Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Construction and Building Materials

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat

The effect of different types of fiber on flexure strength and fracture

toughness in SIFCON
Metin Ipek a,⇑, Mecbure Aksu b
a
Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Technology Faculty, Civil Engineering Department, 54187 Sakarya, Turkey
b
Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Vocational School of Adapazarı, Construction Department, 54187 Sakarya, Turkey

h i g h l i g h t s

 The effect of different fibers on SIFCON was investigated.

 Steel and polymer fibers in different combinations and mold heights were investigated.
 The combination of polypropylene and steel fibers increased the flexural strength.
 The highest flexural strength of 44.02 MPa has been obtained with proper fiber combination.
 Durable and economical structural elements are producible with the use of Polypropylene fibers.
 Polypropylene fibers reduced the cost and the unit weight of SIFCON.

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON) is a special kind of steel fiber-reinforced cement composite
Received 31 October 2018 which has extraordinary toughness values and surpassing mechanical characteristics like compressive,
Received in revised form 5 April 2019 tensile, shear, and flexural strengths. In this study, steel and polypropylene fibers have been used by mix-
Accepted 8 April 2019
ing in different combinations. 1/1, 1/3 and 2/3 of the beam molds have been filled with these fibers. In the
study, the physical and mechanical properties and also the unit strength cost analyses of SIFCON have
been examined. The use of the fibers with combinations has caused to an increase in the fiber volume.
Keywords:
The highest flexural strength values have been reached with the beam samples completely filled with
SIFCON
Polypropylene
fiber respectively as 44.02 MPa and 41.23 MPa with the steel fiber at the length of 60 mm and 35 mm
Fiber and with 60 mm steel and 50 mm polypropylene fiber combination. The combined use of polypropylene
Flexural strength fiber and steel fiber has increased the flexural strength and fracture toughness. Consequently; it has been
Fracture toughness observed that the polypropylene fiber provides significant advantages for the use of SIFCON in terms of
unit weight and cost due to the fact that its density and cost are lower when compared to those of the
steel fiber.
Ó 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Normal concrete is a very brittle material which has a very low
bearing capacity in terms of tension and having only 0.1 0.01%
tensile strength and 0.2 4% fracture toughness of the steel when
compared to the structural steel. Axial transformation capacities
increase in the concretes with high strength and the tension
decrease occurs as sudden after exceeding the peak point and it
is fractured in a more brittle way [1]. The problem of brittleness
is tried to be exceeded by adding fiber to the concrete. Thanks to
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: metini@sakarya.edu.tr (M. Ipek), maksu@sakarya.edu.tr
(M. Aksu).
the fiber, both the flexural strength and the energy absorption
capacities increase. Because the mixture of the fibers with the con-
crete in high ratios negatively affects the processability of the con-
crete, the fiber ratio to be added is limited [2]. The fact that it is not
possible not to add fibers to the concrete in high ratios has revealed
the idea of adding the concrete to the fiber.
SIFCON (Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete) technology has been
developed as a result of filling the cement, sand, pozzolana, water
and chemical additive mixture slurry in the mold containing fiber
by 5–30% in volume [3].
SIFCON was firstly developed in 1983 by Lankard in New Mex-
ico Engineering Research Institute (NMERI) [4,5]. The fibers in high
ratios are placed by sprinkling inside the mold prepared during the
production phase. Afterwards; the slurry containing cement,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.04.055
0950-0618/Ó 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
208 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218

Table 1 Table 2
Flexural strength and Fracture Energy of SIFCON Samples [7,9]. Properties of cement and silica fume.

SIFCON Fiber volume % Flexural strength Fracture Energy kN/m Chemical Composition (%)
(Vf) MPa (Gf)
Component Cement Silica Fume
Naaman 12 19.4 78.8
CaO 64.47 0.50
12.6 26.6 100.5
SiO2 20.09 96
Wecharatana & 4 6.1 21
C - 1.50
Lin 6 8.6 31.5
Al2O3 5.01 0.70
8 14.2 45.5
Fe2O3 2.73 0.25
10 16.7 54.0
MgO 1.72 0.60
Reinhardt 8.5 9.2 60.5
K2O 0.66 0.85
13.5 14.2 134.1
Cl 0.01 0.10
Na2O 0.21 0.25
P2O5 – 0.10
water, silica powder, very fine sand and super plasticizer are SO3 3.03 0.50
H2O – 0.80
spilled on the fibers, vibration is applied and the slurry is ensured
fever loss 2.11 1.50
to smoothly fill between the fibers [6,7]. pH value – 5.0–8.0
It is used in the structures constructed for the storage of the C3S 60.7 –
explosive substances thanks to its superior performance against C2S 11.8 –
C3A 8.6 –
the fractures. Also; it is also used in the production of the plates sit-
C4AF 8.3 –
ting on the elastic ground in which ductility is a problem [8]. Silicate Modulus 2.6 –
Mechanical properties of SIFCON change depending on the Alumina Modulus 1.8 –
amount and geometry and the mechanical properties of the fiber. Hydraulic Modulus 2.3 –
Wecharatana & Lin have conducted a study regarding the mechan- Total alkalin 0.58 –

ical properties of SIFCON. In the study, compression strength and Physical Properties
tensile strength tests have been conducted on SIFCON samples Cement Silica Fume
containing hooked-tip steel fiber by 4–10%. As a result of the study, Blaine specify surface 5162 cm2/g 200000 cm2/g
it has been specified that the tensile strengths and fracture ener- Unit volume weight – 0.650 g/cm3
gies have increased together with the increase in the fiber contents Specific gravity 3.14 2.26
of the samples. It has also been expressed that no change has been Initial setting time 154 min. –
Final setting time 191 min. –
observed depending on the fiber ratio regarding the compression
Volume expansion Genlesßmesi 0.8 mm –
strength. The values attained from the study conducted by Naaman
Compressive Strength of Cement
and Reinhardt have been compared to the values found in the
(MPa)
study (Table 1) [7–9].
2 days 39.8 MPa –
In the study conducted by Lankard, the concretes with low fiber
7 days 54.2 MPa –
volume have been compared to SIFCON and the flexural strength of 28 days 61.8 MPa –
SIFCON with 13.9% fiber volume has reached 58 MPa [10]. This
value is an important one for a cement composite material.
In the study conducted by Tuyana and Yazıcı, the adherence and
In the study conducted by Roller et al., the reinforced concrete
behavior of the steel fiber in SIFCON matrix have been examined.
column with cylinder geometry has been reinforced by wrapping
Moreover; they have worked on the mixture ratios, cure condi-
with SIFCON, fiber concrete, three dimensional straw concrete
tions, steel fiber tacticity ratio and embedding length of SIFCON
and polymer concrete. As a result of the study, SIFCON has been
slurry. It has been stated that fiber adherence has increased
reported to have given the best performance [13].
together with the increase in the slurry strength, fiber diameter
Ipek et al. have applied pre-setting pressure with the values of
and geometry and the application of convenient cure [11].
0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 MPa on the fresh SIFCON. Thanks to 15 MPa
In their study, Rao et al. have conducted impact tests on normal
preliminary compression pressure, the flexural strength has
concrete, fiber concrete, reinforced concrete, 8, 10, 12% fiber con-
reached the value of 67.54 MPa by increasing 43.5% and the frac-
taining SIFCON and 8, 10, 12% fiber containing and reinforced SIF-
ture toughness has reached the value of 402.32 Nm by increasing
CON. The plate has been dropped on the middle point of the
13% [14].
sample instead of forming a hole in the steel marble plate with
When the studies conducted with SIFCON are examined, it is
the diameter of 100 mm and weight of 50 N. It has been reported
seen that only steel fibers are used as fibers. For this reason; as
that the most resistant counter sample is SIFCON containing 12%
the fiber type, steel and polypropylene fiber have been used solely
steel fiber if the impact is active [12].
and by mixing with each other as in Fig. 1 in a way that they will

Fig. 1. Fiber height in the mold.

 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218 209

fill in the different mold height. Furthermore; fiber cost forms the
highest cost of SIFCON. Therefore; fiber cost has also been exam-
ined in the study.

2. Experimental

2.1. Material

CEM I 52.5 R type cement and silica fume (SF) have been used
for a high performance slurry [15–19]. In this study, non-
condensed silica fume (SF) provided from Elkem Company in Nor-
way has been used. The physical, chemical and mechanical proper-
ties of Portland cement (PC 52.5 CEM I) and silica fume are given in
Table 2. Two different quartz sands and powder have been used as
aggregate with maximum particle size of 0.6 mm, 0.3 mm and
0.100 mm, respectively. Figs. 2 and 3 show the granule structure
of the quartz powder and particle size analysis of granule materi-
als, respectively. A polycarboxylate-based super plasticizer has Fig. 4. Steel and polypropylene fibers.
been used to fluidity the mixture.
Steel fibers hooked from both ends and with the length of
35 mm and 60 mm and square and longitudinally waved
polypropylene fiber with the length of 50 mm have been used in Table 3
the tests (Fig. 4). The physical and mechanical properties belonging Properties of steel and polypropylene fibers.
to the fibers are given in Table 3.
Length (L) Diameter (d) Aspect ratio Tensile strength Specific
(mm) (mm) (L/d) (N/mm2) gravity
60 1.05 57.14 1115 7.181
35 0.55 63.64 1345 7.181
6 0.16 37.5 2250 7.181
50 1.0 50 500 0.91

Table 4
Compositions of mixture.

Materials Quantities (kg)

Cement 900
Silica fume 270
Quartz powder (0–0.1 mm) 278
Quartz sand (0.1–0.3 mm) 252
Quartz sand (0.3–0.6 mm) 252
Water 270
Superplasticiser 36
Water/cement 0.30
Superplasticiser/cement 0.04

Fig. 2. Granule structure of the quartz powder.

Fig. 3. Particle size analysis of granule materials. Fig. 5. Flowability of SIFCON.

210 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218

Fig. 6. a) Filling the fibers in the mold, b) SIFCON in fresh state.

Table 5
Fiber ratios and codes of the samples.

Sample code Fiber types and ratios Fiber height Fiber Flexural Fracture Fracture
in the mold Ratios Strength Toughness Energy
60 mm steel 35 mm steel 6 mm micro 50 mm
(MPa) (Nm) (N/mm)
fiber (L) fiber (M) steel fiber (S) polypropylene
fiber (P)
L-A 100% – – h 6.66 39.88 172.85 54.20
L-B 100% – – 2/3h 4.44 34.23 136.59 42.87
L-C 100% – – 1/3h 2.22 25.46 39.314 12.47
M-A 100% – h 10.44 40.74 155.72 48.85
M-B 100% – 2/3h 6.96 37.71 78.69 24.78
M-C 100% – 1/3h 3.48 15.93 22.86 7.33
P-A – – 100% h 6.69 15.73 99.35 31.23
P-B – – 100% 2/3h 4.46 12.30 58.32 18.41
P-C – – 100% 1/3h 2.23 11.13 50.58 15.99
2/3L + 1/3M A 66% 33% – h 7.68 38.86 161.03 50.51
2/3L + 1/3M B 66% 33% – 2/3h 5.12 33.96 100.61 31.63
2/3L + 1/3M C 66% 33% – 1/3h 2.56 27.32 62.32 19.66
1/2L + 1/2M A 50% 50% – h 7.66 44.02 221.03 69.26
1/2L + 1/2M B 50% 50% – 2/3h 5.11 36.34 106.43 33.45
1/2L + 1/2M C 50% 50% – 1/3h 2.55 21.66 47.92 15.16
1/3L + 2/3M A 33% 66% – h 9 36.09 177.67 55.71
1/3L + 2/3M B 33% 66% – 2/3h 6 33.30 152.79 47.93
1/3L + 2/3M C 33% 66% – 1/3h 3 18.16 38.53 12.23
2/3L + 1/3S-A 66% – 33% – h 6.32 37.19 202.84 63.58
2/3L + 1/3S-B 66% – 33% – 2/3h 4.2 33.30 152.79 47.93
2/3L + 1/3S-C 66% – 33% – 1/3h 2.1 23.38 39.96 12.68
2/3M + 1/3S-A – 66% 33% – h 7.25 36.09 181.73 56.98
2/3M + 1/3S-B – 66% 33% – 2/3h 4.83 32.02 163.20 51.19
2/3M + 1/3S-C – 66% 33% – 1/3h 2.42 26.69 94.17 29.62
2/3P + 1/3L-A 33% – 66% h 6.68 17.06 91.25 28.70
2/3P + 1/3L-B 33% – 66% 2/3h 4.48 12.15 70.91 22.35
2/3P + 1/3L-C 33% – 66% 1/3h 2.20 10.58 40.87 12.96
1/2P + 1/2L-A 50% – 50% h 6.69 24.17 115.26 36.21
 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218 211

Table 5 (continued)

Sample code Fiber types and ratios Fiber height Fiber Flexural Fracture Fracture
in the mold Ratios Strength Toughness Energy
60 mm steel 35 mm steel 6 mm micro 50 mm
(MPa) (Nm) (N/mm)
fiber (L) fiber (M) steel fiber (S) polypropylene
fiber (P)
1/2P + 1/2L-B 50% – 50% 2/3h 4.08 22.15 80.52 25.35
1/2P + 1/2L-C 50% – 50% 1/3h 2.03 12.48 45.56 14.43
1/3P + 2/3L-A 66% – 33% h 6.68 41.23 145.03 45.51
1/3P + 2/3L-B 66% – 33% 2/3h 4.47 30.57 85.60 26.94
1/3P + 2/3L-C 66% – 33% 1/3h 2.25 20.53 62.63 19.76
2/3P + 1/3M A – 33% 66% h 7.95 16.68 95.80 30.13
2/3P + 1/3M B – 33% 66% 2/3h 5.3 12.21 70.12 22.10
2/3P + 1/3M C – 33% 66% 1/3h 2.65 10.11 50.15 15.86
1/2P + 1/2M A – 50% 50% h 8.57 23.90 115.58 36.31
1/2P + 1/2M B – 50% 50% 2/3h 6.57 19.23 100.56 31.61
1/2P + 1/2M C – 50% 50% 1/3h 2.86 17.56 61.85 19.52
1/3P + 2/3M A – 66% 33% h 9.37 23.27 115.07 36.15
1/3P + 2/3M B – 66% 33% 2/3h 6.13 20.25 100.87 31.71
1/3P + 2/3M C – 66% 33% 1/3h 3.14 17.87 70.69 22.28

2.2. Experimental procedures Abrams cone and the spread diameter has been measured with
certain intervals (Fig. 5). The period in which consistency has lost
The mixture ratios have chosen in previous works within liter- its nature has been recorded and flowability period has been
ature [4,6,8,10,11,14,20]. Twenty four different mixtures including
no fiber have been prepared. Mixture having the highest compres-
sive strength has been selected for experimental study. Composi-
tions of mixture are presented in Table 4.
The flowability of the mixture has been tested with the flow
table test. During this test, SIFCON slurry has been filled in the

Fig. 9. The load-deflection graphics of M fiber type (35 mm).

Fig. 7. Fracture form of 3/3L-A sample.

Fig. 8. The load-deflection graphics of L fiber type (60 mm). Fig. 10. The load-deflection graphics of P fiber type (polypropylene 50 mm).
212 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218

determined. It has been seen that the spread diameter of SIFCON
concrete is 38 cm at the moment it was spilled on the table, it is
38 cm after 15 min, it protects its consistence after 45 min and
the spread diameter is 30 m after 2 h. According to this result,
the slurry could only be used within approximately 1 h.
A mold has been specially designed. As seen in Fig. 6, the beam
mold has internal width of 80 mm, height of 40 mm and length of
400 mm. Firstly, the fibers have been randomly filled in the molds
in the production of the test samples. The fibers used with combi-
nations have been homogenously mixed outside the mold and they

Fig. 11. The load-deflection graphics of L + M fiber types.

Fig. 12. The load-deflection graphics of L + S and M + S fiber types.

 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218 213

were filled in the mold afterwards (Fig. 6a). After that, liquid SIF-
CON slurry has been prepared and injected in the fibers upon the
vibratory table unit (Fig. 6b). Samples have been cured during
28 days in water at 20 °C after demolding.
Prismatic beam specimens (40  80  400) have been used to
determine the flexural strength and toughness of the concrete.
The testing of specimens has been used in four points loading flex-
ural test. The loading speed of the test device has been adjusted in
a way that it will deflect in 0.5–1 mm/min. on the middle point of
the beam [21–26]. Samples have been loaded at this speed until
they are completely fractured and load deflection graphics have
been attained. First crack strengths, flexural strengths and fracture

Fig. 13. The load-deflection graphics of P + L fiber types.

Fig. 14. The load-deflection graphics of P + M fiber types.

214 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218

toughness and energy values have been calculated with the use of
load-deflection graphics [27].
A coding has been developed due to the fact that the samples
types are very much and they are given in Table 5. In this coding;
the steel fiber with the length of 60 mm has been coded with the
letter ‘‘L”, the steel fiber with the length of 35 mm has been coded
with the letter ‘‘M”, the steel fiber with the length of 6 mm has
been coded with the letter ‘‘S” and the polypropylene fiber with
the length of 50 mm has been coded with the letter ‘‘P”.
The percentage of the usage ratio has been given in front of the
fiber type in the event that the fibers are used in combinations. In
the event that a single type of fiber has been used all over the sam-
ple, there is no expression in front of the fiber type. Because the
spaces between the steel fibers with the length of 6 mm and called
as the letter ‘‘S” are too little for the slurry to penetrate, the slurry
has not been injected between the fibers and the sample could not
be produced. For this reason; S type fiber has only been used in
combination with other steel fibers.
Regarding the height of the amount of the fiber in the mold, the
letter ‘‘A” expresses completely full, namely 3/3h, the letter ‘‘B”
expresses 2/3h and the letter ‘‘C” expresses 1/3h mold height.
For instance; all of 3/3L-A sample steel fibers with the length of
60 mm have been filled in all over the mold and the fiber amount
has been measured as 613 g (in volume; 613/7.181 = 85.36 cm3). Fiber
volume forms 6.66% of the total mold volume. This ratio is (2/3h)
4.44% in the sample coded B and (1/3h) 2.22% in the sample coded C.

Fig. 15. The effect of the polypropylene and steel fibres on flexural strength, fracture toughness and energy.

Fig. 16. The effect of L + M fiber types on flexural strength, fracture toughness and energy.
 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218 215

3. Results and discussion
It has been observed in the flexural test that fibers do not
undergo any deformation during the fracture of the samples and
they have debonded from SIFCON paste. This situation shows that
the adherence between the paste and fiber has been exceeded.
Although the adherence is high between the fiber and SIFCON
slurry consisting of more homogenous and finer grains when com-
pared to the normal concrete, the smoothness of the surface of the
fibers during the fracture has caused to negativity and the fibers
have debonded. The hooks at the ends of the fibers have broken
parts from the concrete and got separated from the concrete
(Fig. 7). The samples have generally fractured from the middle
zone. The load-deflection graphics attained as a result of the flexu-
ral test are given in Figs. 8–14. Flexural strengths, fracture tough-
ness and energy values have been calculated with the use of
load-deflection graphics and are given in Table 5 and Figs. 15–19.
The highest flexural strength and fracture toughness values
have been attained from (-A coded) samples in which the mold is
completely full with fiber as a result of the sole usage of different
steel fibers. While the sample coded M-A (Fig. 15) with the highest
fiber ratio has reached the highest flexural strength (40.74 MPa),

Fig. 17. The effect of L + S and M + S fiber types on flexural strength, fracture toughness and energy.

Fig. 18. The effect of P + L fiber types on flexural strength, fracture toughness and energy.
216 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218

Fig. 19. The effect of P + M fiber types on flexural strength, fracture toughness and energy.

the highest value in terms of fracture toughness has been reached

with the sample coded L-A (Fig. 15) with 172.85 Nm. The increase
in the fiber amount has increased the flexural strength. Higher a
length of the fiber has increased the deflection amount and there-
fore, fracture toughness value has increased.
The highest flexural strength and fracture toughness values
have been reached as a result of the combined usage of steel fibers. Without fiber area
The sample coded 1/2L1/2M-A which is the combination of the
sample coded (M-A) of medium height and with the highest flexu-
ral strength and the long-fiber sample coded (3/3L-A) with the
highest fracture toughness and energy has reached the highest
flexural strength (44.02 MPa) and fracture toughness and energy
(221.03 Nm and 69.26 N/mm) values as a good example for the
Fig.20a. Polypropylene fiber sample (lower part).
typical composite material property (Figs. 16 and 17). It is seen
that it is at a noteworthy height when these results are compared
to the previous studies conducted regarding SIFCON [4,11,28,29].
During the sole usage of the polypropylene fibers; because the
fiber intensity is 0.91 g/cm3, it has accumulated on the upper zone
of the mold with the buoyancy of the liquid SIFCON slurry. For this b
reason; the fiber intensity of the upper zone of the sample is higher
when compared to the lower zone (Figs. 20a and 20b). This situa-
tion has caused to the distortion of homogeneity, change in the
mechanical property of the material and consequently, the
decrease in the flexural strength. The flexural strength of the sam-
ple containing polypropylene fiber has been 15.73 MPa and its
fracture toughness value has been 99.35 Nm (Fig. 15). No compar-
ison could be made between the values and the literature due to
the fact that no study could be encountered regarding polypropy-
lene fiber SIFCON production in the literature.
The polypropylene fibers remaining between the steel fibers
could not move towards the surface thanks to filling them outside
the mold by mixing homogenously. When the fractured samples
have been examined at the end of the test, homogeneity has been
seen to have been provided (Fig. 21). It has been seen in the sam-
ples in which steel fibers and polypropylene fiber has been used in
combination that the values of flexural strength, fracture tough-
ness and energy have increased as the steel fiber amount increases
(Table 5 and Figs. 13, 14 and 18, 19). Therefore; the highest Fig. 20b. Polypropylene fiber sample (upper part).
 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218
Fig. 21. Fracture form belonging to the polypropylene and steel fiber combined
sample.
strength belongs to the sample coded 1/3P2/3U-A among the sam-
ples containing polypropylene fiber and its mechanical properties
are not so different from the sample coded L-A which is completely
fiber. Besides; its values are respectively higher by 152% and 46% in
terms of flexural strength and fracture toughness when compared
to P-A which completely consists of polypropylene fiber.
As a result of the tests conducted on these samples, it has been
seen that all of the sample having the highest flexural strength and
fracture toughness values is the one filled with 1/2 long and 1/2
medium fiber mixture.
When considered in terms of cost; it is seen that the samples
containing polypropylene fiber whose price and density are lower
when compared to the steel fiber are more economical. The unit
Fig. 22. Fiber Content-Flexural strength unit cost.
217
price of polypropylene and steel fibers is about 3 and 4 $/kg and
their density is 0.91 and 7.181 respectively. Due to price and den-
sity differences, the cost of polypropylene and steel fibers is calcu-
lated as 1916 $/m3 and 182 $/m3 respectively. The cost of
polypropylene fiber is about 10 times cheaper than steel fiber. Con-
sequently the cost of SIFCON significantly reduces. Unit flexural
strength cost of the samples completely filled with steel fiber is
higher when compared to the samples filled with 2/3 and 1/3 fiber.
This situation is also valid for the samples containing partly
polypropylene fiber (Fig. 15).
4. Conclusions
In the study, SIFCON has been produced by using the fibers as
sole, combined and in different mold heights. The sample in which
the spaces between the steel fibers (S) with the length of 5 mm in
micro dimension are too small for the slurry to penetrate could not
be produced. Therefore; S type fiber has only been used in combi-
nation with other steel fibers.
It has been observed in the flexural test that the samples have
not undergone any deformation and debonded from the SIFCON
paste because the surface of the fibers is smooth during the frac-
ture. The hooks at the ends of the fibers have broken parts and
debonded from the SIFCON paste.
As the fiber amount or height in SIFCON have decreased, the
strength and fracture toughness values have decreased; but, unit
strength cost has decreased. Fiber ratio has increased as a result
of the usage of the steel fibers in combination and the highest flex-
ural strength (44.02 MPa) and fracture toughness (221.03 Nm) val-
ues have been reached.
Due to the lowness of the polypropylene fiber density, the liq-
uid SIFCON slurry has accumulated on the upper zone of the mold
with the buoyancy of it and caused to the change in the mechanical
218 M. Ipek, M. Aksu / Construction and Building Materials 214 (2019) 207–218
behavior and as a result, to the decrease in the flexural strength.
However; the use of polypropylene fiber with the steel fiber has
ensured homogeneity and increased the flexural strength. The
use of polypropylene fiber is seen to be advantageous in terms of
cost due to the fact that its density and cost are rather lower when
compared to those of steel fibers (Fig. 22). Elements with high flex-
ural strength and ductility could be produced by using SIFCON.
Furthermore; economical structural elements with high durability
in terms of corrosion could also be produced with the use of
polypropylene fibers.
Conflict of interest
None.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Sakarya University Scientific
Research Foundation (Project number: 2012-05-08-008, 2010-05-
08-005). The authors would like to thank Sakarya University.
References
[1] M. A. Tasdemi_r, F. Bayramov, A.N. Kocatürk, M. Yerlikaya, Betonun
_
Performansa Göre Tasarımında Yeni Gelisßmeler, Beton, Kongresi, Istanbul, sf.
1–34 2004.
[2] M. Ipek, K. Yılmaz, M. Uysal, The effect of pre-setting pressure applied flexural
strength and fracture toughness of reactive powder concrete during the setting
phase, Constr Build Mater 26 (2012) 459–465.
[3] M. L. Wang Constitutive properties of SIFCON. In: Proceeding, workshop on
fibre reinforced cement and concrete, Sheffield, July 28–30; 1994. p. 237–255.
[4] D. R. Lankard. Properties, applications: slurry infiltrated fiber concrete
(SIFCON). Concrete international, December 1984. p. 287–306.
[5] D. R. Lankard, Newell JK. Preparation of highly reinforced steel fiber reinforced
concrete composites. In: Fiber reinforced concrete–international symposium,
ACI SP-81, American Concrete Institute, Detroit, 1984. p. 287–306.
[6] M.L. Wang, A.K. Maji. Shear properties of slurry infiltrated fiber concrete
(SIFCON). London: High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites;
1992. p. 203–212.
[7] V. Tabak Çelik Lifli Betonda Lif ve Lif Boy/Çap Oranlarının Değisßiminin Betonun
Mekanik Özelliklerine Etkisi, Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü,
Yüksek Lisans Tezi, 2004. p. 73–76.
[8] http://SIFCON.quinting.com
[9] M. Wecharatana S. Lin. Tensile Properties of High Performance Fiber
Reinforced Concrete. High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites
1992 London 248 258.
[10] D.R. Lankard, Preparation, properties and application of cement-based
composites containing 5 to 20 percent steel fibre, in: S.P. Shah, A.
Skarendahl (Eds.), Steel fibre concrete, proceedings US-Sweden joint
seminar, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, Barking, 1985, pp. 199–217.
[11] M. Tuyan, H. Yazıcı, Pull-out behavior of single steel fiber from SIFCON matrix,
Constr Build Mater 1 (2012) 571–577.
[12] H.S. Raoa, V.G. Ghorpade, N.V. Ramanac, K. Gnanesward, Response of SIFCON
twoway slabs under impact loading, Int J Impact Eng 37 (2010) 452–458.
[13] C. Roller, C. Mayrhofer, W. Rıedel, K. Thoma, Residual load capacity of exposed
and hardened concrete columns under explosion loads, Eng. Struct. (2012),
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2011.12.004.
[14] M. Ipek, M. Aksu, K. Yılmaz, M. Uysal, The effect of pre-setting pressure on the
flexural strength and fracture toughness of SIFCON during the setting phase,
Constr. Build. Mater. 66 (2014) 515–521.
[15] A.M. Neville, Properties of concrete, 4th ed., Longman Group Limited, England,
1995.
[16] P.C. Aitcin, S.L. Sarkar, R. Ranc, C. Levy, A high-silica-modulus cement for high
performance concrete, Adv. Cem. Mater. Ceram. Trans. Gaithersburg 16 (1991)
103–121.
[17] A. Goldman, A. Bentur, The influence of microfillers on enhancement of
concrete strength, Cem. Concr. Res 23 (1993) 962–972.
[18] I. Talebinejad, S. A. Bassam, A. Iranmanesh, M. Shekarchizadeh Optimizing mix
proportions of normal weight reactive powder concrete with strengths of 200-
350 MPa. Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC). In: International
symposium on ultra high performance concrete, September 13–15; 2004. p.
133–41.
[19] M. Ipek, Reaktif Pudra Betonlarının Mekanik Davranısına Katılasma Süresince
Uygulanan Sıkıstırma Basıncının Etkileri Ph.D. Thesis, Sakarya, Sakarya
Üniversitesi, 2004.
[20] A. Yan, K. Wu, X. Zhang, A quantitative study on the surface crack pattern of
concrete with high concent of steel fiber, Cem. Concr. Res. 32 (2002) 1371–
1375.
[21] M. Ipek, The flexural strength and fracture toughness of reactive powder
concrete in response to changing fibre size and pre-setting pressure, Fatigue
Fract. Eng. Mater. Struct. 35 (2012) 412–424.
[22] TS 10513. Çelik teller-beton takviyesinde kullanılan. Turkish Standards
Institute; 1992.
[23] TS 10514. Beton-Çelik Tel Takviyeli-Çelik Telleri Betona Karıstırma ve Kontrol
Kuralları, Turkish Standards Institute; 1992.
[24] TS 10515. Çelik Tel Takviyeli Betonun Eğilme Mukavemeti Deney Metodu,
Turkish Standards Institute; 1992.
[25] ASTM C 1018. Standard test method for flexural toughness and first-crack
strength of fiber-reinforced concrete (using beam with third-point loading),
annual book of ASTM standards, V 4.02. American Society for Testing and
Materials, Philadelphia, PA; 1989. p. 637–44.
[26] JSCE standard SF-4, method of test for flexural strength and flexural toughness
of fiber reinforced concrete. Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) Standard;
1984. p. 58–66.
[27] T.C. Rilem, 50-FMC, Committee of fracture mecanics of concrete determination
of fracture energy of mortar and concrete by means of three-point bend tests
on notched beams, Mater. Struct. 18 (1985) 285–290.
[28] A. Beglarigale, Ç. Yalçınkaya, H. Yiğiter, H. Yazıcı, Flexural performance of
SIFCON composites subjected to high temperature, Constr. Build. Mater. 104
(2016) 99–108.
[29] O. Sengul, Mechanical properties of slurry infiltrated fiber concrete produced
with waste steel fibers, Constr. Build. Mater. 186 (2018) 1082–1091.