Impact Response of Concrete

Reinforced with Shaktiman Fibers

Prof. Nemlrumar Banthia

Department of CiYil Engineering
zoz44z5o Applied Sciences Lane
Vancouver, B.C. Canada Y6T rZ4

Tel: (6o4) 8zz-g54r

Fax (6o4) 8zz{9or
E-l\dAIL : banthia@civil.ubc.ca
ABSTRACT
Impact tests were carried out on concrete reinforced with various dosages of the Shaktirnan fiber
produced by Stewols (lndia). A multiple drop impact test machine specified in ICC AC32 was used. The
following fiber types and volume fractions were investigated. All fibers were 30 mm long.

- 0.45 mm diameter Shaktiman steel fibre at0.5 o/o

volume fraction.
- 0.45 mm diameter Shaktiman steel fibre at 1.0 oh volume fraction.
- 0.80 mm diameter Shaktiman steel fibre at0.5 %o volume fraction.
- 0.80 mm diameter Shaktiman steel fibre at 1.0 Yo volume fraction.

Five specimens of each fiber diameter/volume fraction combination were tested. Results indicate that
Shaktiman fibers substantially increase the impact resistance of concrete. The volume fraction is a'
controlling factor and a higher volume fraction of fibres-as expected-perfonns better. A larger
diameter is helpful, but the diameter has a secondary influence on the impact strength compared to the
volume fraction.

After testing, each sample was cut along the horizontal plane to examine the dispersion of the steel fibers
within the specimen. This exercise revealed that proper fiber dispersion was achieved in all cases.

INTRODUCTION
There is an increasing interest in understanding the response of concrete structures to dynamically applied
loads and in characterizingthe constitutive response of concrete at high strain-rates (p). While this is of-
late driven by fear of terrorist activity involving impact and explosion (p =100s-r), high strain-rates also
occur in fast moving traffic (p =10-ts-t), gas explosion (p eafthquakes (p = 10-2s-r), pile driving
=10'6s'r),
(p and aircraft Ianding (p Many of these events are typified by a large amount of energy
=100s-') =100s't).
suddenly imparted to the structure, and if the structure fails to absorb this incoming energy, failure will
occur. Concrete, unfoftunately, is a brittle material with low fracture toughness. Concrete is also a highly
strain-rate sensitive material.

Research in the last two decades has clearly demonstrated that reinforcing concrete with fibers is the rnost
effective way of mitigating its brittleness under quasi-static and impact loads and enhancing its energy
absorption capacity (l). Well-bonded fibers undergo energy-intensive pull-out processes across cracks
and provide an increased crack-growth resistance. In properly engineered composites carrying high
dosages of fibers significant strain-hardening can occur. Such steelJike constitutive response is highly
desirable from both mechanical and durability considerations.

EXPERIMENTAL
Specimens 152 mm in diameter and 63.5 mm depth were cast for each of the fiber types (Table I) using
the mixture propofiions given in Table A
conventional rotary drurn concrete mixer was used.
2.
Specimens were vibrated on a vibrating table using high frequency external vibration. The geometry of
the fiber is shown schematically in Table l.
 guidelines have also been adopted
Impact tests were carried out as ICC AC-32 (2) test procedure fthese
by'ACI 544 (3),figure 2). A lO-pound (+.S;i lg) compaction h ner with an l8-inch (457 mm) drop
,height was used.

Table 1. Fibers
Fiber Diameter FiberVolume Geometry
Fraction
0.45 mm 0.5%
o/o
0.45 mm 1.0
0.80 mm 0.s%
o/o
0.80 mm 1,0

Table 2: Mix
Materials Amount (kg/m)
tvoe 10 Portland cement (kg) 400
Sand (kg) 560
Gravel3/8'(kg) I110
Water (ke) 180
wlc 0.45
(Varied)
fhe ratio of total fibre to cemgntl2(L
(Varied)
Fibres (e)

tank carrying lime saturated water for an

After 24 hours, the specimens were de-moulded and stored in a
additional 14 daYs.

after the first visible crack was observed' Ultimat

contact with three of the four lugs welded to the bas
cut in half(except for the control batch) in order to
s

Some fractures specimens are shown in Figure

3'
 ti,r h,r-aLtL
b bt5
TdIF
l.li i h. h- h.

2!lxilL

,rts.lxn..,

?rtr lnn l

Figure 2.lCC AC32 ImPact Test

Figure 3. Some Fractured Specimens

RESULTS

The blows to first crack are given in Table 3 and the blows to
failure are given in Table 4. Specimens
could be ranked from the le# resistant to the most resistant as control, 0.5%o of 0.45mm fiber, 0'5% of
0.8mm fiber, 1.0% of 0'45mm fiber, and finally, l' It is worth
fibre
results tend to vary more as the percentage of
eased' The r
infig*. 1
4 where the clear increase in tlre impact
e with fiber
noted.
 Table 3: Number of Blows to First Crack

1.0% of 0.45mm 0.5% of 0.8mm 1.0% of 0.8mm

Control 0.5% of 0.45mm
6 t7 109
4 5
l0 6 32
7 t2
48 5 23
4 4
t0 5 t2
t0
E 3
44.0
7.E r8.5 8.3
Mean:
Samole Stdev
4.5
1.7 3.i l'/.1 5.1 | sa.z

Table 4: Num ber of Blows to Failure

Num ber of lrlows/l;rops ro rauul

1.0% of .45mm 0.5% of 0.8mm 1% of 0.8mn
Control 0.5% of 0.45mm
92 44 146
t7 20
48 28 110
B I 29
t2 200 4t 67
C 6
4U 64
35
D
5
T L
E 96.8
24.0 97.0 35.0
Mean: 9.75
62.1 7.6 33.8
Sample Stdev. 12.3 8.7
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Siraktiman steel fibers significantly increase the impact resistance of concrete and the improvements are
greater at higher volume fractions. Up to a l0-fold increase in the impact resistance can be expected.
Fufther, alarger diameter (0.8 mm) fiber performs better than a smaller (0.45 mm) diameter fiber'

REFFERENCES

L N. Banthia, S. Mindess, A. Bentur and M. Pigeon, "Impact Testing of Concrete Using a Drop-weight
Impact Machine", Experimental Mechanics, March 1989, pp 63-68.
2, ICC EVALUATION SERVICE, INC., AC32, 2003, P 5360 WorKmaN MiII ROAd, WhittiET,
California 90601, USA.
3. Atef Badr and Ashraf F. Ashour, "Modified ACL Drop-Weight Impact Test for Concrete", ACI
Materials Journal Technical Paper, Volume 102, No. 4, July-August 2005, pp249-255.