Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383

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Construction and Building Materials

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

Performance evaluation of corrugated steel fiber in cementitious matrix

Amjad Khabaz Ph.D.
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t

Enhancing in interfacial bond

strength due to the corrugation.

Shear lag model and relations of
traction separation for fiber in
corrugated shape.

Greater bond strength might be
obtained by setting larger inclination
in corrugation.

Recognized evolution in bond
strength allows the fiber to reach its
yield strength before the failure in
bond strength.

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

Article history: Increasing the adhesion efficiency between the fiber and the concrete, in fiber reinforced concrete mem-
Received 3 June 2016 bers, might be obtained by enhancing the properties of the concrete mixture using several parameters
Received in revised form 12 October 2016 such as cement weight, water to cement ratio, grading curve of aggregates and admixtures, or by apply
Accepted 19 October 2016
some changes on the fiber parameters such as the aspect ratio (l/d) or the outer roughness or the embed-
Available online 26 October 2016
ded length and the diameter value. Laboratory experiments lead to the fact that the use of smooth and
straight steel fiber, in fiber reinforced concrete, produces weak bond strength between the fiber and
Keywords:
the concrete. Therefore, to obtain better bond strength it is necessary to increase the total length of
Shear lag model
Steel fiber
the fiber, which may cause unacceptable workability. Accordingly, it could be developed a new form of
Corrugated fiber fiber has larger supporting region using the corrugated fiber shape. In this paper, the performance of this
Bond strength corrugated form will be monitored through new shear lag model to extract the traction separation rela-
Fiber reinforced concrete tions between the corrugated fiber and the concrete matrix, as well as an experimental study using dif-
Pull-out ferent values of embedded length of the fiber, in addition to several computer simulations which will be
created using a finite element model and applying same dimensions and forces which are used in the lab-
oratory experimental procedure. Through the results of nonlinear analysis of the computer simulations,
the distribution of stresses in different directions for each of the concrete and the fiber can be shown,
then the evolution of the bond strength between the fiber and the concrete can be monitored as an actual
result of applying the corrugated shape.
Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction forced concrete are still unavailable, the relevant scientific

Since the idea of using fiber reinforced concrete is desirable
widespread worldwide, and design guidelines of steel fiber rein-
E-mail address: a.khabaz@mu.edu.sa
researches are still going forward to understand precisely the
mechanical behavior of this structural composite material. Usually
pull-out test is used to monitor the development of the mechanical
behavior of the fiber in concrete matrix.
In Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) many types of steel
fiber are generally used, and these different types might be

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.10.094
0950-0618/Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
374 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383
classified into three main types (straight form, hooked ends form
and corrugated form) depending on its external manufacturing
form [1–3]. Last time twisted non-round crosssection fibers were
successfully used for concrete reinforcement.
Generally, all different types of steel fiber have to work to
increase the internal resistance of the SFRC composite against the
phenomenon of the occurrence of cracks under the influence of
any external applied loads such as axial tensile forces, compressive
forces and bending moments [4–6].
The occurrence of cracks in a hardened structural member from
Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) is resisted through three internal
mechanisms between the fiber and the concrete, where full bonding
stresses work at the interface between the two materials to prevent
cracks from happening until reach the maximum fully bond
strength at the interface, then some surrounding cracks around
the fiber start to appear gradually along the depond length, and this
depond length becomes equal to the whole embedded length of the
fiber, then frictional sliding movement is started as a final attempt to
prevent the fiber from pulling out of the concrete [7,8].
Many factors affect the fictional stresses such as fiber end shape
[1,9], water to cement ratio [10], curing method [10,19], sand to
coarse aggregate ratio [11], fiber dimensions and its embedded
length in the concrete matrix [12]. Test results have shown that
pullout behavior of different steel fiber reinforced VHSC compos-
ites is influenced by the matrix strength and fiber end condition
(smooth, flat end, or hooked). Results reveal that both maximum
pull-out load and total pullout energy increases as matrix strength
increases for all deformed fibers that did not rupture. The test
results also indicated that the increase in total pullout energy is
more significant than that in peak load [11,13], where high com-
plementary energy is found for both lowest and highest water to
cement ratio due to the higher area under the curve of stress-
strain of the composite which is considered until the peak load
and achieved due to absence of load for the first crack in the case
of lowest w/c, and higher area due to true delay in peak strain in
the case of highest water to cement ratio. Therefore both the
energy and complementary energy are to be taken into considera-
tion for the ductile behavior of fiber reinforced concrete.
Debonding of the fiber/matrix interface led to interfacial failure
where only friction resisted fiber extraction [14]. A single fiber
embedded in various off-axis directions for the cruciform specimen
test creates various combined stress states [15]. In (pull-out) test
which offers a reliable estimation of compressive strength, the
developed stress field is quite complicated and researchers have
argued about the nature of the fracture mechanism [16], results
show that the stress intensity factor at the fiber tip extracted from
the angular deflections agreed with the results calculated by the
finite element method [17,18].
Test results indicated that fiber type, embedded length of fiber,
curing conditions, fiber end condition, and matrix strength has a
considerable effect on fiber–matrix bond [19,20].
Considered bond strength between the fiber and the concrete
matrix is necessary to increase the performance of fiber reinforced
concrete, where pull-out tests are usually used to evaluate this
bond strength of the composite [21–23]. Pull out behavior of steel
fibers which are not straight and not circular in shape have
received little attention compared to the straight steel fibers. Flat
corrugated steel fibers are proved to be very effective at interface
during pull out, which results into strain hardening and dissipation
of significant amount of cold work energy [24].
The fiber pull-out behavior can be affected with the durability
related factors, where the fiber pullout strength in cracked SCC,
after 10 days of immersion in 3.5% NaCl solution, increased with
the crack width due to the increase of fiber surface roughness
caused by corrosion products, which improved the interfacial bond
fiber/cementitious matrix. The relatively high residual pullout
strength in the final phase of the fiber pullout test is caused by
the pullout bending character of the adopted test that increases
the fiber/matrix shear friction with the crack opening process
(snubbing effect) [25]. The effect of alkali solution on pull-out
behavior of control specimens is three fold. First of all, the bond
performance of the alkali exposed specimens is a bit higher than
those of water cured ones at early ages. The pull-out peak load
and debonding toughness of control mixture were reduced at
28 days due to the ASR. At later ages (90 and 150 days), the bond
strength of the specimens exposed to 80 °C NaOH solution signifi-
cantly increased. This finding can be explained by the ASR gel con-
gestion phenomenon. SEM analysis after pull-out test showed that
the fiber–matrix interface filled by noticeable volume of ASR gel.
Reduced or no gel formation around steel fiber was observed in
mixtures containing mineral admixtures due to mitigation effect
of these admixtures on ASR [10]. Curing at a low temperature of
2 °C was not found to adversely affect the pull-out resistance even
after one year of continuous marine exposure [26].
From the above review through the literature, it can be con-
cluded that the adhesion efficiency between the fiber and the con-
crete in fiber reinforced concrete members might be increased by
enhancing the properties of the concrete mixture using several
parameters such as (cement weight, water to cement ratio, grading
curve of aggregates and admixtures) or by doing some changes on
the fiber parameters such as increasing the contact surface rough-
ness of the fiber to increase the contribution of the frictional forces,
the use of longer fiber embedded length as well as larger diameter.
During this research the impact of using the corrugated shape
on the bond strength between the steel fiber and the concrete will
be monitored and analyzed using a new suggested shear lag model,
as well as various pull-out experiments of single steel fiber in two
shapes (straight and corrugated) will be set using different values
of embedded lengths. On other side, computer simulations will be
created according to finite element model, where same dimensions
and forces will be used comparison the laboratory experimental
study, and therefore the impact of using the corrugated shape will
be monitored to observe the evolution of the bond strength
between the fiber and the concrete.
2. Research significance
Since the bond strength between the concrete and the steel
fiber is generated and measured at the contacted surfaces between
these two materials, the laboratory experiments of this study have
demonstrated that only weak bond strength can be produced when
using straight steel fiber with smooth external surface. Thus, to
obtain better bonding strength, it is necessary to increase the man-
ufacturing length of the fiber, which may cause an unacceptable
workability in the freshly fiber-concrete mixes. Usage of non-
straight fibers such as fibers with hooked ends or corrugated shape
might lead to avoid that mixing problems, also these non-straight
fibers may lead to obtain greater bond strength at the interface
without extra production cost. The significance of this research is
beyond to determine the modalities of performance evaluation
for these sophisticated shapes of steel fibers, where this study will
introduce theoretical and practical methods in addition to numer-
ical simulations which can be used to evaluate the performance of
the steel fibers with corrugated shape.
3. Materials and methods
3.1. Creation of shear lag model
It is known that applying tensile force on a member of plain
concrete will cause different shapes of cracks due to the weak
 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383
resistance of the plain concrete under tension. Therefore the main
purpose of using the fiber in the concrete is to improve the perfor-
mance under tension applied load, where the randomly distribu-
tion of the fiber in the concrete will prevent growing the cracks.
To be able to evaluate the stresses of traction separation
between the fiber and the concrete, it is necessary to create an
appropriate shear lag model compatible with our case of fiber
shape.
In literatures there are several types of shear lag model can be
used for the case of straight steel fiber, and these model must be
developed to be suitable to use in the case of another types of
fibers such as the corrugated shape.
In this paper a new suggested shear lag model has been created
for the case of corrugated fiber (see Fig. 3.1.1), where a part of cor-
rugated steel fiber embedded in concrete matrix is shown in the
schematic drawing.
In this suggested model we can choose a small element from
the corrugated steel fiber with small length equals to, dL, and small
element from the concrete matrix with length equals to, dq, as it is
clear in the schematic.
If this model is subjected to tensile stress rt at its upper and
down sides each point of the fiber will move to new location by
specific distance which will be called as uf, and each point from
the matrix will also move by specific distance might be called as
um.
In concrete fabric it is assumed to have the radius, R, as the far
distance of the concrete fabric expected for each fiber depending
on fiber fraction volume, f, in the concrete. As well as it is assumed
that small element from concrete fabric will be studied and this
element has the distance, q, from the origin with respect to, x, axis
and its length is equal to, dq. In this case the small concrete ele-
ment is subjected to the shear stress, sq, at its two sides, and differ-
ential displacement, du, will be observed between its beginning
and end points with respect to, y, axis as it is shown in the sche-
matic drawing.
In schematic drawing we note that the small element of the
fiber has inclination angle, h, with respect to, x, axis, and this small
fiber element is subjected to normal stress, rf, at its bottom end,
the distance between its left bottom point and, x, axis is equal to,
y, and the upper side of this small fiber element is subjected to
Fig. 3.1.1. Shear lag model of corrugated steel fiber in concrete matrix.
375
increased normal stress equals to (rf + drf), and, dy, is the vertical
component of the diagonal length, dL, of this small fiber element.
Furthermore, this small fiber element is subjected to shear stress,
sf, at its contact surface with the concrete fabric, taking into con-
sideration that, r, is the radius of the fiber. And it will be assumed
that the magnitude of fiber segment elongation is, ui, due to the
applied tensile stresses.
3.2. Experimental study
Several samples have been prepared in the lab, and each sample
consists of single steel fiber embedded into concrete matrix with
specific length which can be called as the embedment length of
the fiber, and this embedment length will be provided by different
values using plastic chair, where the total fiber length will be
divided into two partial lengths, first part length will start from
this plastic chair and satisfies the request embedment length
which is needed to be provided into the concrete matrix, and the
remaining part of the fiber will be kept inside the second part of
the mould, the casting process will start by providing fresh con-
crete to fill only the half of the mould depth, then the fiber will
be put above this fresh concrete using the plastic chair which must
be placed at the middle part of the mould (please see Fig. 3.2.1).
The preparation process of all samples was using the shown
metallic mould (see Fig. 3.2.2). The total internal length of the
mould is equal to (80 mm), and this total length will be divided
into two symmetrical parts using plastic chair at the narrow zone
of the sample where the width is equal to (25 mm), the largest
width of each symmetrical part is equal to (50 mm), and the uni-
form thickness is equal to (20 mm).
After 28 days of hardening of samples, each side of each sample
will be subjected gradually to increasing tensile force applied until
happening a failure in the bond strength between the fiber and the
concrete (see Fig. 3.2.1).
Fig. 3.2.1. Experimental pull-out sample of single corrugated steel fiber in concrete.
376 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383

Fig. 3.2.2. Dimensions of the mould used for pull-out samples preparation in the
lab.

Fig. 3.2.5. Pull-out test of samples in the lab.

Fig. 3.2.3. Corrugated steel fiber (Tabix) [27].

total length of the fiber is equal to (50 mm) and its diameter is
equal to (1 mm) and the fiber aspect ratio l/d = 50, and the fiber
tensile strength is equal to 1200 MPa.
A specific concrete mixture, with an acceptable workability and
good texture, have been prepared using the shown mix design (see
Table 3.2.1), where the experimental tests led to concrete compres-
sive strength after 28 days equals to 40 MPa.
Five groups of single steel fiber samples have been prepared
using different embedded lengths into the concrete matrix equal
to 0.1 L, 0.2 L, 0.3 L, 0.4 L and 0.5 L respectively, where (L) is the
total length of the fiber, and 3 specimens were prepared in each
group using both shapes of fibers, straight and corrugated.
(t = 0.2, E = 30,000 MPa) for the concrete matrix, and (t = 0.3,
E = 200,000 MPa) for the steel fiber, where (t) is the Poisson’s ratio
and (E) is the Elasticity modulus.
This study used a typical test set-up for the single-fiber pull-out
testing of the specimens. The pull-out force and slippage displace-
ment at the ends (tips) were recorded by a data acquisition system
during the tests. The specimens were tested under increasing
monotonic pull-out loading using 30-kN capacity universal testing
Fig. 3.2.4. Straight steel fiber [28]. machine (INSTRON) with displacement control at a rate of 0.2 mm/
min until the fibers were pulled out. (Fig. 3.2.5) shows a test set-up
for the single-fiber pull-out test, where the two parts of each sam-
Table 3.2.1 ple are subjected to same tensile force increases gradually and
Ingredients of concrete mix used for the process of pull-out samples preparation.
slowly to monitor the mechanical behavior of the fiber through
Components 1 m3 1L the test of pull the fiber out of the concrete. Using the data of these
CEM II 42.5 A-V 556 kg 556.00 g tests, load-displacement curves will be drawn for all cases of differ-
Sand 0.3/2.5 mm 863 kg 863.00 g ent embedded length, and a comparison between the lab results of
Sand 0/0.5 mm 288 kg 288.00 g the corrugated steel fiber and the straight steel fiber will be pre-
Filler (Dolomite powder) 150 kg 150.00 g pared to refer to the benefits of using the corrugated fiber form
Microsilica 81 kg 81.00 g
Water 247 L 247.00 ml
model.
SIKA EVO 26 9L 9.00 ml
SIKA AER S (10%) 2L 2.00 ml 3.3. Preparation of computer simulations
Total: 2196 kg 2196.00 g

Computer simulations have been created using finite element

model. The process of creating the computer simulations started
Corrugated fiber form (Tabix) (see Fig. 3.2.3) in addition to by constructing the materials of the steel fiber and the concrete
straight fiber form (see Fig. 3.2.4) will be used through the prepa- matrix, in addition to the shape of each material to be similar to
ration process of the laboratory samples, where in both forms the its actual properties and shape corresponding with the lab work.
 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383
Fig. 3.3.1. Computer simulation materials.
Fig. 3.3.2.a. Finite element model.
Therefore the preparation of these computer simulations started
by drawing the pull-out test specimen model, and then input the
specific properties of the steel fiber and the concrete matrix using
values equal to the actual case applied in the lab, such as (Poisson’s
ratio, t) and (Elasticity modulus, E), where:
377
Fig. 3.3.2.b. Finite element model.
(t = 0.2, E = 30,000 MPa) for the concrete matrix, and (t = 0.3,
E = 200,000 MPa) for the steel fiber (see Fig. 3.3.1).
The creation of the finite element model might be obtained by
meshing the previous shape of the two materials areas (the corru-
gated steel fiber & the concrete matrix), after that the connection
between the created meshes, after that input the properties (Pois-
son’s ratio and Elasticity modulus) of the two materials, where full
bond connection between the fiber and the concrete will be set, to
ensure that the simulation is working by fully bond, while the two
parts of this simulation are subjected to applied tensile force
equals to that maximum force which was applied to the samples
in the lab (see Figs. 3.3.2.a, 3.3.2.b).
The total length of the corrugated steel fiber in the computer
simulations equals to (50 mm) and its diameter equals to (1 mm)
in similar manner to its true shape. The embedded length of the
fiber is equal to (0.5 L) where, L, is the total length of the corru-
gated fiber.
4. Results and discussion
4.1. Deriving the traction separation relations
The suggested shear lag model in schematic drawing (Fig. 3.1.1)
introduces stressed fiber-concrete system in the case of fiber in
corrugated shape within concrete matrix, where each of the steel
fiber and the concrete is divided into small elements. This stressed
system shows displacements and variations with radial locations
of the shear stress and strain in the concrete.
The vertical variation between the beginning point and the end
point of the small matrix element is equal to (du), therefore the
shear strain (c) can be written as:
sq
c¼
Gm
And the shear strain according to Hook’s law can be written as:
sq
c¼
Gm
where Gm is the shear factor.
Therefore we can write:
du sq
¼ ð4:1:1Þ
dq Gm
Depending on the suggested shear lag model, we can say that
the radial variation of shear stress in the matrix, s, (at a given
378 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383

distance, x, from the fiber mid-point) is obtained by equating the dum

ffi em ffi e1
shear forces on neighboring annuli (with radius r1, r2 of the vertical dy
component of the length dy), therefore we can write:
The shear modulus Gm of concrete matrix can be written in
2p:r 1 :s1 :dy ¼ 2p:r 2  s2 dy terms of Elasticity modulus, Em, and Poisson’s ratio, tm, of the
matrix as follows:
s1 r 2
¼ Em
s2 r 1 Gm ¼
2ð1 þ mm Þ
The shear stress, sq, in the concrete matrix at any radius, q, is
therefore related to the ratio between the fiber radius at the inter- If we write Gm in Eq. (4.1.2) in terms of Em, tm and substituting
face, r, and the radius, q, of the concrete small element with in Eq. (4.1.4) with respect to Eq. (4.1.3), we can write:
respect to, y, axis, taking into account the vertical component of drf 2Em ðum  uf Þ
the fiber shear stress, sf, at the interface, therefore we can write: ¼ ð4:1:5Þ
ð1 þ mm Þr 2 : sin h: ln 1
dy 2
f
sq r
¼ Differentiation of Eq. (4.1.5) will give:
sf : sin h q
d2rf C2
Substituting in Eq. (4.1.1) will give: 2
¼ 2
ðrf  Ef :e1 Þ ð4:1:6Þ
dy r2 : sin h
du sf  sin h r
¼  where C, is a dimensionless constant equals to:
dq Gm q sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
2Em
sf  sin h  r 1 C¼ ð4:1:7Þ
du ¼ : dq Ef ð1 þ mm Þ ln 1f
Gm q
The standard solution of the linear differential Eq. (4.1.6) which
Integration the two sides gives:
is from second-order is:
Z Z
um
sf : sin h:r R
1
du ¼ dq C:y C:y
uf Gm r q rf ¼ Ef :e1 þ B: sinh þ D: cosh ð4:1:8Þ
r: sin h r: sin h
sf : sin h:r R If we assume the total length of the fiber is equal to Lf, (rf = 0) at
ðum  uf Þ ¼ : ln (y = ± Lf/2), and (Lf/r) as a fiber aspect ratio in the composite and
Gm r
equals to (Ff), then Eq. (4.1.8) can be written in this new shape:
Gm  ðum  uf Þ  
sf  sin h ¼ ð4:1:2Þ C:y
r  ln Rr rf ¼ Ef :e1 þ 1  cosh þ sechðC:F f Þ ð4:1:9Þ
r:sinh
The fiber volume fraction, f, can be obtained using two cylin-
Differentiation Eq. (4.1.9) with respect to (y) and rearranging
ders’ model of fibers which gives:
the result contents will lead to the final shape of the equation
p:r2 which can be used to find the separation shear stress (sf) which
f ¼
p:R2 affects the fiber at the interface between the fiber and its concrete
matrix:
 2
1
¼
R
ð4:1:3Þ C:e1 C:y
f r sf ¼ :Ef : sinh :sechðC:F f Þ ð4:1:10Þ
2 r: sin h
Returning to the (Fig. 3.1.1) of stressed fiber-concrete system in Using this Eq. (4.1.10) we can evaluate the impact of changing
the suggested shear lag model, and satisfying the equilibrium of the fiber shape from straight to corrugated depending on h value,
small element from the fiber with length dL, we can write: consequently the enhancing in its performance. In case of straight
steel fiber (h) is equal to (90°) and in the corrugated case
2p:r:sf :dL ¼ p:r 2  drf (90° < h < 0), therefore we can confirm this evaluation numerically
in this part using same factors by same values of our experimental
dy part and the finite element simulations as the following:
¼ sin h
dL
Em ¼ 30; 000 N=mm2 ; Ef ¼ 200; 000 N=mm2 ; r ¼ 0:5 mm;v m ¼ 0:2
dy
dL ¼
sin h If we assume that: R = 10 mm and e1 = 0.01.
We can calculate the bond stress sf using Eq. (4.1.10) and con-
drf 2sf firm the development of the fiber performance according to differ-
¼ ð4:1:4Þ
dy r: sin h ent values of (h), where it is clear in (Table 4.1.1) that the bond
stress has been improved from 0.51 N/mm2 in the case of straight
The displacements themselves are unknown, but their differen-
tials are related to identifiable strains. Therefore for the fiber if we
assume, ef, is the fiber strain, it will be possible to write: Table 4.1.1
Observation the development of the bond stress sf according to different values of the
duf rf angle (h).
¼ ef ¼
dy Ef h Fiber type 1/f C Lf (mm) Y (mm) Ff sf (N/mm2)

And for the concrete matrix if we assume, em, is the matrix 90° Straight 400 0.04173 50 25 100 0.51
45° Corrugated 400 0.04173 50 25 100 12.26
strain and approximately equal to the composite strain, e1, in this 30° Corrugated 400 0.04173 50 25 100 41.71
case we can write:
 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383 379

steel fiber to be gradually with greater values when decreasing the 0.2 L (Corrugated) 0.2 L (Straight)
value of (h) to be 45° and 30°.
1000
900
4.2. Experimental results

Tensile Force (N)

800
700
After conducting laboratory tests of the corrugated and the
600
straight fiber forms, where in both forms the total length of the
500
fiber is equal to (50 mm) and its diameter is equal to (1 mm) and
400
the fiber aspect ratio l/d = 50, and the fiber tensile strength is equal
300
to 1200 MPa, the positive impact of applying the corrugated form
200
on the improvement the mechanical behavior of the fiber inside
100
the concrete became clear. The results of experiments show a
0
remarkable improvement in the performance of the steel fiber 0 2 4 6 8 10
when using the corrugated form (Tabix), comparison with the Displacement (mm)
straight form, where the bond strength between the corrugated
steel fiber and the concrete increased 7 times higher than the bond Fig. 4.2.2. Bond strength development when using corrugated fiber shape in case of
strength when using the straight steel fiber. embedded length = 0.2 L.
Also a considerable development has been observed when
increasing the value of the embedded length of the fiber in the con- 0.3 L (Corrugated) 0.3 L (Straight)
crete, whereas a quick failure has been shown in the concrete
matrix when using low value of embedded length such as embed- 1000
ded length smaller than (0.1 L), where the pull-out behavior is dif- 900

Tensile Force (N)

ferent due to matrix spalling. 800
When using embedded length between (0.1 L–0.4 L), a recog- 700
nized development in the bond strength is obtained, where the 600
maximum tensile force applied to the fiber was equal to only 500
(40 N) in the case of using straight steel fiber with embedded length 400
equals to (0.1 L), whereas this maximum applied force was equal to 300
(300 N) when using the corrugated shape (see Fig. 4.2.1). 200
When using embedded length equals to (0.2 L), the bond 100
strength between the concrete and the fiber increased from 0
(50 N) to (600 N), and from (100 N) to (700 N) in the case of 0 5 10 15 20 25
embedded length equals to (0.3 L and 0.4 L) respectively, (see Displacement (mm)
Figs. 4.2.2–4.2.4).
The reasons of increasing the bond strength are beyond to the Fig. 4.2.3. Bond strength development when using corrugated fiber shape in case of
embedded length = 0.3 L.
enhancing of the adhesion between the fiber and the concrete
because of developing the shape of the fiber, where the corrugating
in the fiber shape increases the area of the contact surfaces 0.4 L (Corrugated) 0.4 L (Straight)
between the fiber and the concrete, consequently the sum of bond-
1000
ing stresses, as well as this zig-zag form gives extra supporting sur-
900
faces in X, Y directions, and the applied tensile force on the fiber
800
Tensile Force (N)

will be transmitted to the concrete as a compressive stresses,

where the concrete has high value of compressive strength, and 700
this behavior will be useful to protect the concrete from the failure. 600
Therefore this system of fiber-concrete using the corrugated form 500
will produce assembly of stresses gives sufficient efficiency 400
strength to resist the fiber from pull out of the concrete. 300
200
100
0.1 L (Corrugated) 0.1 L (Straight)
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
1000
900
Displacement (mm)
800
Tensile Force (N)

Fig. 4.2.4. Bond strength development when using corrugated fiber shape in case of
700 embedded length = 0.4 L.
600
500
In the case of the use of embedded length equals to (0.5 L), the
400
contribution of supporting surfaces and the interfacial bond
300
strength may reach a value greater than the applicable tensile force
200
on the fiber, therefore the corrugated fiber may reach its yield
100
strength through straitening attempts before a failure in the bond
0 strength between the fiber and the concrete, thus a failure in the
0 1 2 3 4 5
fiber may occur at some point along the embedded length, which
Displacement (mm)
may cause a cutting in the fiber at that point, and leaving some
Fig. 4.2.1. Bond strength development when using corrugated fiber shape in case of length inside the matrix, while the other part pulls out of the con-
embedded length = 0.1 L. crete (see Fig. 4.2.5). Therefore the use of embedded length equals
380 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383

0.5 L (Corrugated) 0.5 L (Straight)

1100
1000
900
Tensile Force (N)

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Displacement (mm)

Fig. 4.2.5. Bond strength development when using corrugated fiber shape in case of
embedded length = 0.5 L.

Fig. 4.3.1.b. Deformation form of computer pull-out simulation of corrugated steel

to (0.5 L) leads to probability of cutting process at the mid-point of
the total length of the corrugated fiber, so (0.5 L) could be consid-
ered as the perfect embedded length, where the bond strength
increases shape (125 N) to (980 N) comparison with the case of
straight steel fiber.
In this study we see that the pull-out behavior of straight steel
fibers is directly with the embedment length of the fiber. The peak
load of straight steel fiber might be higher or lower (comparison
with related studies) due to different factors such as the properties
of the concrete mix and the fiber which are used to prepare the
fiber embedded (0.5 L) in concrete matrix.
pull-out samples. However, this study is devoted to obtain a rela-
tive improvement when using the corrugated fiber comparison
with the straight, therefore if some changes are made on the con-
crete mix design to obtain higher bond strength between the fiber
and the concrete matrix, these changes will affect the peak load of
the pull-out test in both cases of fiber shape (the straight and the
corrugated), and similar relative improvement is expected.

Fig. 4.3.2. Maximum interfacial Y-Stresses along the corrugated fiber.

Fig. 4.3.1.a. Deformation form of computer pull-out simulation of corrugated steel

fiber embedded (0.5 L) in concrete matrix. Fig. 4.3.3. Minimum interfacial Y-Stresses along the corrugated fiber.
 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383 381

Fig. 4.3.4.a. Stress distribution in Y direction. Fig. 4.3.5.a. Stress distribution in X direction.

Fig. 4.3.5.b. Stress distribution in X direction.

Fig. 4.3.4.b. Stress distribution in Y direction.

Fig. 4.3.5.c. Stress distribution in X direction.

Fig. 4.3.4.c. Stress distribution in Y direction.
382 A. Khabaz / Construction and Building Materials 128 (2016) 373–383
4.3. Results of computer simulations
In the case of computer simulations, these simulations are cre-
ated as a finite element models using same dimensions and forces
which were used in the laboratory experimental procedure. After
nonlinear dynamical analysis for these computer simulations, the
results of deformation shape can be shown for each of the corru-
gated fiber and the concrete matrix under the influence of pull-
out tensile forces (see Figs. 4.3.1.a and 4.3.1.b). We note rising of
the free edge of the concrete at the separation zone between the
two parts of the simulation under the influence of the applied ten-
sion force. This indicates that the bonding forces between the fiber
and the concrete, which have been obtained from the interfacial
bonding stresses, as well as the additional bonding strength due
to the corrugating, are efficient enough to prevent the fiber from
pulling out of the concrete despite of the big deformation in the
concrete.
The results of non-linear analysis also show the impact of the
use of corrugating on the mechanical behavior of the fiber inside
the concrete, where the stresses in X, Y directions look like concen-
trated at the corrugating, which refers to the fiber resistance
against the attempts of pulling it out of the concrete by transform-
ing the tensile stresses from the fiber to be compressive stresses
act on the concrete at the supporting surfaces around the corrugat-
ing (see Figs. 4.3.2 and 4.3.3), where these two figures show the
maximum and minimum stresses at the two sides of the
corrugated fiber, as well as the sequent peaks on the curve of
stress-displacement relation, which refer to concentrated stresses
at the corrugating.
It can also see the contours of Y-Stresses in (Figs. 4.3.4.a and
4.3.4.b), and X-Stresses in (Figs. 4.3.5.a and 4.3.5.b), of each of
the corrugated steel fiber and the concrete matrix under the
influence of balanced tensile forces applied to the upper and the
down part, where we note the concentration of stresses at the cor-
rugating, especially at the mid-point of the fiber between the two
parts of the simulation, where maximum Y-Stress affects the fiber
what allows the fiber to reach its yield strength before the failure
in the bond strength between the fiber and the concrete, see
(Figs. 4.3.4.c and 4.3.5.c), and this confirms the strong evolution
of bond strength between the concrete and the steel fiber when
using the corrugated fiber shape model.
5. Conclusions
This paper presented a work on bond strength of corrugated
steel fiber in cementitious material. The work is comprehensive
including both experimental and simulation parts in addition to
analytical part of traction separation relation between the fiber
and the concrete using new shear lag model devoted to the case
of corrugated fiber.
The stress distribution within the fiber explained the bonding
behavior between the corrugated fiber and the concrete, where
the computer simulations and the experimental results show the
stress distribution along the fiber direction through both the bonded
and unbonded regions, and it was clear that the part of cement block
near the free portion of the fiber often fails due to end effect.
The deboning failure mechanism was mainly come from the
interfacial fracture in the cementitious material near the fiber in
both straight and corrugated shapes. This behavior have been sim-
ulated using the traction separation relations in general case using
slope angle, h, which can be used to conclude and evaluate the
enhancing in bond strength when using the corrugated shape com-
parison with the straight shape.
The value of the inclination angle, h, can be used to prove the
enhancing in bond strength between the fiber and concrete in case
of using the corrugated shape of the fiber comparison with the case
of using the straight shape of the fiber, where in straight fiber
h = 90°, and in corrugated shape h < 90°. Therefore by returning
to the traction separation relation (4.1.10) we can prove the
enhancing in bond strength by numerical evaluation of the interfa-
cial stress, sf, as the following:
Increasing the value of the angle, h, in the term (sin h) of the Eq.
(4.1.10), will increase the value of (sin h), and therefore the value of
the term (sinh½C:y=r: sin h) will be smaller and this in turn will lead
to minimize the value of the stress which causes separation
between the fiber and the concrete (sf ), and as the angle value, h,
is equal to (90°) in the straight fiber shape, which is always larger
than its value in all cases of the corrugated shape (where h < 90°), it
means that the fracture of the bonding between the fiber and the
concrete will happen under the influence of smaller stresses, and
by similar analysis we can conclude that the larger inclination in
the corrugation will introduce greater value in bond strength.
Therefore the corrugated fiber will need greater value of effective
stresses to cause the fracture in the bond strength, and this is a real
evidence for enhancing the bond strength when using the corru-
gated shape for the fiber instead of the straight shape.
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank Deanship of Scientific Research
at Majmaah University for supporting this work.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, in
the online version, at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.
2016.10.094.
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