Variation in Properties of

Concrete By Addition Of Steel

Fibers

Final report submitted in partial requirement of

B.E Civil Engineering

Submitted by:
ABHISHEK-16BCE1032
GURSIMRAN SINGH-16BCE1035
ABHISHEK SHARMA-16BCE1037
SPARSH MAHAJAN-16BCE1040
AKSHAYDEEP THAKUR-16BCE1041

Batch: 2016-2020

Department of Civil Engineering

Chandigarh University Gharuan, Mohali

1
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are highly grateful to the Dr. Gurdeep Singh, Executive Director, & Dr. S.S.Sehagl,
Director Engineering, Chandigarh University Mohali, for providing this opportunity to carry out
the Project.

The constant guidance and encouragement received from Prof. Sandeep Salhotra, Head, Department of
Civil Engineering & Sir. Sandeep Nasir, academic coordinator, Department of Civil Engineering, has
been of great help in carrying out the project work and is acknowledged with reverential thanks.

The authors would like to express a deep sense of gratitude and thanks profusely to Sir Abishek
Rana. Without the wise counsel and able guidance, it would have been impossible to complete
the report in this manner.

The authors express gratitude to other faculty members of Civil Department, Chandigarh
University, Mohali for their intellectual support throughout the course of this work.

ABHISHEK

GURSIMRAN SINGH

ABHISHEK SHARMA

SPARSH MAHAJAN

AKSHAYDEEP THAKUR

I have gone through the content of the synopsis submitted by

and found it in order and fit to carry on the proposed studies.

Dated Signature of the guide

 TABLE OF CONTENT:

1) OBJECTIVE

2) INTRODUCTION

3) EXPERIMENTAL WORK

4) RESULT AND DISCUSSION

5) ADVANTAGES OF SFRC.

6) DISADVANTAGES OF SFRC

7) CONCLUSION

8) FUTURE SCOPE
OBJECTIVE:

1. TO CHECK THE STRENGTH OF THE CONCRETE.

2. CHECKING PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE USING STEEL FIBRE.
3. SAVING OF CEMENT BY REPLACING IT WITH STEEL FIBRE.
4. TO MAKE CONCRETE MORE ECONOMICAL.

INTRODUCTION:

CONCRETE:

Concrete is characterized by quasi-brittle failure, the nearly complete loss of loading capacity,
once failure is initiated. Concrete can be modified to perform in a more ductile manner by the
addition of randomly distributed discrete fibers in the concrete matrix, which prevent and control
initiation, propagation and coalescence of cracks. Concrete consumption is around 10 billion tons
per year, which is equivalent to 1 ton per every living person. Production of Cement and Steel
has environmental hazards due to emission of CO2 and dust particles in the atmosphere. Hence
prudent use of cement and steel has distinct economic and environmental impacts. Plain concrete
is a brittle material. Under impact and dynamic loading plain concrete exhibits extensive
cracking and undergoes brittle failure. The concrete is weak in tension and hence to overcome
this problem cement concrete is reinforced using steel bars and thus called as reinforced cement
concrete (R.C.C.) In this modern age, civil engineering constructions have their own structural
and durability requirements. Every structure has its own intended purpose and hence to meet this
purpose, modification in traditional cement concrete has became mandatory.

FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE:

Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) is a composite material made primarily from hydraulic
cements, aggregates and discrete reinforcing fibers. Fiber incorporation in concrete, mortar and
cement paste enhances many of the engineering properties of these materials such as fracture
toughness, flexural strength, resistance to fatigue, impact, thermal shock and spelling.

The SFRC is a composite material made of cement, fine and coarse aggregates and discontinuous
discrete steel fibers. In tension SFRC fails only after the steel fiber breaks or pulled out of the
cement matrix. The composite nature of SFRC is responsible for its properties in freshly mixed
and hardened state. The SFRC possess many excellent dynamic performances such as high
resistance to explosion and penetration as compared to traditional concrete. When used in
structural applications, SFRC should only be used in a supplementary role to inhibit cracking, to
improve resistance to impact or dynamic loading and resist material disintegration. The SFRC is
a composite material made of cement, fine and coarse aggregates and discontinuous discrete steel
fibers. In tension SFRC fails only after the steel fiber breaks or pulled out of the cement matrix.
The composite nature of SFRC is responsible for its properties in freshly mixed and hardened
state. The SFRC possess many excellent dynamic performances such as high resistance to
explosion and penetration as compared to traditional concrete. When used in structural
applications, SFRC should only be used in a supplementary role to inhibit cracking, to improve
resistance to impact or dynamic loading and resist material disintegration. The weak matrix in
concrete, when reinforced with fibers, uniformly distributed across its entire mass, gets
strengthened enormously, thereby rendering the matrix to behave as a composite material with
properties significantly different from conventional concrete. The mechanical properties of
SFRC are influenced by the type of fiber, aspect ratio, and volume fraction of fibers and the size
of the aggregates. One of the most important properties of SFRC is its ability to transfer stresses
across a cracked section which increases toughness of concrete in hardened state.

Materials Used In FRC :

i) GRADE OF CONCRETE USED WAS M-35.

(Aiswarya Sukumar,Elson John,2014)

ii) ACI method of mix design is used for mix design of M-35 grade of concrete. The optimum
percentage of to give maximum compressive strength is achieved by making trial mixes with as
cement replacement at a constant interval of 2.5% by weight of cement.
(A.G. Dahake and K. S. Charkha,2016)

iii) Mix Design Concrete of M-35 Grade was used.

(Sayyad Khaseem Babu et al,2017)

1. Cement Materials:

Cement is a binder, a substance used in construction that sets and harden and can bind
other materials together. The most important types of cement are used as a component in
the production of mortar in masonry, and of concrete, which is a combination of cement
and an aggregate to form a strong building material.

2. Fine Aggregate:
 The sand particles consist of small grains of silica. It is formed by the decomposition of
sandstones due to various effects of weather. The coarse finer passing through 4.75mm IS
sieve and retained on 0.075mm IS sieve in known as fine aggregate or sand.

3. Coarse Aggregate:

These are the inert or chemically inactive materials which form the bulk of cement concrete. These
aggregates are bound together by means of cement. The broken stone are generally used as coarse
aggregate. Coarse aggregate size range between 4.75mm to 80mm. The nature of work decides the
maximum size of the coarse aggregate.

4. Steel Fibers:

Hooked end Steel fibers of 0.75mm diameter with 60mm length is used and its aspect
ratio is 80.

Physical properties of steel fibres

Properties Values
Specific gravity 7.8
Length 60mm
Diameter 0.75mm
Aspect ratio 80
Experimental Work:
The mix design is carried out as per IS 10262:2009.The proportioning is carried out to achieve
strength at specified age, workability of fresh concrete and durability requirements. Relationship
between strength and free water cement ratio should be preferably being established for the
materials actually to be used.

To study the effect of fiber

1. Cubes of size 150mm x150mmx150mm

2. Beam of sizes 500x100x100mm were

tested. Casting of the concrete specimens.

1. Mixing:
The concrete mixture can be produced by hand mixing. After weighing all these
components such as cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate was mixed thoroughly. To
this mixture required amounts of steel,fibres were added in the percentage. The fibres
were uniformly mixed with sprinkler action by the hand. The water was added to this
mixture without any loss in water content while mixing operation was done.

2. Casting and Curing:

Casting is done by filling the moulds and after 24 hours, these were demoulded.

Curing was done after 3,7 and 28 days in general.

 Compressive Strength Test:
One of the salient property for most structural application is the compressive strength of
concrete

i) To study the 3, 7 and 28 days compressive strength of concrete mixes, three concrete cubes for
each day were casted and tested in a set itself. The cube specimens were of size 150 mm x 150
mm x 150 mm and were prepared and tested according to IS:516-1959.
ii) A cube compression test is performed on standard cubes of plain and SFC of size 150 x
150 x 150 mm after 3, 7 and 28 days of immersion in water for curing.
iii) To determine the Compressive strength of concrete, cubes with the specified dimensions
150x150x150mm were used. The specimens were cured for 7-28 days in the curing tank after
completion of curing process the specimens were undergone for testing in the laboratory, on
compression testing machine as per the norms of I.S.516-1959. For each percentage of mixture
three specimens were tested and the failure load values were noted.

The compressive strength of concrete can be determined as using below formula.

Compressive Strength of cube = (Load at Fracture / Area of cross-section).
The average value can be taken from the three specimens of compressive strength test
results.

FIG. SHOWING CUBE IN CTM.

Flexural Strength Test:
Flexural strength is one which measures the tensile strength and also unreinforced concrete
beams to resist failure load in bending. It is also known as modulus of rupture or fracture
strength.

i) Flexural strength was found according to IS: 516-1959 and for the same three
beam specimens were casted and tested after 7and 28 days of water curing. The
rectangular specimens were of dimensions 500x100x100mm.
ii) Standard beams of size 150 x 150 x 700 mm are supported symmetrically over a
span of 400mm and subjected two points loading till failure of the specimen.
iii) Test beam specimens of dimension 150x150x700mm were cast. After the casting
of specimens was done, those were de-moulded and transferred to the curing tank
and allowed to cure for 28 days. The strength was tested under two point loading
as per I.S.516-1959, the 600mm of effective span divided into three equal parts.
Those were rest on a testing machine of flexural strength.

While testing was done the load was increased gradually and the failure point load was
noted at which the beam was cracked. For each percentage of mix two beams were tested
and the average value was considered. The flexural strength can be calculated using
below formula.
Flexural Strength (Mpa) = PXL/bXd^2
Here , P = Failure Load, L = Distance between the supports from centre to centre =
600mm b = specimens width = 150mm, d = specimens depth = 150mm.

FIG REPRESENTING FLEXURAL TEST ON BEAM.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:
i)

In general, the significant improvement in various strengths is observed with the inclusion of
hooked end steel fibres in the plain concrete as compared to crimped and straight types of steel
fiber.

Compressive strength: Addition of steel fiber irrespective of type and aspect ratio improves the
compressive strength of concrete.’

Flexural strength: Flexural strength also enhanced due to addition of fibers. The reason for this
is the fibers arrests micro crack in concrete.

Graph showing compression strength of samples.

Graph showing Flexural Strength of samples.
(Aiswarya Sukumar,Elson John,2014)

ii) Production of mix (normal concrete of grade M-35) in the laboratory is carried out by IS
method of concrete mix design. Fiber Reinforced Concrete is produced by adding steel fibers of
different types and aspect ratios and keeping volume fraction constant as 2.5 % weight of cement
in the concrete. Dramix steel fibers conforming to ASTM A 820 type-I are used for experimental
work. It is high tensile steel cold drawn wire with hooked ends, glued in bundles & specially
engineered for use in concrete.
The following readings for compressive and tensile strength were found after 28 days as:

Bar Graph for Flexural strength was as follows:

Bar Graph for Compressive Strength was as follows:

From the graph it was found that:

Compressive strength: Addition of steel fiber irrespective of type and aspect ratio improves the
compressive strength of concrete. Strength comparison between same aspect ratio HK-80 and
RD-80 is 54.95 MPa and 50.59 MPa respectively and HK-50, RD-50 and CR-50 is 52.30 MPa,
46.62 MPa and 51.79 MPa respectively.
Flexural strength: Flexural strength also enhanced due to addition of fibers. The reason for this
is the fibers arrests micro crack in concrete. Observations shows, same aspect ratio HK- 80 and
RD-80 is 8.85 MPa and 7.63 MPa respectively and HK-50, RD-50 and CR-50 is 8.42 MPa,
6.814 MPa and 7.603 MPa respectively.
(A.G. Dahake and K. S. Charkha,2016)

iii) Following values for compression strength were obtained

Result of compressive strength at 7 & 28 days

S.No Various percentages of mix Compressive strength (N/mm2)

proportions 7 days 28 days
1 M0( 0% S.F) 27.09 40.69
2 M(1% S.F) 24.85 35.46
3 M2(2% S.F) 24.12 35.75
4 M3(3% S.F) 27.32 38.51
5 M4(1% S.F) 22.96 30.81
6 M5(2% S.F) 24.99 35.67
Compressive strength (MPa)

7 M6(3% S.F) 23.90 34.37

Various types of mix proportions

Following values of Flexural Strength were obtained:
Result of flexural strength at the age of 28 days.

S.no Various percentages of mix Flexural strength

proportions 2
(N/mm )@28 days
1 M0(0% S.F) 4.62
2 M1( 1% S.F) 5.31
3 M2(2% S.F) 5.49
4 M3(3% S.F) 5.66
5 M4(1% S.F) 6.19
6 M5(2% S.F) 6.36
7 M6(3% S.F) 6.73
Flexural strength (MPa)

Various types of mix proportions

( Sayyad Khaseem Babu,P. Venkata Sarath&P. Polu Raju,2017)

ADVANTAGES OF SFRC:

 Reinforcing concrete with Steel fibres results in durable concrete with a high flexural
and fatigue flexural strength, improved abrasion, spalling and impact resistance.
 The elimination of conventional reinforcement, and in some cases the reduction in
section thickness can contribute to some significant productivity improvements. Steel
fibres can deliver significant cost savings, together with reduced material volume, more
rapid construction and reduced labour costs.
 The random distribution of Steel fibres in concrete ensures that crack free
stress accommodation occurs throughout the concrete. Thus micro cracks are
intercepted before they develop and impair the performance of the concrete.
 Steel fibres are a far more economical design alternative

DISADVANTAGES OF SFRC:

 Steel fibres will not float on the surface of a properly finished slab, however, rain
damaged slabs allow both aggregate and fibres to be exposed and will present as
aesthetically poor whilst maintaining structural soundness.
 Fibres are capable of substituting reinforcement in all structural elements (including
primary reinforcement), however, within each element there will be a point where the
fibre alternative’s cost saving and design economies are diminished.
 Strict control of concrete wastage must be monitored in order to keep it at a
minimum. Wasted concrete means wasted fibres
CONCLUSION:
Following conclusion are drawn based on the result.

i) The mechanical properties of concrete are enhanced with the addition of steel fibers. All the
properties of concrete like compressive strength and flexural strength is increased. Also there is
reduction in porosity as well as reduction in absorption capacity of the concrete as compared with
normal concrete.

ii) 2.5 % addition of steel fibers, concrete showing overall improvement. In general, the
significant improvement in various strengths is observed with the inclusion of hooked end steel
fibres in the plain concrete. However, maximum gain in strength of concrete is found to depend
upon the amount of fibre content. The optimum fibre content to impart maximum gain in various
strengths varies with type of the strengths. With increasing fiber content, mode of failure is
changed from brittle to ductile when subjected to compression and bending.

iii) The addition of steel fibers to concrete improve not only the strength characteristics but also
the ductility. Research over the years have shown that fiber reinforcement has sufficient strength
and ductility to be used as a complete replacement to conventional steel bars in some types of
structures; foundations, walls, slabs. The technology that is available today has made is possible
to consider fiber reinforcement without the use of conventional steel bars in load carrying
structures.

iv) If fibers can be used without the need of steel reinforcement bars, the reinforcement part of
the construction work will be eliminated. Hence, the construction costs will be significantly
reduced.

v) The mix typesM6, M5, M4 and M3 gives better flexural strength at the age of 28 days.
vi) The mix type M3 gives good compressive strength at the age of 28 days.
FUTURE SCOPE:
Steel fibres have been in prevalence elsewhere in the world for over 4 decades in various
applications. Consequently a lot of international guidelines exist which detail the testing and
design aspects of SFRC structures. Sound performance, reduced construction time, simplified re-
inforcement drawings, no stockyard, enhanced job safety and increased durability are only some
main benefits of SFRC, which are mentioned in that context. At the same time it needs some
special knowledge to understand, design and execute this special building material. The use of
steel fibres for reinforcing concrete grade slabs in applications such as industrial floors,
warehouses, ports and highway pavements is prevalent world over. They are also widely used in
underground support infrastructure, particularly shotcrete linings, tunnels and ground stabili-
zation. In India, thanks to the improvements in steel fibre technology and more user experiences
in terms of economy and durability, the use of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) is
gaining traction. Advancements in admixture technologies over the last few decades coupled
with developments in fibre manufacturing technology (e.g. collated /glued fibres) have enabled
easier mixing, batching and improved workability of SFRC. There is an increased understanding
in the industry that each fibre type behaves differently and this fact must be considered while
specifying steel fibres and designing SFRC elements in various projects.