The compressive strength of normal strength concrete at elevated temperatures up to 700^∘C and the effect of cooling regimes were investigated and compared in this study. Thus, two different mixture groups with initial strengths of 20 and 35 MPa were produced by using river sand, normal aggregate and portland cement. Thirteen different temperature values were chosen from 50 to 700^∘C. The specimens were heated for 3 h at each temperature. After heating, concretes were cooled to room temperature either in water rapidly or in laboratory conditions gradually. The residual strengths were determined by an axial compressive strength test. Strength and unit weight losses were compared with the initial values. Throughout this study, ASTM and Turkish Standards were used. It was observed that concrete properties deteriorated with the heat; however, a small increase in strength was observed from 50 to 100^∘C. Strength loss was more significant on the specimens rapidly cooled in water. Both concrete mixtures lost a significant part of their initial strength when the temperature reached 700^∘C. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SIFCON (Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Reinforced Concrete) is a composite which occur hardening of the matrix phase, consists of cement, water, mineral additives, fine sand, water reducing plasticizer, and reinforced with high volume fiber (5–20%). The main difference from the high strength concrete (HSC) is the ductile behaviour at failure. However, the brittleness increases with the strength increase in HSC, SIFCON has a ductile behaviour because of the high volume fiber content, low permeability, high durability. Despite fiber content is 2-3% in fiber reinforced concrete, fiber content may be ten times more in SIFCON and ductility is gained. This concrete is suggested to be used in military buildings against explosion, industrial grounds, airports, and bridge feet. In this study, in order to investigate the compressive and flexural strengths of SIFCON, the aspect ratio and fiber volume of steel fibers were chosen as variable and the effects of these parameters on compressive and flexural strengths were investigated. In the study, steel fibers with aspect ratio of 40, 55, 65, and 80 were used in 0, 4, 8 and 12% ratios. The water/binder ratio was kept constant at 0.35. Silica fume is used 10% and water-reducing plasticizer is used 1.5% of cement by weight. 7 and 28 days cured samples were subjected to compressive and flexural tests and the results were compared. As a result of the tests carried out, increases in both the compressive and flexural strengths of SIFCON specimens were determined with increasing fiber volume up to 8%. Strength reductions were observed at higher ratios. In cases where the fiber volume is too high, it has been seen that the strengths were decreased. The reason of strength reduction can be explained by the difficulty of passing ability of mortar between the fibers. The highest strengths were obtained from fibers with the aspect ratio of 80. Increase in the aspect ratio as well as increases in compressive and flexural strengths have been found.

In this study, the effects of different fibre types on the workability and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete were investigated. Fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete, different fibre content 0.90, 1.35 and 1.80 kg/m3 were evaluated using basalt, polypropylene and macro synthetic fibres with different fibre lengths of 24, 19 and 40 mm, respectively. The properties of fresh concrete were evaluated in terms of slump flowing, viscosity and flowability. In addition, compressive, flexural and splitting tensile strength were obtained from hardened concrete properties. To characterize mechanical properties 90 specimens were experimentally tested. The results show that the use of fibre reduces the workability of self-compacting concrete. On the other hand, tensile and flexural strength of the self-compacting fibre reinforced concrete increased with increasing fibre content, but it was determined that the fibre addition had no significant effect on the compressive strength.