tested per ASTM C 78 for mod-
ulus of rupture. Averaged results for six specimens are given
in Table 4. Normal strength, midstrength, and high-strength
mixes had developed average compressive strengths of 40,
52, and 85 MPa, respectively, on the 28th day. These mixes
also had widely different moduli of elasticity and rupture.
The pullout tests were performed using the specimens
shown in Fig. 1 with the dimension shown in Fig. 2. The
specimens were cast in two parts. The lower part was cast
first, with the fiber embedded in it, and allowed to cure for Fig. 2Schematic of pullout test (1 in. = 25.4 mm)
24 hr. Once hardened, concrete was poured in the upper part
and the assembly was further cured for a period of 28 days
until tested. Pullout tests were performed in a 150-kN floor- The load and slip data were digitally recorded using a 16-bit
mounted testing machine, as shown in Fig. 1. Load was ap- data acquisition system operating at a frequency of 10 Hz.
plied at a cross-arm travel rate of 0.5 mm/min and the ap- Fibers were inclined in the specimens with respect to the
plied load-versus-fiber slip curves were recorded. Fiber slips direction of loading at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 deg (angle in
were measured by two LVDT transducers (one coarse with a Fig. 2). Six specimens were tested in each category, giving a
total travel of 25 mm and the other fine with a total travel of total of 270 specimens (6 specimens x 3 mixes x 3 fiber ge-
1 mm). The fine LVDT facilitated accurate measurements in ometries x 5 inclinations).
the initial elastic portion of the load-versus-slip curve, where As part of the larger program, fiber reinforced concrete
the expected slips were only a small fraction of a millimeter. beams were also cast and toughness tests were performed per
ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994 437
 Fig. 3Prepeak bond-slip curves for aligned fibers F1, F2, and F3 in normal and high-
strength matrixes (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)

Fig. 4Bond-slip curves for hooked-end fiber F1 in normal strength matrix at various
inclination angles (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)

ASTM C 1018 and JSCE SF-4. Results from the toughness
tests will be discussed in light of the pullout test data in the
second part of this paper.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Prepeak bond-slip characteristics
Representative prepeak bond-slip curves for the three fi-
bers are shown in Fig. 3 for normal and high-strength matrix-
es. The pullout curves had a distinct linear initial portion
terminating in a bend over point (BOP) at which nonlinear
behavior began.
Results indicate that the initial slopes of the bond-slip
curves for the three fibers are not the same. The slope of the
curve tends to increase with an increase in the strength of the
matrix and the extent to which the fiber is deformed; Fiber
F2 has a greater initial slope than Fibers F1 and F3. Within
438
batch variations in the initial slope values were observed to
be smaller than those normally reported for smooth fibers.16
Assuming that the load at the BOP corresponds to the break-
age of the elastic fiber-matrix bond, average interfacial bond
strength values between 2 and 8 MPa were calculated; the
higher values corresponded to highly deformed fibers pull-
ing out of high-strength matrixes. In the case of a highly de-
formed fiber like F2, one may expect a much bigger core of
concrete surrounding the fiber to take part in the process of
stress transfer, giving higher values of the apparent average
bond strength. In other words, a bearing component is also
included in the load at the BOP, such that higher values of
apparent average bond strengths accrue. With a bigger core
of concrete taking part in the transfer of load, the effect of
matrix strength also became more important in the case of
ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994
 Fig. 5Bond-slip curves for hooked-end fiber F1 in midstrength matrix at various inclina-
tion angles (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)
Fig. 6Bond-slip curves for hooked-end fiber F1 in high-strength matrix at various incli-
nation angles
Fiber F2. For the moderately deformed Fiber F1, where the
core remained relatively small, no clear influence of matrix
strength on the load at BOP became apparent.
In the case of a smooth, undeformed fiber, a sudden drop
in the load at the occurrence of the BOP is expected.10,16
However, in the case of a deformed fiber, fiber-matrix an-
chorage allows the pullout to continue at about the same or a
higher load than that at the BOP. After the BOP, the shape of
the curve will depend not only on the geometry of the fiber
itself but also on the constitutive and metallurgical character-
istics of the steel employed, and in some cases (Fiber F3), be-
cause of the extreme anchorage conditions at the ends, fiber
fracture may also occur.
Relating these findings to the load supported by fiber rein-
ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994
forced concrete at first crack is, however, not so apparent.
Although, these curves relate to the behavior of bridging fi-
bers only after the matrix is cracked, some minor matrix
cracking may be expected to occur even before a macrome-
chanical crack in the composite appears. In other words, fi-
ber bridging may become active even before the first
perceived macromechanical crack appears in the composite.
Experience has indicated, however,19 that fiber geometry
usually has no influence on the load at first crack for fiber re-
inforced concrete. The preceding trends are therefore rele-
vant only after the occurrence of first crack.
Bond-slip characteristics at peak pullout load
Representative pullout load-versus-fiber slip curves for
the various fibers at various inclinations are shown in Fig. 4
439
 Fig. 7Bond-slip curves for crimped fiber F2 in normal strength matrix at various incli-
nation angles (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)

Fig. 8Bond-slip curves for crimped fiber F2 in midstrength matrix at various inclination
angles (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)

through 12. Fig. 4, 5, and 6 represent hooked-end fiber F1
pulling out of a normal strength, midstrength, and high-
strength concrete matrix, respectively. The curves for
crimped fiber F2 are shown in Fig. 7 through 9 for the vari-
ous matrixes, and those for twin-cone fiber F3 are shown in
Fig. 10 through 12. Also indicated in Fig. 4 through 12 are
the ultimate tensile strengths (UTS) for the various fibers.
Except for one or two isolated cases, the loads in the case of
Fiber F1 (Fig. 4 through 6) remained far below the ultimate
tensile strength, and as such, fiber fracture did not occur. The
same applied to Fiber F2 (Fig. 7 through 9), where the loads
came close to the ultimate tensile strength but fracture was
prevented. In the case of Fiber F3 (Fig. 10 through 12), how-
ever, extreme anchorage at the ends led to fiber fracture in all
cases. It is interesting to note that, when inclined, Fiber F3
440
(and sometimes Fiber F1) fractured below their ultimate ten-
sile strengths.
Pullout curves were further analyzed for the peak values of
load, corresponding slips at the peak loads, absorbed pullout
energies at slips of 1 and 3 mm, and total pullout energies.
These quantities are reported in Tables 5, 6, and 7 for Fibers
F1, F2, and F3, respectively.
The ultimate load supported by the fiber in the process of
pullout (regardless of the accompanying slip) represents the
maximum resistance the fiber can offer to crack-widening.
Peak loads supported by Fibers F1, F2, and F3 in the three
matrixes are plotted as a function of the fiber inclination an-
gle in Fig. 13. Note that, except for Fiber F1, the peak loads
decreased as the inclination angle was increased; in the case
of Fiber F1, the loads remained nearly unchanged. The lack
ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994
 Fig. 9Bond-slip curves for crimped fiber F2 in high-strength matrix at various inclina-
tion angles (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)
Fig. 10Bond-slip curves for twin-cone fiber F3 in normal strength matrix at various
inclination angles
of dependence of the peak pullout load on fiber inclination
for Fiber F1 is in accordance with the findings of Naaman
and Shah,9 who reported that for a straight fiber, the peak
pullout load at an angle is at least as high as that for an
aligned fiber. It appears that the mildly deformed hooked-
end fiber F1 behaves more or less like a straight fiber in this
regard. For the other, more deformed, fibers, like F2 and F3,
a 0-deg inclination is seen to be the optimal pullout direction.
These findings differ from those of Morton and Groves,20
who reported the maximum pullout load to occur at a fiber
inclination of 45 deg. This also conflicts with the findings for
synthetic fibers,21 where an increase in the peak pullout load
with inclination is credited to the bending of the fiber and
presence of complementary frictional snubbing force, where
fiber enters the matrix.
ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994
For a deformed fiber under pullout load, the region past
the BOP (Fig. 3), but before the peak load, is where fiber de-
velops its full anchorage. It is also in this region that steel in
the fiber slowly approaches yield conditions and, depending
on the properties of the steel employed, some strain harden-
ing may also occur. In either case, after BOP, the fiber slow-
ly develops full anchorage and approaches ultimate
conditions up to the occurrence of the peak pullout load. The
ultimate condition can either be fiber fracture, as in the case
of Fiber F3, or yield and complete pullout, as in the case of
Fibers F1 and F2.
At the atomic level, yield is the result of intercrystal slip
within the metal as a result of dislocation movements that be-
come progressively difficult as the material strain-hardens. It
is well known that this process of intercrystal slippage and
441
 Fig. 11Bond-slip curves for twin-cone fiber F3 in midstrength matrix at various inclina-
tion angles

Fig. 12Bond-slip curves for twin-cone fiber F3 in high-strength matrix at various incli-
nation angles (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)

yield is aided considerably by the presence of accompanying
shear stresses on the material. In the case of inclined fibers,
additional shear stresses are imposed on the fiber where fiber
enters the matrix. These additional stresses will aid the pro-
cess of slippage within the crystal system in steel, and lower
both the yield and ultimate strength of the material.22 Fiber
will, therefore, attain the ultimate conditions prematurely at
lower values of the applied external load; hence, the lower
peak pullout loads for the inclined fibers. These additional
shear stresses do not affect Fiber F1, since they occur remote
from the hook, where yielding actually occurs, such that fi-
ber inclination does not affect the peak pullout load. For Fi-
ber F3, which is also an end-deformed fiber, inclination
affects the peak pullout load, since the failure eventually oc-
curs not at the cone but at the location where fiber enters the
matrix, a place where large additional shear stresses are im-
posed.
The average slips measured at the occurrence of peak pull-
out loads for Fibers F1, F2, and F3 as a function of fiber in-
clination are plotted in Fig. 14. In general, the slip at peak
load increases as the inclination angle increases. These large
slips also occurred at lower values of the applied loads (see
Fig. 13). These increases in the slip values and correspond-
ing reductions in the loads supported can be explained on the
basis of the following:
1. The existence of additional shear stresses in the case of
inclined fibers, where fiber enters the matrix, will provide
mechanisms favoring slip between crystals, and thus lower
both yield and ultimate strengths of steel; hence, the reduc-
tion in the observed loads. Further, under such conditions,

442 ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994

Table 5Average* pullout results for Fiber F1
Fiber inclination, Energy at 1-mm Energy at 3-mm Total pullout
Fiber type Matrix strength Peak load, N Slip at peak, mm
deg slip, N.m slip, N.m energy, N.m
0 272.9 1.55 0.094 0.498 4.444
15 297.2 2.20 0.103 0.579 4.346
Normal strength
30 283.4 2.73 0.118 0.606 3.037
45 255.7 3.13 0.094 0.461 3.589
60 256.3 4.62 0.048 0.404 2.926
0 287.2 0.98 0.320 0.752 3.476
15 288.3 1.27 0.280 0.716 3.518
Midstrength
F1, hooked-end 30 331.4 1.75 0.210 0.795 4.466
45 301.8 3.54 0.070 0.522 2.996
60 284.7 5.99 0.050 0.291 3.466
0 296.5 1.19 0.200 0.668 4.047
15 427.6 1.44 0.290 0.954 4.765
High-strength 30 396.4 2.83 0.140 0.824 4.487
45 418.7 4.69 0.140 0.518 1.911
60 385.7 5.08 0.050 0.389 1.251
* Average of six specimens.

Table 6Average* pullout results for Fiber F2

Fiber inclination, Energy at 1-mm Energy at 3-mm Total pullout
Fiber type Matrix strength Peak load, N Slip at peak, mm
deg slip, N.m slip, N.m energy, N.m
0 676.5 2.56 0.535 1.720 6.627
15 648.7 1.92 0.367 1.582 5.939
Normal strength
30 563.0 2.90 0.145 1.082 4.331
45 443.9 3.95 0.117 0.665 2.590
60 270.3 5.95 0.025 0.172 0.709
0 680.0 2.44 0.290 1.654 6.265
15 669.8 3.11 0.250 1.503 5.995
Midstrength
F2, crimped 30 618.1 3.66 0.200 1.030 5.784
45 516.7 3.00 0.140 0.707 4.423
60 390.8 7.20 0.070 0.294 2.904
0 670.9 2.09 0.310 1.566 5.398
15 705.2 2.46 0.430 1.523 1.880
High-strength 30 652.1 4.01 0.170 0.959 5.996
45 503.8 3.18 0.120 0.621 4.002
60 408.6 7.65 0.080 0.186 1.711
* Average of six specimens.

Table 7Average* pullout results for Fiber F3

Fiber inclination, Energy at 1-mm Energy at 3-mm Total pullout
Fiber type Matrix strength Peak load, N Slip at peak, mm
deg slip, N.m slip, N.m energy, N.m
0 969.6 2.39 0.410 1.820 1.825
15 882.7 2.80 0.200 1.441 1.690
Normal strength 30 809.3 5.10 0.170 0.718 2.763
45 784.3 5.58 0.110 0.543 2.244
60 644.2 7.94 0.060 0.275 2.432
0 984.4 3.08 0.340 2.080 2.416
15 894.6 4.68 0.350 1.640 2.619
Midstrength
F3, twin-cone 30 813.2 3.09 0.290 1.598 1.856
45 739.2 3.91 0.300 1.382 2.028
60 657.3 6.41 0.080 0.350 2.009
0 930.6 2.06 0.390 1.405 1.405
15 854.7 0.82 0.550 0.571 0.571
High-strength
30 798.5 0.42 0.200 0.211 0.211
45 751.7 0.67 0.300 0.300 0.300
60 662.2 1.18 0.310 0.411 0.411
* Average of six specimens.

ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994 443

 Fig. 13Peak pullout loads supported by various fibers as a function of inclination angle.
Note decrease in peak pullout load for Fibers F2 and F3 as inclination angle is increased
(1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 in. = 25.4 mm)

Fig. 14Measured slips at occurrence of peak pullout loads for various fibers as function of
inclination angle (1 kip = 4.448 kN)

steel will exhibit better apparent ductility21 and contribute to
increases in the measured slip values.
2. More important, perhaps, is the crushing of the matrix
that takes place in inclined fibers at the corner where fiber
enters the matrix. This crushing leads to fiber-straightening,
which increases the measured slip.
For Fiber F3 in a high-strength matrix, a reduction in slip
occurred, as seen in Fig. 14. While the exact reasons for this
are not clear, it is possible that reduced matrix-crushing oc-
curred in this case.
Energy absorption
In the case of fiber reinforced concrete, the allowable de-
formations and crack openings depend on a specific applica-
tion. Given a certain value of the allowable crack opening,
the energy absorbed by the fiber to that particular value of
slip alone is relevant while assessing the toughness of the
material. On the basis of allowable crack openings, one may
arbitrarily classify the possible FRC applications as follows:
1. Small to moderate crack openings in structural concrete,
in slab-on-grade applications.
2. Large crack openings in tunnel linings and defense shel-
ters.
3. Very large crack openings in blast-resistant structures,
structures under seismic loading, etc. The structure may be
rendered unusable after the event.

444 ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994

 Fig. 15Some bond-slip curves in high-strength matrix, illustrating possible brittle failure
modes (1 kip = 4.448 kN; 1 inch = 25.4 mm)
The energies absorbed by the different fibers were com-
puted by integrating the load-slip curves to slip values of 1
and 3 mm. The total energies absorbed to full separation by
the various fibers were also calculated. These quantities are
given in Tables 5, 6, and 7 for Fibers F1, F2, and F3, respec-
tively.
In general, as the fiber inclination angle with respect to the
loading direction was increased, the energy absorbed to a
given slip decreased. This is readily apparent from the bond-
slip curves of Fig. 4 through 12. Apart from registering the
highest peak pullout load (Fig. 13), a fiber aligned in the di-
rection of load is also the most effective when the energy to
a certain slip is considered. This is inconsistent with the find-
ings of Brandt,23 who has shown that the pullout energy to a
certain slip can be maximized only at a nonzero fiber incli-
nation. A general reduction in the absorbed energy with an
increase in the strength of the matrix may also be noted. This
is expected, given the brittle nature of a high-strength matrix.
In those cases where no change in the energy absorption is
reported in going from a lower value of slip to a higher value,
a premature fiber failure at or prior to the lower slip value
may be inferred.
Some bond-slip curves in a high-strength matrix, where
the conditions of premature fiber or matrix failures are high-
lighted, are assembled in Fig. 15. Fiber F1 failed predomi-
nantly under complete pullout, but when inclined at 45 deg
in the high-strength matrix, instances of fiber fracture oc-
curred. These fractures were granular and brittle.
In Fiber F2 (Fig. 15), instances of matrix failure occurred
for some fibers when pulling out at an angle. Fiber F2, given
its crimped geometry, involves a large core of surrounding
concrete in the process of stress transfer. When pulling at an
angle, this fiber places additional concrete under stress,
which increases the possibilities of a premature matrix split.
In particular, if the matrix has a low strain capacity, as in the
case of high-strength concrete, splitting of the matrix be-
comes probable.
ACI Materials Journal / September-October 1994
Fiber F3 fractured in all cases. Its overall energy-absorp-
tion capability, therefore, is inferior to that of the other fibers
that underwent a complete pullout. On the other hand, Fiber
F3 also developed its full load and anchorage at small values
of slip and therefore absorbed greater amounts of energy at
smaller slips. At slips of 1 and 3 mm, Fiber F3 often ab-
sorbed more energy than the other fibers. For applications
where the allowable crack openings are small, Fiber F3 will
have a distinct advantage over Fibers F1 and F2.
The unfavorable effects of matrix strength and fiber incli-
nation on energy absorption were more pronounced for Fiber
F3 than for other fibers (Fig. 10 through 12 and 15). This
may be directly related to the failure of this fiber entirely by
fracture and never by complete pullout, like the other fibers.
CONCLUSIONS
1. For the deformed fibers studied here, the peak loads
supported by fibers that are aligned in the direction of load-
ing are higher than those supported by fibers inclined with
respect to the loading direction. The peak loads for the
aligned fibers also occur at smaller slips than the inclined fi-
bers.
2. Even from an energy-absorption viewpoint, a fiber
aligned with respect to the loading direction absorbs greater
amounts of energy at a certain slip than one that is inclined.
A zero-deg inclination with respect to the loading direction
is, therefore, the optimal inclination.
3. Matrixes with higher strengths, in general, lead to pre-
mature failure conditions in the form of matrix splitting or fi-
ber fractures, and thus incite a brittle response.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The continued financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada is greatly appreciated. Thanks are also due to
Ms. Isabelle Genois and Mr. Marcel Langlois for laboratory assistance.
445
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