EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF STEEL FIBER

REINFORCED CONCETRE
1
P.KOWSALYA,2N.JETLY,3J.JANANI
123
UG Student Department of CivilEngineering, Loyola Institute of Technology,

Chennai-600123,

Tamil Nadu,India

Email:[email protected],[email protected],[email protected]

ABSTRACT:
This paper deals with experimental investigation of steel fiber reinforced concrete for
M25 grade having mix proportion of 1:1:2 with 0.5 water cement ratio to study the
compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete
(SFRC) containing fibers of 0.5% volume fraction of hook end steel fiber of 50 aspect ratio
were used. A result data obtained has been analyzed and relationship between compressive
strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength vs days represented graphically.

Keywords: steel fiber reinforced concrete, compressive strength, split tensile strength,
flexural strength.

1. INTRODUCTION: 2002). Since then, the use of SFRC has

gathered great interest, with research
Fiber reinforcement concrete can be demonstrating the potential benefits that
defined as composite material consisting may lie in the use of the material in both
of mixture of cement, mortar or concrete structural and non-structural applications.
and discontinues, discrete, uniformly
dispersed suitable fiber, continuous Objective
meshes, woven fabrics and long wires or
rods are not considered to the fibers. To investigate the properties of steel fiber
reinforced concrete experimentally with
Definition of SFRC the following test results

steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is a  compressive strength

composite material whose components  split tensile strength
include the traditional constituents of  flexural strength
Portland cement concrete (hydration
II. LITERATURE REVIEW:
cement, fine and coarse aggregate,
admixture..) and a dispersion of randomly Vengatachalapathy.V, IIangovan.R
oriented short discrete steelfibers. The (2010), this experimental study deals with
development of steel fibers reinforced the behavior and ultimate strength of steel
concretes began in the early 1960s (Li,
fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) deep has been found that there is significant
beams with and without strength improvement in steel fiber
reinforced concrete. The optimum fiber
Openings in web subjected to two-point content while studying the compressive
loadings, nine concrete deep beams of strength of cube is found to be 1% and
dimensions 750mm×350mm×75mm 0.75% for flexural strength of the beam.
thickness were tested to destruction by Also, it has been observed that with the
applying gradually increased load. Simply increases the strength in fiber content up to
supported conditions were maintained for the optimum value increases the strength
all the concrete deep beams. The of concrete. Slump cone test results
percentage of steel fiber was varied from 0 revealed that workability gets reduced with
to 1.0.The influence of fiber content in the increase in increase in fiber content.
concrete deep beams has been studied by
measuring the deflection of the deep A.M. Shende, A.M.Pande,
beams and by observing the cracks M.GulfamPathan,(2012), critical
patterns. The investigation also includes investigation for M-40 grade of concrete
the study of steel fiber reinforced concrete having mix proportion 1:1.43:3.04 with
deep beams with web reinforcement with water cement ratio 0.35 to study the
and without openings. The ultimate loads compressive strength, split tensile
obtained by applying the modified Kong strength, flexural strength of steel fiber
and sharp’s formula of deep beams are reinforced concrete (SFRC) containing
compared with the experimental values. fibers of 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% volume of
The above study indicates that the location fraction. Steel fibers of 50, 60 and 67
of openings and the amount of web aspect ratio were used. A result data
reinforcement are the principal parameter obtained has been analyzed and compared
that affects the behavior and strength of with a control specimen (0% fiber). A
deep beams. relationship between aspect ratio vs.
compressive strength, flexural strength
MilindV. Mohod, (2012), in this paper split aspect ratio vs. split tensile strength,
effect of fiber on the strength of concrete represented graphically. Result data clearly
for M30 grade have been studied by shows percentage increases in 28 days
varying the percentage of fiber in concrete. compressive strength, flexural strength and
Fiber content was varied by 0.25%, 0.50%, split tensile strength for M-40 grade of
0.75%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% by volume of concrete.
cement. Cubes of size 150mm
×150mm×150mm to check the Khadahe S.N.Konapure C.G.(2012) this
compressive strength and beams of size paper deals with investigation for M-25
500mm×100mm×100mm for checking grade of concrete having mix proportion
flexural strength was casted. All the 1:1.50:3.17 with water cement ratio 0.465
specimens were cured for the period of to study the compressive strength and
3,7,28 days before crushing. The results if flexural strength of steel fiber reinforced
fiber reinforcement concrete for 3 days, concrete (SFRC) containing fibers of an
7days, 28 days curing with varied interval of 0.5% from 0.0% to 1.5%
percentage of fibers were studied and it volume fraction of hook end steel fibers of
71 aspect ratio were used. The percentage  Steel fiber: In this
of fly ash by weight is to be increased by experimentation, Hook end steel fibers
10% from 0.0% to 30%. After curing this were used. The steel fibers with 50 aspect
specimen were tested as per relevant codes ratio, its 50mm length and 1mm diameter
of practice Bureau of Indian Standard. A adopted.
result data obtained has been analyzed and
compared with a control specimen. A
relationship between compressive strength CONCRETE MIX PROPORTIONS
vs. days, and flexural strength vs. days Concrete for M25 grade were prepared as
represented graphically. Result data clearly per IS-10262:2009, a mix proportion of
shows percentage increase in 7, 28 & 45 1:1:2 with 0.5 water cement ratio to get a
days compressive strength for M-25 grade characteristic strength of M25 was
of concrete. considered for this study.
III. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM: DETAILS OF SPECIMENS:
METHODOLOGY Cube, cylinder, beam casting for using
M25 grade of concrete
 Collection of materials
 Finding of material properties Table2. Specimen’s details
 Casting, curing of specimens
Cement 206.73 kg
 Testing of specimens
 Results and discussion Fine aggregate 206.73 kg

MATERIAL USED: Coarse aggregate 413.53 kg

Water 103.39 liters
In coarse aggregate, water and steel fibers
were used. this experimental study, Steel fibers 0.5% by volume of
cement, sand, concrete

 Cement: ordinary Portland cement

of 53 grade was used in this MIXING OF CONCRETE
experimentation conforming to LS-8112- The concrete shall be mixed by hand, or
1989. preferably in laboratory batch mixer, in such a
manner as to avoid loss of water or other
 Fine aggregate: locally available material. Each mix of concrete shall be such a
sand zone II 2.27, fineness modulus , size as to leave about 10% excess after
conforming to IS. 383-1970. molding the desired number of test specimens.
The proportion of the determining the
 Coarse aggregate: crushed stone suitability of the material available shall be
of 20mm size having specific gravity 2.15 similar in all respects to those to be employed
conforming code book IS 393-1970. in the work where the proportions of the
ingredients of the concrete as used on the site
 Water: portable water was used to be specified by volume, they shall be
for the experimentation. calculated from the proportions be weight
used in the test specimen and the unit weights IV. TEST CONDUCTED ON HARDENED
of the materials. CONCRETE:

a. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

CASTING OF SPECIMENS The compressive test was conducted on cube

specimens cured for 7, 14 & 28 days, the test
The materials were weighed accurately using a cubes were removed from the moist storage 24
digital weighing instrument. For plain hours before testing. The top and bottom
concrete, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, bearing plates of the compressive testing
cement, water were added to the mixture machine were wiped and cleaned before the
machine and mixed thoroughly for three placement of the specimen. Cube mould size
minutes. Steel fibers were mechanically 150×150×150 mm were casted and allowed
sprinkled inside the mixture machine after for curing in a curing tank for 28 days. The
through mixing of the ingredient of concrete. compressive strength testing was calculated as
For preparing the specimen for compressive, follows:
tensile and flexural strength permanent steel
moulds were used before mixing the concrete Compressive strength (MPa) = failure load
the moulds were used before mixing the /cross sectional area.
concrete the moulds were kept ready and
properly oiled at sides and bottom for easy
demoulding.

CURING b. TENSILE STRENGTH TEST

The test specimens shall be stored in a place For tensile strength test, cylinder specimens of
away from vibration in moist air or 90% dimension 150 mm diameter and 300 mm
relative humidity and at a temperature of length were cast. The specimens were
27±½ hours from the time of addition of water demoulded after 24 hours of casting and were
to dry ingredients. After this period, the transferred to curing tank where in they
specimen shall be marked and removed from allowed to cure for 7, 14 & 28 days. These
the moulds and unless required for the test specimens were tested under compressive
within 24 hours, immediately submerged in testing machine. In each category, three
clean, fresh water of saturated lime. cylinders were tested and their average value
is reported.
Tensile strength was calculated as follows as  compressive strength
split tensile strength:  split tensile strength
Tensile strength (MPa) = 2P / π DL  flexural strength
where, P = failure load
D = diameter of cylinder, L COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH:
= length of cylinder The compressive strength of cube specimen is
checked after 7, 14 & 28 days in compressive
testing machine (CTM)

Table3. Compressive strength of concrete

cube

AGE OF COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (MPa)

CONCRETE N/mm2

2.5% 3% 3.5% 4% 4.5% 5%

7 DAYS 35.1 35.6 36 40.4 39.1 38.2
14 DAYS 37.2 37.7 38.2 42.8 41.45 40.49

c. FLEXURAL STRENGTH TEST

SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH
The flexural strength of concrete bean was
determined based on IS: 516 – 1959. Beam The split tensile strength of cylindrical
specimens of size 1200mm × 150mm × specimen is checked after 7, 14, 28 days in
200mm were casted. Beams are tested for compressive testing machine (CTM)
flexural strength by using 50T capacity
loading frame. The specimen were placed with FLEXURAL STRENGTH
the clear span of loads are applied over it.
Flexural test of the beam specimen is checked
after 28 days. The flexural strength represents
the highest stress experienced within the
material at its moment of yield. It is measured
in terms of stress

VI. MODES OF FAILURE

V. RESULT & DISCUSSION While loading the beams under loading
frame, cracks are developed on the beam
Hardened concrete: surface were in the pure tensile zone.
When the load is keep on increased the
The properties of hardened concrete test existing cracks are propagated and new
specimens are checked by cracks developed along the span. The
flexural cracks gave way to inclined cracks [5]. Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete
due to the effect of shear force. The Abdul Ghaffar,Amit S.
spacing of cracks varied along the span. A Chavhan,Dr.R.S.Tatwawadi International
few cracks appeared in the flexural zones Journal of Engineering Trends and
of the concrete at initial loads. Then the Technology (IJETT) – Volume 9 Number
cracks get widened as the loads increased. 15 - Mar 2014 pp 791-797
The crack width at mid span zone is [6]. Experimental Study on Strength
considerably increased at failure loads. As Properties of Steel fibre Reinforced
well as, the deflection also increased Concrete, Sanaullah, Yousuf Ismail,
significantly. The failure pattern of the Subanallah, Touseef Ahmed,Prof
beam specimens was found to be similar Sachin,,R. Kulkarni. IJSRD - International
Journal for Scientific Research &
VII. CONCLUSION Development Vol. 3, Issue 04, 2015 pp—
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increases the compressive strength of [7]. Study on Compressive Behavior of
concrete marginally. Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Nagananda. V, Dr. J.K. Dattatreya,
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tensile properties of concrete and improves Environmental TechnologyPrint ISSN:
resistance to cracking. 2349-8404; Online ISSN : 2349-879X;
Volume 2, Number 11; April – June, 2015
3. Addition of steel fiber increases the pp 37 – 40
flexural strength. [8]. Experimental study and prediction of
tensile strength for steel fiber reinforced
4. Increase the volume of fraction of fiber concrete Shende.A.M. Pande.A.M
and get good strength. International Journal of Civil And
Stuctural Engineering Volume 1, No 4,
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