Evaluation of Steel Fiber–Reinforced Sprayed Concrete by Energy Absorption Tests
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 9
Abstract
Steel fiber–reinforced sprayed concrete (SFRSC) is widely used for ground support in underground works. The panel test, as in EN 14488-5, is one of the most common procedures for the quality control of the energy absorption capacity of SFRSC. The test entails the use of large equipment to manipulate and characterize heavy specimens that cannot be easily extracted from a structure in case a direct assessment of the material in place is needed. Alternative procedures, such as the Barcelona test (BCN), have been used to assess the energy absorption of cast fiber–reinforced concrete in smaller-scale cylindrical specimens that can be extracted from a structure and are considerably less demanding in terms of equipment and payload. The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of the BCN as a substitution of the traditional square panel test to assess the energy absorption of SFRSC. Both tests were conducted in parallel in combination with the quantification of the incorporated fiber content through an inductive test. Hence, the analysis reflects the actual control conditions of the SFRSC under the influence of spraying. Results indicate a possible reliable correlation between the BCN and panel test if the cracked area is considered. Different sizes of cores were tested to understand the influence of this parameter in energy absorption by the BCN test. The reduction of specimen size demands an increase in the number of determinations per batch to ensure representative results. The study suggests that the BCN can be considered a viable method of evaluating the energy absorption of SFRSC in cores extracted from test panels or actual tunnel linings.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of P&D ANEEL (Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento—Agencia Nacional de Energia Eletrica, Brasil) and Brazilian companies CPB (Concreto Projetado Brasil), Solotrat Engenharia, and Holcim Brasil. The first and third authors would like to thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico–CNPq, Brasil) for the support provided through the doctoral scholarship and financial resources provide by the research project (Proc. No. 305055/2019-4).
References
ABNT (Associação Brasileira Normas Técnicas). 2007. Fibras de aço para concreto—Especificações. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: ABNT.
AENOR (Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación). 2010. Hormigones con fibras. Determinación de la resistencia a fisuración, tenacidad y resistencia residual a tracción. Método Barcelona. Madrid, Spain: AENOR.
Aire, C., C. Molins, and A. Aguado. 2013. “Ensayo de doble punzonamiento para concreto reforzado con fibra: Efecto del tamaño y origen de la probeta.” [In Spanish.] Concreto y Cemento. Investigación y Desarrollo 5 (1): 17–31.
Armelin, H. S., and N. Banthia. 2002. “A novel double anchored steel fiber for shotcrete.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 29 (1): 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1139/l01-080.
ASTM. 2012. Standard test method for flexural thoughness of fiber reinforced concrete (using centrally loaded round panel). West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Austin, S. A., C. H. Peaston, and P. J. Robins. 1997. “Material and fibre losses with fibre reinforced sprayed concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 11 (5–6): 291–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0950-0618(97)00050-0.
Banthia, N., J.-F. Trottier, and D. Beaupré. 1994. “Steel-fiber-reinforced wet mix shotcrete: Comparison with cast concrete.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 6 (3): 430–437. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(1994)6:3(430).
Barton, N. 2002. “Some new Q-value correlations to assist in site characterization and tunnel design.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 39 (2): 185–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(02)00011-4.
Bernard, E. S. 2002. “Correlations in the behaviour of fibre reinforced shotcrete beam and panel specimens.” Mater. Struct. 35 (3): 156–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02533584.
Bernard, E. S. 2008. “Early-age load resistance of fibre reinforced shotcrete linings.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 23 (4): 451–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2007.08.002.
Bernard, E. S. 2013. “Development of a 1200-mm-diameter round panel test for post-crack assessment of fiber-reinforced concrete.” Adv. Civ. Eng. Mater. 2 (1): 457–471. https://doi.org/10.1520/ACEM20120021.
Bernard, E. S., and A. H. Thomas. 2020. “Fibre reinforced sprayed concrete for ground support.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 99 (1): 103302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103302.
Bjøntegaard, Ø. 2009. Energy absorption capacity for fibre reinforced sprayed concrete. Effect of friction on round and square panel tests whit continuous support (series 4). Oslo, Norway: Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Bussab, W., and P. Moretim. 2002. Estatística básica. [In Portuguese.] 5th ed. São Paulo, Brazil: Editora Saraiva.
Carmona, S., C. Molins, and A. Aguado. 2018. “Correlation between bending test and Barcelona tests to determine FRC properties.” Constr. Build. Mater. 181 (Aug): 673–686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.05.253.
Carmona, S., C. Molins, and S. García. 2020. “Application of Barcelona test for controlling energy absorption capacity of FRS in underground mining works.” Constr. Build. Mater. 246 (Jun): 118458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118458.
Cavalaro, S. H. P., and A. Aguado. 2015. “Intrinsic scatter of FRC: An alternative philosophy to estimate characteristic values.” Mater. Struct. 48 (11): 3537–3555. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0420-6.
Cavalaro, S. H. P., R. López, J. M. Torrents, and A. Aguado. 2015. “Improved assessment of fibre content and orientation with inductive method in SFRC.” Mater. Struct. 48 (6): 1859–1873. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0279-6.
Cavalaro, S. H. P., R. López, J. M. Torrents, A. Aguado, and P. García. 2016. “Assessment of fibre content and 3D profile in cylindrical SFRC specimens.” Mater. Struct. 49 (1–2): 577–595. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0521-2.
CEN (European Standard). 2005. Sprayed concrete—Part 1: Definitions, specifications and conformity. Brussels, Belgium: CEN.
CEN (European Standard). 2006. Testing sprayed concrete—Part 5: Determination of energy absorption capacity of fibre reinforced slab specimens. Brussels, Belgium: CEN.
Cengiz, O., and L. Turanli. 2004. “Comparative evaluation of steel mesh, steel fibre and high-performance polypropylene fibre reinforced shotcrete in panel test.” Cem. Concr. Res. 34 (8): 1357–1364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.12.024.
Chen, L., X. Zhang, and G. Liu. 2020. “Analysis of dynamic mechanical porperties of sprayed fiber-reinforced concrete based on the energy conversion principle.” Constr. Build. Mater. 254 (Sep): 119167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119167.
Concrete Institute of Australia. 2010. Shotcreting in Australia: Recommended practice. 2nd ed. Sydney, Austrilia: Concrete Institute of Australia.
EFNARC (European Federation of Producers and Applicators of Specialist Products for Structure). 1996. European specification for sprayed concrete. Hampshire, UK: EFNARC.
EFNARC (European Federation of Producers and Applicators of Specialist Products for Structure). 2011. Testing sprayed concrete. EFNARC three point bending test on square panel with notch. Hampshire, UK: EFNARC.
Figueiredo, A. D. 1997. “Parâmetros de controle e dosagem do concreto projetado com fibras de aço.” [In Portuguese.] Thesis (Doctorate). Dept. of Civil Construction Engineering, Univ. of São Paulo.
Figueiredo, A. D., and P. R. L. Helene. 1993. “Reflexões sobre a reflexão.” [In Portuguese.] Téchne-Revista de Tecnologia da Construção 5: 24–27.
Freund, J. E., and G. A. Simon. 2002. Estatística aplicada. Economia, administração e contabilidade, [In Portuguese.] 9th ed. Porto Alegre, Brazil: Bookman.
Galobardes, I., and A. D. Figueiredo. 2015. “Correlation between beam and Barcelona tests for FRC quality control for structural application.” In Proc., 8th Int. Conf. Fibre Concrete 2015. September 10–11. Prague, Czech Republic: Czech Technical University.
Galobardes, I., C. S. Silva, A. D. Figueiredo, S. H. P. Cavalaro, and C. I. Goodier. 2019. “Alternative control of steel fibre reinforced sprayed concrete (SFRSC).” Constr. Build. Mater. 223 (Oct): 1008–1015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.08.003.
Ginouse, N., and M. Jolin. 2015. “Investigation of spray pattern in shotcrete applications.” Constr. Build. Mater. 93 (Sep): 966–972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.05.061.
Jolin, M. 1999. “Mechanisms of placement and stability of dry process shotcrete.” Ph.D. thesis. Dept. of civil engineering, Univ. of British Columbia.
Juhasz, P. K., L. Nagy, and P. Schaul. 2017. “Correlation of the results of the standard beam and EFNARC panel test.” In Proc., World Tunnel Congress 2017—Surface challenges—Underground Solutions. Bergen, Norway: International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association.
Kaufmann, J., K. Frech, F. Schuetz, and B. Münch. 2013. “Rebound and orientation of fibers in wet sprayed concrete applications.” Constr. Build. Mater. 49 (Dec): 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.07.051.
Leung, C. K. Y., R. Lai, and A. Y. F. Lee. 2005. “Properties of wet-mixed fiber reinforced shotcrete and fibre reinforced concrete with similar composition.” Cem. Concr. Res. 35 (4): 788–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.05.033.
Liu, G., W. Cheng, L. Chen, G. Pan, and Z. Liu. 2020. “Rheological properties of fresh concrete and its application on shotcrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 243: 118180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118180.
Liu, X., M. Yan, I. Galobardes, and K. Sikora. 2018. “Assessing the potential of functionally graded concrete using fibre reinforced and recycled aggregate concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 171: 793–801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.03.202.
Monte, R., G. S. Toaldo, and A. D. Figueiredo. 2014. “Avaliação da tenacidade de concretos reforçados com fibras através de ensaios com sistema aberto.” [In Portuguese.] Matéria (Rio Janeiro) 19 (2): 132–149. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-70762014000200008.
Myren, S. A., and Ø. Bjøntegaard. 2010. “Round and square panel tests—A comparative study.” In Shotcrete: Elements of a system. London: Taylor & Francis.
Papworth, F. 2002. “Design guidelines for the use of fibre reinforced sprayed concrete in ground support.” In Proc., 27th Conf. on Our World in Concrete & Structures. August 29–30, 2002. Singapore: CI-Premier PTE.
Pfeuffer, M., and W. Kusterle. 2001. “Rheology and rebpund behaviour of dry-mix shotcrete.” Cem. Concr. Res. 31 (11): 1619–1625. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(01)00614-7.
Pujadas, P. 2013. “Caracterización y diseño del hormigón reforzado con fibras plásticas.” [In Spanish.] Thesis doctoral, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic Univ. of Catalonia.
Pujadas, P., A. Blanco, S. H. P. Cavalaro, A. de la Fuente, and A. Aguado. 2013. “New analytical model to generalize the Barcelona test using axial displacement.” J. Civ. Eng. Manage. 19 (2): 259–271. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2012.756425.
Rehman, H., A. M. Naji, J. J. Kim, and H. Yoo. 2019. “Extension of tunneling quality index and rock mass rating systems for tunnel support design through back calculations in highly stressed jointed rock mass: An empirical approach based on tunneling data from Himalaya.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 85 (Mar): 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2018.11.050.
Salehian, H., J. A. O. Barros, and M. Taheri. 2014. “Evaluation of the influence of post-cracking response of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) on load carrying capacity of SFRC panels.” Constr. Build. Mater. 73 (Dec): 289–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.09.043.
Sandbakk, S. 2011. “Fibre reinforced concrete evaluation of test methods and material development.” Doctoral thesis, Dept. of Structural Engineering, Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology.
Silva, C. L. 2017. “Proposta de metodologia alternativa para controle de qualidade da aplicação estrutural do concreto projetado reforçado com fibras de aço.” [In Portuguese.] Dissertação (Mestrado). Dept. of Civil Construction Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo.
Silva, C. L., I. Galobardes, P. Pujadas, R. Monte, A. D. Figueiredo, S. H. P. Cavalaro, and A. Aguado. 2015. “Assessment of fibre content and orientation in SFRC with the inductive Method. Part 2: Application for the quality control of sprayed concrete.” J. Nondestr. Test. Ultrason. 20: 18384.
Simão, L. C. R., A. B. Nogueira, R. Monte, R. P. Salvador, and A. D. Figueiredo. 2019. “Influence of the instability of the double punch test on the post-crack response of fiber-reinforced concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 217 (Aug): 185–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.05.062.
Thomas, A. 2020. Sprayed concrete lined tunnels. 2nd ed. London: Taylor & Francis.
Thorenfeldt, E. 2006. Fibre reinforced concrete panels. Energy absorption capacity for standard sample. [In Norwegian.]. Oslo, Norway: Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Torrents, J. M., A. Blanco, P. Pujadas, A. Aguado, P. Juan-García, and M. A. Sánchez-Moragues. 2012. “Inductive method for assessing the amount and orientation of steel fibers in concrete.” Mater. Struct. 45 (10): 1577–1592. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-012-9858-6.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 9 • September 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 4, 2020
Accepted: Jan 29, 2021
Published online: Jul 15, 2021
Published in print: Sep 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 15, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Diego Lilargem Rocha, Luís Urbano Durlo Tambara Júnior, Markssuel Teixeira Marvila, Elaine Cristina Pereira, Djalma Souza, Afonso Rangel Garcez de Azevedo, A Review of the Use of Natural Fibers in Cement Composites: Concepts, Applications and Brazilian History, Polymers, 10.3390/polym14102043, 14, 10, (2043), (2022).