Construction

and Building

Construction and Building Materials 21 (2007) 1250–1253

MATERIALS
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Effect of aspect ratio and volume fraction of steel fiber on

the mechanical properties of SFRC
S _
ß emsi Yazıcı *, Gözde Inan, Volkan Tabak
_
Civil Engineering Department, Ege University, 35100 Izmir, Turkey

Received 2 August 2005; received in revised form 16 January 2006; accepted 31 May 2006
Available online 18 September 2006

Abstract

In this study, effects of aspect ratio (l/d) and volume fraction (Vf) of steel fiber on the compressive strength, split tensile strength, flex-
ural strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) were investigated. For this purpose, hooked-end bun-
dled steel fibers with three different l/d ratios of 45, 65 and 80 were used. Three different fiber volumes were added to concrete mixes at
0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% by volume of concrete. Ten different concrete mixes were prepared. After 28 days of curing, compressive, split and
flexural strength as well as ultrasonic pulse velocity were determined. It was found that, inclusion of steel fibers significantly affect the
split tensile and flexural strength of concrete accordance with l/d ratio and Vf. Besides, mathematical expressions were developed to esti-
mate the compressive, flexural and split tensile strength of SFRCs regarding l/d ratio and Vf of steel fibers.
 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Steel fiber reinforced concrete; Volume fraction; Aspect ratios; Mechanical properties

1. Introduction of heterogeneous distribution and flocculation of fibers in

Inspired from the ancient application of techniques of
natural fibers (straw, chip, horse tail, goat hair and plume,
etc.), artificial fibers are commonly used nowadays in order
to improve the mechanical properties of concrete. Espe-
cially vitreous, synthetic, carbon and steel fibers used in
concrete caused good results to improve numerous con-
crete properties [1–3]. In general, tensile, flexural, impact,
fatigue and wear strength, deformation capability, loads
bearing capacity after cracking and toughness properties
of concrete are significantly improved by use of fibers in
concrete mix [4–11].
In SFRCs, the most important factors affecting the con-
crete properties are l/d ratio and Vf of fibers. l/d ratio is
important at mixing and replacement stages of concrete
production [3]. Generally, l/d ratios of steel fibers used in
concrete mix are varied between 50 and 100. Probability
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 232 3886026; fax: +90 232 3425629.
E-mail address: semsiyazici@gmail.com (S
ß . Yazıcı).
concrete mix is increased by increasing l/d ratios. Also,
Vf significantly affects the workability of concrete. The
most suitable Vf values for concrete mixes are between
0.5% and 2.5% by volume of concrete [1,3,12,13]. Homoge-
neous distribution of fibers at mixing and placing is
required regardless of the type of fibers [1,14].
The most important effect of vitreous, synthetic, carbon
and steel fibers used in conventional concrete is prevention
of crack propagation in concrete. Thus, extension and
propagation of micro cracks that occur due to internal
stress in concrete are prevented by stress transfer capability
of fibers. According to their shape and quantity, fibers bear
some stress that occurs in cement matrix themselves and
transfer the other portion of stress at stable cement matrix
portions. This behavior of fibers under stress dominates the
SFRC compared to the conventional concrete [1,15].
In this research, the effect of aspect ratio (l/d) and
volume fraction (Vf) of steel fibers on the compressive,
flexural and split tensile strength and ultrasonic pulse
velocity of SFRC were assessed. For this purpose,

0950-0618/$ - see front matter  2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2006.05.025
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ß . Yazıcı et al. / Construction and Building Materials 21 (2007) 1250–1253 1251

hooked-end bundled steel fibers with three different l/d according to ASTM C78. Totally, 120 concrete cube spec-
ratios of 45, 65, and 80 were used. Three different fiber vol- imens and 60 concrete prismatic specimens were cast and
umes were added to concrete mixes at 0.5%, 1.0%, and tested from 10 different concrete mixtures.
1.5% by volume of concrete. Ten different concrete mixes
(1 control + 9 fiber reinforced) were produced. Average 3. Results and discussion
compressive strength of concrete was selected as 40 MPa.
After 28 days of standard curing, compressive, split and 3.1. Slump and unit weight
flexural strength as well as ultrasonic pulse velocity were
determined. Slump and unit weight test results of 10 different con-
crete mixes are shown in Table 2. As shown in this table,
2. Experimental study slump values of concretes vary between 125 and 230 mm.
Test results showed that slump of concrete decreased as
CEM I 42.R type cement, crushed limestone aggregate the l/d ratio and Vf increased. For 1.5% fiber volume,
with maximum size of 15 mm, steel fiber, superplasticizer workability of concrete is dramatically decreased. Not sur-
(SP) were used in this study. Specific gravity of cement is prisingly, steel fibers raise the unit weight of all tested
3.13 and its specific surface is 3670 cm2/g. The aggregates concrete.
were separated into three different size fractions as 0/
3 mm (AI), 0/5 mm (AII) and 5/15 mm (AIII). SSD specific 3.2. Compressive strength
gravity of AI, AII and AIII aggregates were 2.62, 2.60 and
2.69, respectively. The absorption capacity of AI, AII and The 28-day compressive strength values of SFRCs are
AIII aggregates were 1.42%, 1.78% and 0.76%, respec- given in Table 3. Compressive strength of control concrete
tively. Aggregates were recombined to a specified uniform was 49.1 MPa. For l/d ratio of 45 (SFRC1–3), 65 (SFRC4–
grading during mixing. The blend consisted of 30% AI, 6), and 80 (SFRC7–9) the minimum and maximum com-
30% AII and 40% AIII. Fineness modulus of the mixture pressive strength values are 50.8, 53.5, and 52.1 MPa and
is 3.64. Hooked-end bundled and low carbon steel fibers 57.7, 58.3, and 58.3 MPa, respectively.
with three different l/d ratios of 45, 65 and 80 were used. The relative compressive strength values of SFRCs are
The diameter and length of the three types of steel fibers also given in Table 3. It can be seen from the results that,
are 0.62, 0.90, and 0.75 mm and 30, 60, and 60 mm, respec-
tively. The tensile strength of steel fibers were 1250, 1000
and 1200 MPa, respectively. Three different fiber volumes Table 2
were added to each series of mixes at 0.5%, 1.0% and Slump and unit weights of concrete mixtures
1.5% by volume of concrete. In addition, a naphthalene Mixture code Slump (mm) Unit weight (kg/m3)
sulfonate type SP was added to concrete mixes at 2.5% CC 230 2200
by weight of cement. The proportioning and description SFRC1 220 2243
of the concrete mixtures are summarized in Table 1. SFRC2 205 2308
The compressive and split tensile strength was deter- SFRC3 200 2398
SFRC4 210 2333
mined on 150 mm cubes at 28 days. Besides, the same cube SFRC5 195 2305
samples of 150 mm were used for the determination of SFRC6 125 2367
ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) at 28 days according to SFRC7 200 2313
ASTM C597. In addition, flexural strength test were per- SFRC8 150 2367
formed on 100 · 100 · 600 mm prismatic specimens SFRC9 145 2353

Table 1
Mix proportions and description of concrete mixtures
Mixture code l/d ratio Vf (%) Batch weight (kg/m3)
PC Water AI AII AIII Fiber SP
CC – – 438 158.5 521 516 656 – 10.95
SFRC1 45 0.5 438 158.7 517 512 651 39 10.95
SFRC2 45 1.0 438 159 513 508 646 78 10.95
SFRC3 45 1.5 438 159 510 505 641 117 10.95
SFRC4 65 0.5 438 158.7 517 512 651 39 10.95
SFRC5 65 1.0 438 159 513 508 646 78 10.95
SFRC6 65 1.5 438 159 510 505 641 117 10.95
SFRC7 80 0.5 438 158.7 517 512 651 39 10.95
SFRC8 80 1.0 438 159 513 508 646 78 10.95
SFRC9 80 1.5 438 159 510 505 641 117 10.95
Aggregates were used in saturated-surface dry (SSD) condition in the concrete mixtures.
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Table 3
Mechanical properties of concrete mixtures
Mixture code l/d ratio Vf (%) fca (MPa) Relative fc (%) fsta (MPa) Relative ffa (MPa) Relative UPV (m/s) Relative
fst (%) ff (%) UPV (%)
CC – – 49.1 100 4.06 100 5.94 100 4523 100
SFRC1 45 0.5 50.8 104 4.5 111 6.14 103 4466 99
SFRC2 45 1.0 53.7 109 4.69 116 6.32 106 4435 98
SFRC3 45 1.5 57.7 117 5.69 140 7.75 130 4336 96
SFRC4 65 0.5 53.5 109 4.51 111 6.24 105 4488 99
SFRC5 65 1.0 58.3 119 4.77 117 8.08 136 4356 96
SFRC6 65 1.5 56.4 115 6.26 154 9.33 157 4348 96
SFRC7 80 0.5 56.0 114 4.58 113 6.42 108 4320 96
SFRC8 80 1.0 58.3 119 5.18 128 9.74 164 4188 93
SFRC9 80 1.5 52.1 106 5.9 145 10.76 181 4112 91
a
Reported values are the average of six specimens.

compressive strengths of SFRCs are higher about 4–19%
than control mixture. Compressive strengths of SFRCs of
45 aspect ratio (SFRC1–3) are increased with increasing
Vf. But, for 65 and 80 aspect ratios, compressive strength
of SFRCs (SFRC4, 5, 7, 8) are only increased up to 1%
fiber volume. SFRCs with fiber volume of 1.5%, 1.0%,
and 0.5% have highest compressive strength for aspect
ratio of 45, 65, and 80, respectively.
3.3. Split tensile strength
The split tensile strength values of SFRCs are given in
Table 3. Split tensile strength of control concrete is
obtained as 4.1 MPa. For l/d ratio of 45 (SFRC1–3), 65
(SFRC4–6), and 80 (SFRC7–9) the minimum and maxi-
mum split tensile strength values are 4.50, 4.51, and
4.58 MPa and 5.69, 6.26, and 5.90 MPa, respectively.
The relative split tensile strength values of SFRC
according to Vf and l/d ratio are also given in Table 3.
These test results indicated that, split tensile strengths of
SFRCs are higher about 11–54% than the control mixture.
For all volume fractions, split tensile strength of SFRCs
increases with increasing l/d ratios. Especially, utilization
of 1.5% fiber volume is more efficient on the split tensile
strength. Similarly, split tensile strengths are raised with
raising fiber volume.
3.4. Flexural strength
Flexural strength of control concrete was 5.94 MPa. For
l/d ratio of 45 (SFRC1–3), 65 (SFRC4–6) and 80 (SFRC7–
9) the minimum and maximum flexural strength values are
6.14, 6.24, and 6.42 MPa and 7.75, 9.33, and 10.76 MPa,
respectively.
The relative flexural strength values of SFRC according
to Vf and l/d ratio are given in Table 3. Table 3 shows that,
flexural strength of SFRC are higher about 3–81% than
control concrete. Steel fibers significantly improve the flex-
ural strength of concrete compared to the compressive and
split tensile strength. Besides, flexural strength of SFRC is
significantly improved with increasing l/d ratio and Vf.
3.5. Ultrasonic pulse velocity
The average ultrasonic pulse velocity in 150 mm con-
crete cube specimens at 28 days was 4543 m/s for control
mixture. For SFRCs with l/d ratios of 45 (SFRC1–3), 65
(SFRC4–6), and 80 (SFRC7–9) the average pulse velocity
was 4412, 4397, and 4207 m/s, respectively.
The relative ultrasonic pulse velocities of SFRCs accord-
ing to Vf and l/d ratio are given in Table 3. It can be seen
from the table that pulse velocities of SFRCs are lower
about 1–9% than the control mixture. In conventional con-
crete, the relationship between ultrasonic pulse velocity and
unit weight of concrete exists. Ultrasonic pulse velocity of
concrete is increased with decreasing unit weight. In other
words, ultrasonic pulse velocity is increased with increasing
pore volume of concrete. In this study, ultrasonic pulse
velocities of steel fiber reinforced concretes are decreased
with increasing unit weight. This may be due to difficulties
in compacting the mixtures containing higher volume of
fibers, thus, resulting in higher porosity.
4. Statistical evaluation of test results
A multiple linear regression analysis was used to obtain
the following relationships between the fiber properties (l/
d, Vf) and compressive strength (fc), split tensile strength(1)
(fst), and flexural strength (ff).
fc ðMPaÞ ¼ 50:4869 þ 0:0434  l=d þ 1:9667  V f ð%Þ R2 ¼ 0:10 ð1Þ
2
fst ðMPaÞ ¼ 2:2121 þ 0:0077  l=d þ 1:4233  V f ð%Þ R ¼ 0:72 ð2Þ
ff ðMPaÞ ¼ 0:8261 þ 0:0638  l=d þ 3:0000  V f ð%Þ R2 ¼ 0:77 ð3Þ
The relationships between measured and predicted strength
parameters (obtained from Eqs. (1)–(3)) and 95% confi-
dence intervals are shown in Figs. 1–3. The correlations be-
tween measured and predicted values are 32%, 85% and
88% for fc, fst and ff, respectively. As they were seen from
the coefficient of correlation values that fiber aspect ratio
and volume fraction are of great importance in terms of
flexural and split tensile strength of SFRC. But, mentioned
parameters have a little effect on compressive strength of
SFRC.
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80 3. Usage of steel fiber in concrete increases the compressive

Calcu lated fc vseula (MPa)

strength of concrete by about 4–19%.

95% confidence 4. Usage of steel fiber in concrete significantly increases the
70 interval
split tensile and flexural strength of concrete. Split ten-
60
sile strength of SFRC are higher about 11–54% than
the control mixture. Besides, flexural strengths of SFRC
are higher by about 3–81% than control mixture. In
50
addition, flexural strength of SFRC is higher than the
split tensile and compressive strength. Besides, the
40 increase in the flexural strength of SFRCs is significantly
45 50 55 60 65
improved with increasing l/d ratio and Vf.
Measured fc values (MPa)
5. Ultrasonic pulse velocity of SRFCs decreased with fiber
Fig. 1. Measured and predicted fc values. content.
6. Mathematical expressions were developed to estimate
the compressive, flexural and split tensile strength of
8 SFRCs regarding l/d ratio and Vf of steel fibers. As it
was expected that fiber aspect ratio and volume frac-
Calcu lated fst v alu es (MPa)

7
tions have little effect on compressive strength than flex-
6 ural strength and split tensile strength.

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