Title: Fiber Reinforced High Strength Concrete: Evaluation fo Failure Mechanism

Author(s): G. Giaccio and R. Zerbino

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 207

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 69-90

Keywords: compression; flexure; high performance concrete; high temperature; steel fibers; toughness

DOI: 10.14359/12383

Date: 10/7/2002

Abstract:
The use of high strength concrete has increased progressively over the past years not only for benefits of strength but also for significant improvements in service life. Nevertheless increases in strenght lead to a more brittle behavior of the material. Steel fiber reinforcement is probably the best way to improve its performance when higher toughness is required. This paper discusses the contribution of fiber reinforcement in high strength concretes. Load-deformation curves under compressive and flexural loads of concretes prepared with different types and contents of fibers are compared. The behavior of sound and microcreacked concretes exposed to high temperatures is also studied. The effect of fiber reinforcement on the compressive behavior of high performance concrete was similar to that observed on normal concrete. Fibers incorporation enhance crack control and produced significant benefits in toughness. Flexure tests performed on fiber reinforced concretes were very stable. It was possible to use different specimens sizes and loading configurations to evalute the effct of the type and content of fibers. There were some improvements when high carbon steel fibers were employeed.