EFFECT OF STEEL FIBERS ON STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the fresh, strength and durability properties of Self Compacting Concrete (SCC), with fly ash as partial replacement of cement, incorporating steel fibers . For this purpose fly ash from Panipat Thermal Power station, Panipat was used. A super plasticizer of Fosroc chemicals named STRUCTURO 100M (an aqueous solution of carboxylic ether polymer) was used to increase the workability of concrete. The super plasticizer dosage was kept constant for all the SCC mixes .To take the SCC mix economical, cement was replaced with fly ash (36%and 29%). The proportions of coarse as well as fine aggregates were kept constant for all mixes. Steel fibers (0-1.5%) were incorporated in the mixes to improve the strength properties of SCC while satisfying the fresh properties of SCC. Slump flow (diameter and T500 ) tests, V-funnel (T10sec and T5min ) tests, L-box tests and U-box tests were carried out to obtain the fresh properties of SCC mixes i.e. filling ability, passing ability and segregation resistance. Strength properties of hardened concrete were investigated in terms of compressive strength and split tensile strength. Durability properties i.e. effect of chemical action on hardened concrete was investigated in terms of compressive strength. Specifications and Guidelines are given in EFNARC for Self Compacting Concrete.All the mixes, satisfied most of the requirements of fresh properties as per EFNARC (Europian Federation Of National Trade Associations Representing Producers And Applicators Of Specialist Building Products) specifications, for SCC mix.