Performance of steel fiber on standard strength concrete in compression

In this investigation a series of compression tests were conducted on 150mm, cube and 150mm x 300mm, cylindrical specimens using a modified test method that gave the complete compressive strength, static, dynamic modulus of elasticity, ultrasonic pulse velocity and stress-strain behavior using silica fume with and without steel fiber of volume fractions 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%, of 0.5mm Ø of aspect ratio of 60 on Portland Pozzolona cement concrete. As a result the incorporation of steel fibers, silica fume and cement has produced a strong composite with superior crack resistance, improved ductility and strength behavior prior to failure. Addition of fibers provided better performance for the cement-based composites, while silica fume in the composites may adjust the fiber dispersion and strength losses caused by fibers, and improve strength and the bond between fiber and matrix with dense calcium-silicate-hydrate gel. The results predicted by mathematically modeled expressions are in excellent agreement with experimental results. On the basis of regression analysis of large number of experimental results, the statistical model has been developed. The proposed model was found to have good accuracy in estimating interrelationship at 28 and 90 days age of curing. On examining the validity of the proposed model, there exists a good correlation between the predicted values and the experimental values as showed in figures.