• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.319-332
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• 2020

The impacts of reinforcing concrete matrix with steel fibers, polypropylene fibers and recycled plastic fibers using different volume fractions of 0.15%, 0.5%, 1.5% and 2.5% on the compressive and tensile characteristics are experimentally investigated in the current research. Also, flexural behavior of plain concrete (PC) beams, shear performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams and compressive characteristics of both PC and RC columns reinforced with recycled plastic fibers were studied. The experimental results showed that the steel fibers improved the splitting tensile strength of concrete higher than both the polypropylene fibers and recycled plastic fibers. The end-hooked steel fibers had a positive effect on the compressive strength of concrete while, the polypropylene fibers, the recycled plastic fibers and the rounded steel fibers had a negative impact. Compressive strength of end-hooked steel fiber specimen with volume fraction of 2.5% exhibited the highest value among all tested samples of 32.48 MPa, 21.83% higher than the control specimen. The ultimate load, stiffness, ductility and failure patterns of PC and RC beams in addition to PC and RC columns strengthened with recycled plastic fibers enhanced remarkably compared to non-strengthened elements. The maximum ultimate load and stiffness of RC column reinforced with recycled plastic fibers with 1.5% volume fraction improved by 21 and 15%, respectively compared to non-reinforced RC column.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.509-516
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• 2020

Adding fibers improves concrete performance in respect of strength and plasticity. There are numerous fibers for use in concrete that have different mechanical properties, and their combination in concrete changes its behavior. So, to investigate the behavior of the fiber reinforced concrete, an in vitro study was conducted on concrete with different fiber compositions including different ratios of steel, polypropylene and glass fibers with the volume of 1%. Two forms of fibers including single-stranded and aggregated fibers have been used for testing, and the specimens were tested for compressive strength and dividable tensile strength (splitting tensile) to determine the optimal ratio of the composition of fibers in the concrete reinforced by hybrid fibers. The results show that the concrete with a composition of steel fibers has a better performance than other compounds. In addition, by adding glass and propylene fibers to the composition of steel fibers, the strength of the samples is reduced. Also, if using the combination of fibers is required, the use of a combination of glass fibers with steel fibers will provide a better compressive strength and tensile strength than the combination of steel fibers with propylene.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.299-307
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• 2022

Cement-based matrixes have low tensile strength and negligible ductility. Adding fibres to these matrixes will improve their mechanical properties and make these composites suitable for structural applications. Post-cracking tensile strength of steel fibers-reinforced cementitious composite materials is directly related to the number of transverse fibers passing through the crack width and the pulling-out behavior of each of the fibers. Therefore, the exact recognition of the pullout behavior of single fibers is necessary to understand the uniaxial tensile and bending behavior of steel fiber-reinforced concrete. In this paper, an experimental study has been carried out on the pullout behavior of 3D (steel fibers with totally two hooks at both ends), 4D (steel fibers with a total of four hooks at both ends), and 5D (steel fibers with totally six hooks at both ends) in which the fibers have been located either perpendicular to the crack width or in an inclined manner. The pullout behavior of the mentioned steel fibers at an inclination angle of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees and with embedded lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 millimetres is studied in order to explore the simultaneous effect of the inclination angle of the fibers relative to the alongside loading and the embedded length of fibers on the pullout response in each case, including the maximal pullout force, the slip of the maximum point of pullout force, pullout energy, fiber rupture, and concrete matrix spalling. The results showed that the maximum pullout energy in 3D, 4D, and 5D steel fibers with different embedded lengths occurs at 0 to 30° inclination angles. In 5D fibers, maximum pullout energy occurs at a 30° angle with a 25 mm embedded length.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.149-165
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• 2011

In this paper, the effects of both pozzolans and (steel and poly-propylene) fibers on the mechanical properties of roller compacted concrete are studied. Specimens for the experiments were made using a soil-based approach; thus, the Kango's vibration hammer was used for compaction. The tests in the first stage were carried out to determine the optimal moisture requirements for mix designs using cubic $150{\times}150{\times}150$ mm specimens. In the tests of the second stage, the mechanical behaviors of the main specimens made using the optimal moisture obtained in the previous stage were evaluated using 28, 90, and 210 day cubic specimens. The mechanical properties of RCC pavements were evaluated using a soil-based compaction method and the optimum moisture content obtained from the pertaining experiments, and by adding different percentages of Iranian pozzolans as well as different amounts of steel fibers, each one accompanied by 0.1% of poly-propylene fibers. Using pozzolans, maximum increase in compressive strength was observed to occur between 28 and 90 days of age, rupture modulus was found to decrease, but toughness indices did not change considerably. The influence of steel fibers on compressive strength was often more significant than that of PP fibers, but neither steel nor PP fibers did contribute to increase in the rupture modulus independently. Also, the toughness indices increased when steel fibers were used.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.393-405
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• 2022

Lightweight concrete is a superior material due to its light weight and high strength. There however remain significant lacunae in engineering knowledge with regards to shear failure of lightweight fiber reinforced concrete beams. The main aim of the present study is to investigate the optimum usage of steel fibers in lightweight fiber reinforced concrete (LWFRC). Multi-scale finite element model calibrated with experimental results is developed to study the effect of steel fibers on the mechanical properties of LWFRC beams. To decrease the amount of steel fibers, it is preferred to reinforce only the middle section of the LWFRC beams, where the flexural stresses are higher. For numerical simulation, a multi-scale finite element model was developed. The cement matrix was modeled as homogeneous and uniform material and both steel fibers and lightweight coarse aggregates were randomly distributed within the matrix. Considering more realistic assumptions, the bonding between fibers and cement matrix was considered with the Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) and its parameters were determined using the model update method. Furthermore, conformity of Load-Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMOD) curves obtained from numerical modeling and experimental test results of notched beams under center-point loading tests were investigated. Validating the finite element model results with experimental tests, the effects of fibers' volume fraction, and the length of the reinforced middle section, on flexural and residual strengths of LWFRC, were studied. Results indicate that using steel fibers in a specified length of the concrete beam with high flexural stresses, and considerable savings can be achieved in using steel fibers. Reducing the length of the reinforced middle section from 50 to 30 cm in specimens containing 10 kg/m3 of steel fibers, resulting in a considerable decrease of the used steel fibers by four times, whereas only a 7% reduction in bearing capacity was observed. Therefore, determining an appropriate length of the reinforced middle section is an essential parameter in reducing fibers, usage leading to more affordable construction costs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.133-151
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• 2016

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) has been originally developed in Japan to offset a growing shortage of skilled labors, is a highly workable concrete, which is not needed to any vibration or impact during casting. The utilizing of fibers in SCC improves the mechanical properties and durability of hardened concrete such as impact strength, flexural strength, and vulnerability to cracking. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the effect of steel fibers on mechanical performance of traditionally reinforced Self-Competing Concrete beams. In this study, two mixes Mix 1% and Mix 2% containing 1% and 2% volume friction of superplasticizer are considered. For each type of mixture, four different volume percentages of 60/30 (length/diameter) fibers of 0.0%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2% were used. The mechanical properties were determined through compressive and flexural tests. According to the experimental test results, an increase in the steel fibers volume fraction in Mix 1% and Mix 2% improves compressive strength slightly but decreases the workability and other rheological properties of SCC. On the other hand, results revealed that flexural strength, energy absorption capacity and toughness are increased by increasing the steel fiber volume fraction. The results clearly show that the use of fibers improves the post-cracking behavior. The average spacing of between cracks decrease by increasing the fiber volume fraction. Furthermore, fibers increase the tensile strength by bridging actions through the cracks. Therefore, steel fibers increase the ductility and energy absorption capacity of RC elements subjected to flexure.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2020

Today, the use of special technologies in the admixture of concrete has made tremendous progress, but the problem that has always existed in the construction of concrete members is the brittleness and lack of loading bearing after cracking, which leads to reduced strength and energy absorption. One of the best ways to fix this is to reinforce the concrete with steel fibers. Steel fibers also control cracks due to dry shrinkage, reduce structural crack width, and improve impact resistance. In this study, recycled steel fibers from worn tires have been used in the manufacture of concrete samples, the secondary benefits of which are the reduction of environmental pollution. One of the disadvantages of steel fiber reinforced concrete is the corrosion of steel fibers and their deterioration in harsh environments such as coastal areas. Corrosion caused by chlorine ions in metal fibers causes deterioration and early decommissioning of structures in corrosive environments. In this study, the effect of the dosage of steel fibers (dosages of 15, 30, and 45 kg of fibers per cubic meter of concrete) and aspect ratio of fibers (aspect ratio of 25 and 50) on compressive and flexural strength of concrete samples are investigated. In the following, the effect of fiber corrosion on the results of the mechanical properties of concrete samples is examined. The results show that the increase in fiber causes a relative increase in compressive strength, and a significant increase in flexural strength, and corrosion of steel fibers without reducing workability reduces compressive strength and flexural strength by up to 6 to 11%, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.365-372
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• 1997

This study is aimed for manufacturing a High performance Concrete(HPC) Pile as using steel fibers, investigation the mechanical properties of HPC Pile and proposition the potential application. At this study. We found that mechanical properties(cracking moment and fracture moment) of Pretensioned spun High strength Concrete (PHC) Pile using steel fibers is much superior to without steel fibers. Therefore. we think that using steel fibers in Concrete Pile is to progress flexural strength energy absorption capacity and post-cracking resistance.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.513-525
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• 2019

In this work, an experimental research has been performed on Steel Fiber-Steel Reinforced Concrete (SFSRC)specimens subjected to four-point bending tests to evaluate the feasibility of mutual replacement of steel fibers and conventional reinforcement through studying failure modes, load-deflection curves, stiffness of characteristic points, stiffness degradation curves and damage analysis. The variables considered in this experiment included steel fiber volume percentage with and without conventional reinforcements (stirrups or steel fibers) with shear span depth ratios of S/D=2.5 and 3.5. Experimental results revealed that increasing the volume percentage of steel fiber decreased the creation and propagation of shear and bond cracks, just like shortening the stirrups spacing. Higher crack resistance and suturing ability of steel fiber can improve the stability of its bearing capacity. Both steel fibers and stirrups improved the stiffness and damage resistance of specimens where stirrups played an essential role and therefore, the influence of steel fibers was greatly weakened. Increasing S/D ratio also weakened the effect of steel fibers. An equation was derived to calculate the bending stiffness of SFSRC specimens, which was used to determine mid span deflection; the accuracy of the proposed equation was proved by comparing predicted and experimental results.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.49-52
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• 2004

In this studies, Dapped End Beams(DEB) having disturbed regions were designed by using strut tie model, and the main purpose of this paper is that whether T-headed bars and Steel fibers will be present or not. The ability of DEB with T-headed bars have a superior performance rather than others, such as improved ductility, larger energy adsorption and enhanced post-peak load carrying capability. The capacity of DEB with steel fibers also show increase of ductility, shear strength, fatigue strength and crack. Each DEB with both headed bars and steel fibers, headed bars, and steel fibers as a substitute reinforced steel in the disturbed regions and a DEB with only stirrup and tie reinforced steel were comparable. In contrast, the headed bar stirrups, the tie headed bars and the reinforced steel fibers did not lose their anchorage and hence were able to develop strain hardening and also served to delay buckling of the flexural compression steel. Excellent load-deflection predictions were obtained by increasing the tension stiffening effect to account for high load effects.