Novel Hybrid Fiber Factor for Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 10
Abstract
Hybrid use of macro and micro steel fibers offers greater potential for enhanced performance of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HFRC). However, predicting the properties of HFRC has been hindered by inadequate research on a suitable hybrid fiber factor, leading to lots of trial and error in the mix design. To fill such a research gap, an experimental program was launched by producing a total of 18 plain and HFRC mixes using macro and micro steel fibers at a constant total fiber volume of 2.0%. Then, the influences of various hybrid fiber combinations on the fresh and hardened properties of HFRC were investigated and correlated by regression analysis to some suggested hybrid fiber factors to identify the key factor governing each performance attribute. It was found that the hybrid use of macro and micro steel fibers at a constant total fiber volume yielded higher workability and strength, and the traditional fiber factor was not applicable to HFRC. Moreover, in the hybrid fiber factors, the fiber number was more fundamental than the fiber volume. Lastly, design equations for predicting the various performance attributes were derived for HFRC with discussions on the associated mechanism.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the support from the Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, and final year project students Mr. Hugo Kwok and Mr. Gay Lau for performing necessary experiments.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 10 • October 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 13, 2020
Accepted: Feb 25, 2021
Published online: Jul 26, 2021
Published in print: Oct 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 26, 2021
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