Abstract
To investigate crack initiation and propagation in reinforced, self-compacting, steel–fibre-reinforced concrete (SCSFRC) members, tie elements were tested in tension. Strain and surface crack formation were monitored with an optical strain measurement system based on digital image correlation. In addition, to capture the softening behaviour (σ–w) of the material, uni-axial tension testing was performed on SCSFRC cylinders. The results show that, with the optical strain measurement system, it was possible to detect different cracking modes and to follow the crack growth. It was especially of interest to recognize that high fibre amounts tend to change a sudden opening of a crack (as in non-fibrous concrete) into a more stable procedure. It was found that, for a given crack width, the SCSFRC specimens exhibited a noticeably higher tension stiffening than the specimens without fibres. Moreover, at a given load, the crack widths decreased by as much as 65% for the SCSFRC specimens with a nominal fibre content of 1%. For the uni-axial tension tests the results showed that with higher fibre content, for this type of fibre and concrete, both the peak stress and the residual tensile stress were increased. Additionally, it was noted for both specimen types that the scatter in fibre distribution decreased with increasing fibre content.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrishami HH, Mitchell D (1997) Influence of steel fibers on tension stiffening. ACI Struct J 94(6):769–776
Noghabai K (1998) Effect of tension softening on the performance of concrete structures: experimental, analytical and computational studies. Div of Struct Eng, Dept of Civil and Mining Eng, Luleå University of Technology: Luleå, p 170
Bischoff P (2003) Tension stiffening and cracking of steel-fiber-reinforced-concrete. J Mater Civil Eng 15(2):174–182
Lawler JS, Zampini D, Shah SP (2005) Micro fiber and macro fiber hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete. J Mater Civ Eng 17(5):595–604
Goto Y (1971) Cracks formed in concrete around deformed tension bars. ACI J 68(4):244–251
RILEM TC 147-FMB (2001) Tension of reinforced concrete prisms. In: Elfgren L, Noghabai K (eds) Research report 2001:13. Division of Struct Engineering, Luleå
Tammo K (2009) A new approach to crack control for reinforced concrete—an investigation of crack widths close to the reinforcement and the correlation to service life. Div of Struct Eng, Lund Institute of Techn, Lund University, p 161
Fantilli PA, Mihashi H, Vallini P (2007) Crack profile in RC, R/FRCC and R/HPFRCC members in tension. Mater Struct 40:1099–1114
SIS—Bygg, o. anläggning (2009) Swedish Standard SS-EN 12390-3:2009
EN-1992-1-1 EUROPEAN Standard (2004) Eurocode 2: design of concrete structures—Part 1-1: general rules and rules for buildings
Dupont D, Vandewalle LC (2005) Distribution of steel fibres in rectangular sections. Cem Concr Compos 27(3):391–398
Barragán B, Gettu R, Martín MA et al (2003) Uniaxial tension test for steel fibre reinforced concrete—a parametric study. Cem Concr Compos 25:767–777
Löfgren I, Stang H, Olesen JF (2008) The WST method, a fracture mechanics test method for FRC. Mater Struct 41:197–211
RILEM TC 162-TDF (2001) Test and design methods for steel fibre reinforced concrete-Uni-axial tension test for steel fibre reinforced concrete. Mater Struct 34:3–6
Barragán BE (2002) Failure and toughness of steel fiber reinforced concrete under tension and shear. Ph.D. Thesis, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Shah P (1991) Do fibers increase the tensile strength of cement-based matrixes? ACI Mater J 88(6):595–602
Banthia N, Sheng J (1996) Fracture toughness of micro-fiber reinforced cement composites. Cem Concr Compos 18(4):251–269
Grünewald S (2004) Performance-based design of self-compacting fibre reinforced concrete. Ph.D. thesis, Dept of Struct and Building Engineering, Delft University of Technology
Zhu W, Sonebi M, Bartos PJM (2004) Bond and interfacial properties of reinforcement in self-compacting concrete. Mater Struct 37:442–448
Bisby LW, Take A, Caspary A (2007) Quantifying strain variation in FRP confined concrete using digital image correlation: PROOF-OF-CONCEPT and initial results. In: Smith ST (ed) Asia-Pacific conference on FRP in structures (APFIS 2007). Dept of Civil Eng. Queen’s University, Canada
DAfStb UA SFB N 0146 (2005) DAfStb-Richtlinie, Stahlfaserbeton (21. Entwurf) Draft
Peiretti HCA, Caldentey P, Petschke P (2003) PrEN CHAPTER 7—serviceability limit states. Cracking. supporting document, http://hormigon.mecanica.upm.es/files/PDF/SD-Cracking.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jansson, A., Flansbjer, M., Löfgren, I. et al. Experimental investigation of surface crack initiation, propagation and tension stiffening in self-compacting steel–fibre-reinforced concrete. Mater Struct 45, 1127–1143 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-012-9821-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-012-9821-6