EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON STEEL FIBER REINFORCED

SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE WITH SILICA FUME

AS FILLER MATERIAL

B H V Pai*, Manipal University, India

Sujith Kumar C.P, Manipal University, India

34th Conference on OUR WORLD IN CONCRETE & STRUCTURES: 16 - 18 August 2009, Singapore

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 34th Conference on OUR WORLD IN CONCRETE & STRUCTURES: 16 18 August 2009, Singapore

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON STEEL FIBER REINFORCED

SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE WITH SILICA FUME
AS FILLER MATERIAL

B H V Pai*, Manipal University, India

Sujith Kumar C.P, Manipal University, India

Abstract

In this paper an attempt is made to present the results of an experimental

investigation carried out on high performance steel fiber reinforced self compacting
concrete (SFRSCC). While silica fume was used as the filler material, thin strands of
steel served as fibers. Fiber content was varied from 0 to 5% at intervals of 1% by
weight of cement. Effect of the addition of these fibers on the various strengths of
concrete was studied. The strengths considered for investigation are compressive
strength, flexural strength and split tensile strength. Cubes of size 150 mm for
compressive strength; beams of size 100 mm x 100 mm x 500 mm for flexural
strength; cylinders of 150mm diameter and 300mm length for split tensile strength,
were used as specimens. All the specimens were water cured for 28 days and tested
subsequently. From the experimental study it was found that the compressive
strength of concrete at 28 days shows a peak value of 80.44 MPa at w/c ratio of
0.34, with 7.5% silica fume dosage, 0.6% super plasticizer and 4 % steel fibers, all
by weight of cement.

Keywords: Self compacting concrete (SCC), Silica fumes, Steel fibers, Super plasticizer

1. Introduction

The present day civil engineering constructions have their own structural and durability requirements
related with concrete to better suit the intended function of the structure. It is therefore necessary to
develop self compacting concrete of special properties, so that the structures continue to perform their
intended purpose. Ordinary self compacting concrete possesses low tensile strength, limited ductility
and little resistance to cracking. Internal micro-cracks are inherently present in the concrete and its
poor tensile strength is due to propagation of such micro-cracks, leading to brittle failure of concrete.
As the strength of concrete increases, its brittleness also increases. This weakness can be
considerably overcome by the inclusion of steel fibers in the concrete mix. These fibers help to arrest
the propagation of cracks, thus improving the tensile strength of concrete. Super plasticizer is added
to reduce the water cement ratio. A decrease in water cement ratio substantially increases the
compressive strength of SCC. In the present work the effect of steel fibers on high performance SCC
and on various strength of concrete are investigated and test results obtained are presented. Steel
fibers are one of the most commonly used fibers. Generally, round fibers are used. The diameter may
vary from 0.25 to 1.00 mm. The steel fibers are likely to get rusted and lose some of its strength. But
investigations have shown that the rusting of the fibers takes place only at the surface. Use of steel
fibers makes significant improvements in the strength characteristics of self compacting concrete.
SCC has been extensively used in various types of structures, particularly for overlays of roads,
airfield pavements and bridge decks. Thin shells and plates have also been constructed. In the past,
attempts have been made to impart improvement in tensile properties of concrete members by way of
using conventional reinforced steel bars and also by applying restraining techniques. Although both
these methods provide tensile strength to the concrete members, they however do not increase the
inherent tensile strength of concrete itself.
In plain self compacting concrete and similar brittle materials, structural cracks (micro-cracks) that
develop even before loading, particularly due to drying shrinkage, cause volume change. The width of
these initial cracks seldom exceeds a few micros, but their other two dimensions may be of higher
magnitude. When loaded, the micro cracks propagate and open up, and owing to the effect of stress
concentration, additional cracks form in places of minor defects. The structural cracks proceed slowly
or by tiny jumps owing to the various obstacles that retard them. The development of such micro-
cracks is the main cause of inelastic deformations in concrete. As such it becomes imperative for
researchers to explore ways and means to overcome this inherent shortcoming in concrete.

2. Ingredients Used

Cement
The cement used in the present study is 43 Grade Ordinary Portland Cement, and the strength
targeted was greater than 30 MPa.

Silica fume
The silica fume used in the mixes had a specific gravity of 2.2, a product from FOSROC, India.

Fine Aggregates
The sand used was river sand with specific gravity of 2.61, and an absorption capacity of 0.03%.

Coarse Aggregate
The coarse aggregates, obtained from a local source, had a specific gravity of 2.64 for 20 mm down
aggregates, and 2.67 for 10 mm down aggregates.

Admixtures
The admixtures used for the trial mixes in the current programme were obtained from the
manufacturers M/S FOSROC, India.
The admixtures were: Structuro 100 as water reducing admixture, and Structuro 480 as viscosity
modifying admixture.

Steel fibers
Cross section of the steel fibers used was circular with a diameter of 1mm; the fibers were straight
without any anchorage at the edges. They were obtained from cutting the locally available binding
wire with length 50mm, and hence maintaining an aspect ratio of 50 through out the work.

3. Mix Design

Mix Proportioning Method

The total cementatious material in the mix was kept constant (about 520 kg/m3). Of this, silica fume
was added by percentage by weight of cement. The total water to be added was calculated keeping a
fixed water to cement ratio (say 0.34) and making necessary corrections for the moisture content and
the water absorption of the aggregates available. For calculating the amount of aggregates the
Absolute Volume Method was adopted, details of which are given below:
Assume the ratio of fine aggregate to coarse aggregate as 40: 55 (FA: CA).
Therefore,
Total volume of aggregates = 1000 - volume of air - total water - {weight of cement / specific gravity}
- {weight of silica fume / specific gravity}

Weight of fine aggregates = 0.40 x total aggregate volume x specific gravity of sand.
Weight of coarse aggregates = 0.55 x total aggregate volume x specific gravity of coarse aggregates.
The dosage of the water-reducing admixture is kept as per the specification of the manufacture or is
determined using the Marsh Cone method. The viscosity-modifying admixture dosage is adjusted by
visual judgment.

4. Test Methods

4.1 Tests on Fresh Concrete

Many different test methods have been developed in attempts to characterize the properties of SCC.
So far no single method or combination of methods has received universal approval and most of them
have their own adherents.
For the present study only the Slump flow, T50, L- Box (T20 and T40), and U- Box tests have been
performed for evaluating properties of fresh SCC as given in EFNARC and Brite EuRam guidelines.

Table 1: Different Mix proportions

Trial Cement Fine Coarse Aggregate Silica Steel Water S.P V.M.A
3 3
No. (kg/m ) Agg. Agg. size Fume fibers (kg/m ) (% by (% by
3 3
(kg/m ) (kg/m ) (mm) (% by (% by wt) wt)
50:50 wt) wt)

1 580 742.4 817.8 20,10 0 0 197.2 0.6 0.2

2 572 742.4 817.8 20,10 7.5 0 199.4 0.6 0.2
3 572 742.4 817.8 20,10 7.5 1 199.4 0.6 0.2
4 572 742.4 817.8 20,10 7.5 2 199.4 0.6 0.2
5 572 742.4 817.8 20,10 7.5 3 199.4 0.6 0.2
6 572 742.4 817.8 20,10 7.5 4 199.4 0.6 0.2
7 572 742.4 817.8 20,10 7.5 5 199.4 0.6 0.2

Table 2: Test results on fresh concrete

Trial No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Slump flow
755 770 750 750 745 730 710
(mm)
T50 Slump
1.5 1.3 1.7 1.6 2 2.3 2.5
flow (s)
L-Box
H2/HI 0.85 0.85 0.75 0.85 0.8 0.75 0.7
T20 ( s) 2.7 2.6 2.9 2.6 2.8 2.9 3
T40 (s) 3.95 4.3 4.75 3.94 4.4 4.7 5.2
U-Box
H2-H1 20 17 22 16 20 22 25
V Funnel (s) 14 12 16 13 15 16 16
T 5minutes 16 15.5 18 16 18.5 19 19
 Table 3: Result of trials
Trial. No Results

1 SCC achieved.

2 SCC achieved.

3 SCC achieved.

4 SCC achieved, but little bit difficulty for passing ability.

5 SCC achieved, but little bit difficulty for passing ability.

6 SCC achieved, but little bit difficulty for passing ability.

7 SCC achieved, tests are not satisfactory, especially vfunnel.

4.2 Tests on Hardened Concrete

The following tests were carried out on the hardened concrete specimens. The testing procedure
conformed to the relevant Indian Standard Codes.

Compressive Strength Test

Uniaxial compressive strength testing was carried out on 150 x 150 x 150 mm concrete cube
specimens.

Split Tension Strength

The split tension test was carried out on concrete cylinders of 150mm diameter and 300 mm length.
Flexural Test on Concrete
Flexural test was carried out on concrete beams of size 100 x 100 x 500mm.

4.2.1 Test results on hardened concrete:

Table 4: Compressive Strength test results at 7.5% silica fume

Steel fiber 7days 21days 28days
dosage (%) (MPa) (MPa) (MPa)
0.0 52.88 53.55 58.22
1 59.35 63.5 64.72
2.0 60.22 62.88 70.35
3.0 60.22 64.0 76.0
4.0 62.0 73.55 80.44
5.0 60.0 64.44 73.33
 Table 5: Flexural Strength test results at 7.5% silica fume
Steel fiber 7days 21days 28days
dosage (%) (MPa) (MPa) (MPa)
0.0 9.9 11.0 12.0
1 9.9 12.7 13.25
2.0 10.30 13.5 14.05
3.0 10.5 15.75 17.0
4.0 10.8 15.1 15.6

Table 6: Split Tensile Strength results at 7.5% silica fume

Steel fiber 7days 21days 28days
dosage (%) (MPa) (MPa) (MPa)
0.0 2.97 3.36 3.42
1 2.97 3.46 3.59
2.0 3.0 3.77 3.79
3.0 3.11 4.18 4.26
4.0 3.44 4.27 4.47
5.0 3.31 3.96 4.17

Compressive Strength Test results

2 8 da y s c om pre s s iv e s tre ngth(M pa )

65 64
90 80.44
64 76 73.33
62.44 62.66 80 70.35
64.72
2 8 d a y s c o m p r e s s iv e

63
70 58.22
62
s tr e n g th (M p a )

60.53 60
61
50
60 28days 28days
58.22 40
59
30
58
20
57
10
56
0
55
0 1 2 3 4 5
0 2.5 5 7.5 10
Dosage of steel fibre by weight of
Dosage of silica fume(%) cement(%)

Figure 1: 28days compressive strength v/s Figure 2: 28days compressive strength v/s
dosage of silica fume. dosage of steel fibers
 90

80

70

60

50 7d ays
2 1d ays
40 2 8 d ays

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
D o s a g e o f s t e e l f i b r e ( %)

Figure 3: Compressive Strength v/s dosage of steel fibers (%)

Flexural Strength Test results

18
16
Flexural Strength(Mpa)

14
12
7days
10
21days
8
28days
6
4
2
0
0 1 2 3 4
Dosage of steel fibres(%)

Figure 4: Flexural strength v/s dosage of steel fibers (%)

Split Tensile Strength Test results

5
4.5
split tensile strength(M pa)

4
3.5
3 7days
2.5 21days
2 28days
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Dosage of steel fibre(%)

Figure 5: Split Tensile Strength v/s dosage of steel fibers (%)

5. Discussion of Test Results

Results from the tests on fresh SFRSCC (Table 1 through Table 3) indicate that the workability of the
mix reduces with increase in the fiber content as compared to plain self compacting concrete. The
maximum decrease in slump is observed at 5% fiber content.
The results of compressive strength tests presented in Table 4 show that the compressive strength
increases with the increase in the fiber content. The maximum compressive strength achieved is
80.44MPa at 4.0 % fiber content and 7.5% silica fumes. The increase in strength is directly
proportional to the fiber content.
From the results of flexural strength tests on SFRSCC shown in Table 5, it may be observed that the
flexural strength increases with increase in the fiber content up to 3%, the maximum value achieved
being 17MPa.
From the split tensile strength test results it may be noted that the maximum value attained was
4.47 MPa, when the mix contained 7.5 % silica fumes and 4% steel fibers. Any further increase in
steel fibers decreased the split tensile strength, as seen in Table 6.

6. Conclusions

The even dispersion of steel strands has proven that it is possible to develop steel fiber reinforced self
compacting concrete without any significant detrimental effects to its workability. The SFRSCC mix
developed has satisfied all the requirements of self compact ability and has exhibited a maximum
compressive strength of 80.44 MPa at 28 days, with a fiber content of 4%. SFRSCC is likely to
experience some resistance to passing ability when used in structures having congested
reinforcement. In general, significant improvements in various strengths are observed with the
inclusion of steel fibers and silica fumes in the mix. However it appears that maximum gain in strength
of SFRSCC is found to depend on the fiber content and optimum dosage of silica fume.

7. Reference

1. Baquan Miao, Jenn-chuan chem and chen An yang, Effect of steel fibers on the strength of
high performance self compacting concrete, Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers,
vol-26, No-4, pp-523-530(2003).

2. N.Ganeshan and T.Shekar, Effect of microsilica and steel fibers on the strength of high
performance concrete composites, Journal of Structural Engineering, vol-33, No-3, August-
September 2006, pages 225 to 229

3. Robert Lewis, Ensuring long-term durability with high performance microsilica, The Indian
concrete journal, vol-75, No-10 October 2001, Pages 621 to 626.

4. D.L. Venkatesh Babu and S.C.Nateshan, Some investigations on silica fume concrete,The
Indian Concrete Journal, vol-78, No-09, September 2004, pages 57 to 60.

5. E.B. Pereira1, J.A.O. Barros 1, V.M.C.F. Cunha 1 and S.P.F. Santos 2, Comparison and
bending behaviour of steel fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete, University of Minho,
Portugal, Civitest Company, Portugal.

6. B. Miloud, Laboratory of Geomaterials & Development Civil Engineering Department, Msila

University, Algeria,Permeability and porosity characterstics of steel fiber reinforced concrete,
Asian Journal of civil engineering (Building and housing) vol. 6, no. 4 (2005) pages 317-330.

7. EFNARC, Specification and guidelines for self-compacting concrete, February

2002.www.efnarc.org.

8. BRITE EURAM, Specification and guidelines for self-compacting concrete.

9. IS:2836 -1963(Part I-VI), Method of test for aggregates for concrete, B.I.S., New Delhi.
10. IS: 383-1970, Specification for coarse and fine aggregates from natural sources for concrete,
B.I.S., New Delhi.

11. IS:516-1959, Methods for test of strength of concrete, B.I.S., New Delhi.

12. Ozawa, K., Maekawa, K., Kunishma, M. and Okamura, H. (1989) Performance of concrete
based on the durability design of concrete structures, Proceedings of the Second East Asia-
Pacific Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction.