Mechanical Properties of Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) with Various Steel Fiber and Silica Fume Contents

Abstract

The results showed that both the tensile strength and the maximum post-cracking strain are significantly improved by using deformed steel fibers instead of smooth fibers. [...]the path of the stress strain curves of UHPFRC reinforced with hooked steel fibers and UHPFRC reinforced with twisted steel fibers are similar up to the peak load of UHPFRC reinforced with hooked steel fibers. CONCLUSIONS From the experimental results presented in this study, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1- Results indicated that by increasing the volume fraction of fibers from 0% to 1.0%, 2.0%, and 3.0% the cube compressive strength was increased by 3.72%, 8.36%, and 8.89% respectively, while the cylinder compressive strength was increased by 6.36%, 9.9%, and 11.54% respectively. 2- Increasing SF content from 0% to 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% caused a considerable increase in the cube compressive strength by 13.54%, 18.02%, 24.72%, 29.86%, and 34.17% respectively, as well as a comparative increase in the cylinder compressive strength by 17.56%, 20.30%, 30.92%, 33.79%, and 41.04% respectively. 3- The inclusion of steel fibers leads to a considerable increase in tensile strength (direct, splitting and flexural).