Experimental and numerical investigation on the axial behavior of solid and hollow SIFCON columns

Abstract

This paper looks at the effect of fibers shape, hollow ratio and cross sectional shape on the behavior of solid and hollow slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) columns. Two shape of steel fiber were used in the present study, straight micro fiber and hooked end fiber. Therefore, this study comprised of casting and testing two groups of SIFCON column specimens; columns group reinforced by hybrid fibers (3% straight micro fiber + 3% hooked end fiber) and columns group reinforced by 6% hooked end fibers. Each group comprises of six column specimens, 3 of them are circular and the others are square. Each circular column has an equivalent square column with the same cross-sectional area. These six columns have different hollow ratios (β = 0, 25% and 50%). Non-linear finite element analysis of axially loaded SIFCON columns has been done by using ABAQUS computer program. Analytical predictions of load carrying capacity, axial displacement, ductility and energy absorption capacity are compared with experimentally observed results of SIFCON columns, and the results shown a good agreement between them. The results illustrated that despite the small cross-sectional area and presence of longitudinal hole in columns, SIFCON columns were shown dazzling performance in terms of load carrying capacity, ductility and energy absorption capacity especially for columns reinforced by hybrid fiber. On the other hand, column performance deteriorates with increased hollow ratio. The results also demonstrated that the performance of circular columns exceeded that of square columns for the same cross-sectional area.