RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS

OF A STEEL FIBER-
REINFORCED POROSITY-FREE
CONCRETE BEAM UNDER AN
IMPACT LOAD
Yusuke Kurihashi, Katsuya Kono, Masato Komuro

Received: 8 August 2019 / Revised: 26 December 2019 / Accepted: 13 January 2020

ABSTRACT
Investigation of the impact resistance behavior of PFC is
performed using a weight dropping impact test on a fiber-
reinforced PFC beam.
Steel fiber-reinforced PFC is used for preventing brittle failure,
and the full plastic moment of the PFC beam cross-section is
determined based on material test results.
the estimation of maximum response deflection is attempted by
a simple plastic analysis.
CONTENT
I. Introduction
II. Outline of the Experiment
III. Impact Loading test results
IV. Calculation of Maximum Response Deflection of PFC Beams
Based on Material Test Results
V. Conclusion
I. INTRODUCTION
• Concrete - is the most used construction material globally
- compressive strength around 20–30 MPa,.
• High rise buildings and long bridges
- high-strength concrete of about 100 MPa
• ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC)
- compressive strength of approximately 200 MPa.
- can downsize the cross-section of the substructure
- reduce the total construction cost
- is extremely durable
I. INTRODUCTION
• POROSITY-FREE CONCRETE (PFC)
- It is the world’s highest strength concrete
- ultra-high-strength concrete that exhibits a
compressive strength of 400 MPa.

• These types of ultra-high-strength concrete can be expected to improve the

impact-resistant capacity of any concrete structure.

• Steel fiber-reinforced PFC can be used as an effective material for protective

structures against impacts, such as rockfall, flying objects, and blast loading.
it is important to study the effects of various parameters for proposing a
systematic impact resistance design procedure and promoting the practical use
of steel fiber-reinforced PFC.
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens

2-1.1. Materials and Mix Proportions for PFC

2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens

2-1.1. Materials and Mix Proportions for PFC

2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens
2.1.2 Mixing and Curing Methods

• The mixing of materials was carried out by

introducing B, W, SP, S, and DF into an
omnimixer and mixing for 8 min, then
adding F and mixing for another 2 min.
• The concrete was cast into a prepared
formwork and filled with a vibrator set on
the outside of the formwork. It was sealed
and cured (20 °C) in the formwork and
demolded at a material age of 48 h.
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens

2.1.2 Mixing and Curing Methods

• After the water absorption

treatment, the specimen was
subjected to steam curing.
• Next, heat curing was applied
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens

2.1.3 Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced PFC

• The compressive strength of the fiber-reinforced PFC is shown in

Table.
• Figure 3 shows, for reference, the tensile stress–strain
relationship of these materials, the load (P)–crack mouth
opening displacement (P–CMOD) curve determined using a
three-point bending test of a notched beam, and the tensile-
softening curve of fiber-reinforced PFC.
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens

2.1.3 Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced PFC

Fig. 3 Reference
data on material
properties of PFC
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens

2.1.3 Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced PFC

Fig. 3 Reference
data on material
properties of PFC
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2-1. PFC Beam Specimens

2.1.3 Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced PFC

Fig. 3 Reference
data on material
properties of PFC
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2.2 Outline of the Loading Test

2.2.1 List f Specimens

Fig. 4 Dimensions of specimens

2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2.2 Outline of the Loading Test

2.2.2 Calculated Load-Carrying Capacity of PFC Beams

Herein, the calculated

flexural capacity is
estimated by the fiber
model considering plane
conservation of the beam
section.
 2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2.2 Outline of the Loading Test

2.2.2 Calculated Load-Carrying Capacity of PFC Beams

Here, then bridging

strength of the steel
fibers was converted
to the yield strength
of the steel and then
applied to the cross-
section calculation.
Fig. 5 Outline of section division
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2.2 Outline of the Loading Test

2.2.2 Calculated Load-Carrying Capacity of PFC Beams

The calculated shear capacity Vu was determined by the following

expression:
 2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2.2 Outline of the Loading Test

2.2.3 Impact Loading Test Method and Measurement Items

• A steel weight of 20 kg mass

and 60 mm tip diameter was
allowed to freely fall once at the
center of the span from a
predetermined drop height.
• the weight impact force and the
reaction force are measured
using a load cell for impact
load measurement of a strain-
gauge type
Fig. 6 Setup of impact loading test
2. OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
2.2 Outline of the Loading Test

2.2.3 Impact Loading Test Method and Measurement Items

• The loading point deflection was measured by calculating the amount of

movement of the target marker attached to the side surface of the beam,
using the image captured by the high-speed camera
• Fame rate is 2000 frames per second.
• The accuracy of the movement was confirmed to be approximately 0.05
mm.
• At the end of the experiment, the crack condition of the specimen was
observed and recorded.
3 IMPACT LOADING TEST RESULTS
3.1 Time History of the Response Waveform
3 IMPACT LOADING TEST RESULTS
3.1 Time History of the Response Waveform
3 IMPACT LOADING TEST RESULTS
3.2 Crack Distribution Characteristics
3 IMPACT LOADING TEST RESULTS
3.2 Crack Distribution Characteristics
4. CALCULATION OF MAXIMUM RESPONSE
DEFLECTION OF PFC BEAMS BASED ON
MATERIAL TEST RESULTS
The maximum response deflection was evaluated by a simple plastic analysis
on a beam with a plastic hinge at the center of the span.
The kinetic energy We due to the weight
drop is then given by

The internal work Wi due to the rotation

of the plastic hinge is expressed as
4. CALCULATION OF MAXIMUM RESPONSE
DEFLECTION OF PFC BEAMS BASED ON
MATERIAL TEST RESULTS
based on We = Wi, the maximum
response deflection is

Figure 10 shows the calculated

results for the bending moment (M)–
curvature (/) relationship for each
specimen.
4. CALCULATION OF MAXIMUM RESPONSE
DEFLECTION OF PFC BEAMS BASED ON
MATERIAL TEST RESULTS
based on We = Wi, the maximum
response deflection is

Figure 10 shows the calculated

results for the bending moment (M)–
curvature (/) relationship for each
specimen.

at the end of the calculation, all the

specimens reached nearly full
plasticity.
4. CALCULATION OF MAXIMUM RESPONSE
DEFLECTION OF PFC BEAMS BASED ON
MATERIAL TEST RESULTS
5. CONCLUSION

Findings obtained are summarized as follows:

1. The response deflection can be reduced by 30–50% by changing the steel
fiber mixing rate in the PFC beam from 1 to 2%. In this study, all beams
reached the fully plastic state.
2. The results of plastic analysis revealed that when a plastic hinge is formed
clearly at the loading point, the maximum response deflection can be estimated
with an accuracy of approximately 80% when the plastic hinge is clearly
formed.
3. Material test results of compressive and tensile properties of steel fiber-
reinforced PFC may be applicable as characteristic values of material
constitutive law models, even in impact response analysis.
5. CONCLUSION

• If PFC is used in practice as a construction material, it is expected that the

protecting structures for natural and/orbunnatural disasters can more
reliably ensure the safety of human life.
• In this study, the ultimate strength of the PFC beam was not estimated.
• In the future, to establish the impact resistance design method for PFC
beams, it is necessary to conduct experimental and numerical research
focusing on the ultimate strength of the beam, including statistical
processing.