In this paper, the synergistic flexural behaviors of high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) under static and cyclic loading were experimentally investigated. The HPFRCs were composed of an identical mortar matrix but different embedded fiber types and contents as follows: HPFRC0 (no fiber, 0.0% by volume), HPFRC1 (macro steel fiber, 1.5% by volume), HPFRC2 (micro steel fiber, 1.5% by volume), and HPFRC3 (hybrid fiber, 1.0% by volume macro steel fiber blended with 0.5% by volume micro steel fiber). All flexural specimens with the dimensions of were tested under static and cyclic loading using a three-point bending fixture. The HPFRCs with embedded fibers demonstrated the clear enhancements in static flexural resistances of up to 3.54 times higher in flexural strength and 2.16 times higher in deflection capacity in comparison with the plain HPFRC. Under cyclic loading, the fatigue stress ratio, defined as the ratio of the fatigue stress amplitude to the static flexural strength, was changed to perform the fatigue behaviors of the HPFRCs. The endurance limits of the HPFRCs were observed more than 10,000 cycles at the fatigue stress ratio of 0.15, and exceeded 1,000 cycles at the fatigue stress ratio of 0.5. The order of the HPFRC series in terms of static flexural strength, static deflection capacity and fatigue life at the stress amplitudes more than 5 MPa were as follows: HPFRC3 > HPFRC2 > HPFRC1 > HPFRC0. A synergy behavior of the HPFRCs was observed for static flexural strength, static deflection capacity, and fatigue life with the stress amplitude more than 5 MPa. In addition, two models of the fatigue responses of the HPFRCs were built to predict the fatigue life of the HPFRCs according to applied cyclic load.
The compressive characteristics of the steel-slag concrete were investigated through an experimental test. The term “steel-slag concrete” in this research work was defined as a kind of concrete using steel-slag material as a coarse aggregate replacement. Three types of the steel-slag concretes were examined under compression as follows: XT01, XT02, XT03 with their cement/water ratios of 1.76, 2.00, 2.21, respectively. The coarse aggregate used in producing concrete was steel-slag material, while the fine aggregate was traditional river sand; the ratio of coarse aggregate to fine aggregate was kept constant at a value of 1.98. Firstly, the age-dependent compressive strength of the steel-slag concretes were investigated up to one year; it was clear that the concrete strength increased rapidly in 7 days, then more and more slowly after that. Secondly, the modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio of the steel-slag concretes were explored at the 28-day age. Thirdly, there was an important size and shape effect on the compressive strength of the XT02, and its significance of brittleness in failure was analytically analyzed. Lastly, the effects of water amount added in the XT02 on its compressive strength and slump were evaluated at the 28-day age.
7 February 2024 in Asian Journal of Civil Engineering