Performance of High Strength High Performance Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete for use in Seismic Resistant Structures

Constructing durable seismic resistant concrete structures depends on several parameters. Proper design and detailing go part of the way to success, but even the best design is affected by the fact that crafting precise specifications of the materials is the key to obtaining durable structures. This paper presents the experimental analysis of High Strength High Performance Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (HPSFRC) for use in seismic resistant structures and obtaining the added benefit of improved durability. The sudden collapse in concrete structures caused by the brittleness of the structural elements during cyclic loads, so developing a High Strength HPSFRC that can provide earthquake resistance, more ductile and more energy absorption capacity to sustain the cyclic loads is required, which in turn will also reduce the brittle failure of the structures during earthquakes. Though ductility is emphasized in designing earthquake resistant structures, mechanical properties such as Compressive Strength, Flexure Strength, Split Tensile strength, MOE, Poisson's ratio and ductility parameters viz. , Drying Shrinkage, Chloride Ion Penetration, Abrasion, Water & Air Permeability & curing and additives (silica fume & fibers) should be assessed for durable seismic resistant structures. Experimental investigation was done to study the mechanical properties for M80 grade of concrete. Investigation was also done to study the effect of partial replacement of cement by Silica fumes about 5% by weight of cement on mechanical properties of concrete. The steel fibers with 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5 % & 2.0% volume fractions having aspect ratio 65 were used in concrete mixes. The test results show that the addition of steel fibers enhances performance in its mechanical properties significantly. High Strength HPSFRC with & without fibers in its fresh & hardened state is briefly described in this paper. Engineering properties such as slump, wet density, air content and setting times are investigated and described.