Abstract
The use of steel fibers is a good solution for compensating lower mechanical properties of lightweight concrete. However, due to the high specific gravity, the addition of steel fiber increases the density of lightweight concrete. Therefore, there is some reluctance regarding the use of this fiber in lightweight concrete. In this study, to prevent a significant increase in density, low volume fractions of steel fiber (\({\leq}\) 1 %) were used to produce grade 20 structural lightweight aggregate concrete with a dry density of 1,650 kg/m3. Effect of low volume steel fiber on the compressive strength in different curing environments, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength was studied. The test results show that the addition of steel fiber in volume fractions of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 % increased its 28-day compressive strength between 14 and 32 %, splitting tensile strength between 21 and 77 % and flexural strength between 6 and 69 %. The effectiveness of steel fiber to increase the compressive strength was more pronounced at later ages than at early age. It was observed that 3 days moist curing is sufficient to gain equivalent compressive strength under standard curing. Adding even a small amount of steel fiber (i.e. 1 % volume fraction) increased the density; however, it was still within the ACI structural lightweight concrete specification. The flexural crack patternsin steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams showed excellent performance of low volume steel fibers in arresting the propagation of cracks.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ACI Committee 213 R-87.: Guide for Structural Lightweight Aggregate Concrete, ACI Manual of Concrete Practice, Part 1. American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills (1987)
Glenn G.M., Miller R.M., Orts W.J.: Moderate strength lightweight concrete from organic aquagel mixtures. Ind. Crops Prod. 8(2), 123–132 (1998)
Moravia W.G., Gumieri A.G., Vasconcelos W.L.: Efficiency factor and modulus of elasticity of the lightweight concrete with expanded clay aggregate. IBRACON Struct. Mater. J. 3(2), 195–204 (2010)
Polat R., Demirbogǎ R., Karakoç M.B., Türkmen I.: The influence o lightweight aggregate on the physico-mechanical properties of concrete exposed to freeze-thaw cycles. Cold Reg. Sci. Technol. 60, 51–56 (2010)
Kosmatka, S.H.; Kerkhoff, B.; Panarese, W.C.: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 14th ed. Portland Cement Association, Skoie, IL (2002)
Tanyildizi, H.; Coskun, A.: The effect of high temperature on compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of structural lightweight concrete containing fly ash. Constr. Build. Mater. 22, 2269–2275 (2008)
Rossignolo, J.A.; Agnesini, M.V.C.; Morais, J.A.: Properties of high-performance LWAC for precast structures with Brazilian lightweight aggregates. Cem. Concr. Compos. 25, 77–82 (2003)
Arisoy B., Wu H.C.: Material characteristics of high performance lightweight concrete reinforced with PVA. Constr. Build. Mater. 22, 635–645 (2008)
CEB/FIP Manual of Design and Technology, Lightweight Aggregate Concrete. Longman Inc, New York (1977)
Balaguru P., Dipsia M.G.: Properties of fiber-reinforced high-strength semilightweight concrete. ACI Mater. J. 90(5), 399–405 (1993)
Sajedi F., Shafigh P.: High-strength lightweight concrete using leca, silica fume and limestone. Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 37(7), 1885–1893 (2012)
Campione, G.; Miraglia, N.; Papia, M.: Mechanical properties of steel fiber reinforced lightweight concrete with pumice stone or expanded clay aggregates. Mater. Struct. 34, 201–210 (2001)
Cui, H.Z.; Lo, T.Y.; Memon, S.A.; Xu, W.: Effect of lightweight aggregates on the mechanical properties and brittleness of lightweight aggregate concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 35, 149–158 (2012)
Hassanpour M., Shafigh P., Mahmud H.B.: Lightweight aggregate concrete fiber reinforcement—a review. Constr. Build. Mater. 37, 452–461 (2012)
Domagała L.: Modification of properties of structural lightweight concrete with steel fibres. J. Civ. Eng. Manag. 17(1), 36–44 (2011)
Balendran, R.V.; Zhou, F.P.; Nadeem, A.; Leung, A.Y.T.: Influence of steel fibres on strength and ductility of normal and lightweight high strength concrete. Build. Environ. 37, 1361–1367 (2002)
Sharma, A.; Reddy, G.R.; Varshney, L.; Bharathkumar, H.; Vaze, K.K.; Ghosh, A.K.; Kushwaha, H.S.; Krishnamoorthy, T.S.: Experimental investigation on mechanical and radiations shielding properties of hybrid lead–steel fiber reinforced concrete. Nucl. Eng. Des. 239(7), 1180–1185 (2009)
Gao J., Suqa W., Morino K.: Mechanical properties of steel fiber-reinforced, high-strength, lightweight concrete. Cem. Concr. Compos. 19, 307–313 (1997)
Balaguru P., Foden A.: Properties of fibre reinforced structural lightweight concrete. ACI Struct. J. 93(1), 62–78 (1996)
Kayali O., Haque M.N., Zhu B.: Some characteristics of high strength fiber reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete. Cem. Concr. Compos. 25(2), 207–213 (2003)
Chen, B.; Liu, J.: Contribution of hybrid fibers on the properties of the highstrength lightweight concrete having good workability. Cem. Concr. Res. 35(5), 913–917 (2005)
Dvorkin, L.; Dvorkin, O.: Basics of concrete science. http://www.scribd.com/doc/6004561/Basics-of-Concrete-Science. Accessed 20.01.11
Neville, A.M.; Brooks, J.J.: Concrete Technology. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd., PP(CTP), Malaysia (2008)
Duzgun, O.A.; Gul, R.; Aydin, A.C.: Effect of steel fibers on the mechanical properties of natural lightweight aggregate concrete. Mater. Lett. 59, 3357–3363 (2005)
Lo T.Y., Cui H.Z., Li Z.G.: Influence of aggregate pre-wetting and fly ash on mechanical properties of lightweight concrete. Waste Manag. 24, 333–338 (2004)
Hossain K.M.A.: Properties of volcanic pumice based cement and lightweight concrete. Cem. Concr. Res. 34, 283–2891 (2004)
Mehta, P.K.; Monteiro, P.J.M.: Concrete; Microstructure, Properties, and Materials, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York (2006)
Topcu I.B., Canbaz M.: Effect of different fibers on the mechanical properties of concrete containing fly ash. Constr. Build. Mater. 21, 1486–1491 (2007)
Kurugol S., Tanacan L., Ersoy H.Y.: Young’s modulus of fiber-reinforced and polymer-modified lightweight concrete composites. Constr. Build. Mater. 22, 1019–1028 (2008)
Koksal F., Altun F., Yigit I., Sahin Y.: Combined effect of silica fume and steel fiber on the mechanical properties of high strength concretes. Constr. Build. Mater. 22, 1874–1880 (2008)
Tsai, C.T.; Li, L.S.; Chang, C.C.; Hwang, C.L.: Durability design consideration and application of steel fiber reinforced concrete in Taiwan. Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 34(1B), 57–79 (2009)
Edgington, J.; Hannant, D.J.; Williams, R.I.T.: Steel fibre reinforced concrete. Build. Res. Estab. Curr. Pap CP 69(74), 154–170 (1974)
Neville, A.M.: Properties of Concrete, 14th ed. CTP-VVP, Malaysia (2008)
Lamond, J.F.; Pielert, J.H. (eds.): Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete and Concrete-Making Materials. ASTM International Press, Philadelphia, PA (2006)
Campione G., Cucchiara C., Mendola L.L., Papia M.: Steel–concrete bond in lightweight fiber reinforced concrete under monotonic and cyclic actions. Eng. Struct. 27, 881–890 (2005)
Altun F.: Experimental investigation of lightweight concrete with steel-fiber. J. Eng. Sci. 12(3), 333–339 (2006)
Libre, N.A.; Shekarchi, M.; Mahoutian, M.; Soroushian, P.: Mechanical properties of hybrid fiber reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete made with natural pumice. Constr. Build. Mater. 25(5), 2458–2464 (2011)
Shafigh, P.; Mahmud, H.; Jumaat, M.Z.: Effect of steel fiber on the mechanical properties of oil palm shell lightweight concrete. Mater. Des. 32, 3926–3932 (2011)
Kang, T.H.K.; Kim, W.; Kwak, Y.K.; Hong, S.G.: Shear testing of steel fiber-reinforced lightweight concrete beams without web reinforcement. ACI Struct. J. 108(5), 553–561 (2011)
Ali M., Li X., Chouw N.: Experimental investigations on bond strength between coconut fibre and concrete. Mater. Des. 44, 596–605 (2013)
Slater, E.; Moni, M.; Alam, M.S.: Predicting the shear strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams. Constr. Build. Mater. 26, 423–436 (2012)
Haque, M.N.: (1996) Strength development and drying shrinkage of high-strength concretes. Cem. Concr. Compos. 18:333–342
Shafigh, P.; Jumaat, M.Z.; Mahmud, H.B.; Hamid, N.A.A.: Lightweight concrete made from crushed oil palm shell: tensile strength and effect of initial curing on compressive strength. Constr. Build. Mater. 27, 252–258 (2012)
ASTM, C330: Standard specification for lightweight aggregates for structural concrete. Annual book of ASTM standards, American Society for Testing and Materials (2005)
Shafigh P., Mahmud H.B., Jumaat M.Z.: Oil palm shell lightweight concrete as a ductile material. Mater. Des. 36, 650–654 (2012)
Lim D.H., Oh B.H.: Experimental and theoretical investigation on the shear of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams. Eng. Struct. 21, 937–944 (1999)
Chunxiang Q., Patnaikuni I.: Properties of high-strength steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams in bending. Cem. Concr. Compos. 21, 73–81 (1999)
Altun F., Haktanir T., Ari K.: Effects of steel fiber addition on mechanical properties of concrete and RC beams. Constr. Build. Mater. 21, 654–661 (2007)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hassanpour, M., Shafigh, P. & Mahmud, H.B. Mechanical Properties of Structural Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Containing Low Volume Steel Fiber. Arab J Sci Eng 39, 3579–3590 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1023-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1023-9