The Effects of Steel Fibre on the Mechanical Strength and Durability of Steel Fibre Reinforced High Strength Concrete (SFRHSC) Subjected to Normal and Hygrothermal Curing

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental investigation into the mechanical strength and durability of steel fibre high strength concrete (SFHSC). In the experimental investigation, the properties of the steel fibre high strength concrete were assessed through two types of curing regimes, the normal water curing and the hygrothermal curing treatment, with the results of the tests being taken at 7 days and 7 days + 24 hours. The steel fibres were added at volume fractions of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 3.0%. The tests that were performed for the mechanical strength and durability were the compressive and flexural strength test, the modulus of elasticity test, the ultrasonic pulse velocity test, the water absorption test, the air permeability test and the porosity test. The compressive and flexural strength of the steel fibre high strength concrete reached their maximum of 70.7 MPa and 11.45 MPa, respectively during normal curing for the 3.0% volume fraction of steel fibre. The experimental results of this study indicate that the inclusion of steel fibres enhances the mechanical strength of high strength concrete cured in normal water curing as compared to the hygrothermal curing treatment.