The Effect of Vibration Mixing on the Mechanical Properties of Steel Fiber Concrete with Different Mix Ratios

• Main Authors: Chunyu Zhang, Yikai Sun, Jianguo Xu, Bo Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: steel-fiber-reinforced concrete; vibration stirring; mechanical properties; microstructure
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/13/3669

This work addresses how vibration stirring, steel-fiber volume ratio, and matrix strength affect the mechanical properties of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete. The goal of the work is to improve the homogeneity of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete, which is done by comparing the mechanical properties of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete fabricated by ordinary stirring with that fabricated by vibration stirring. The results show that the mechanical properties of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete produced by vibration mixing are better than those produced by ordinary mixing. The general trend is that the mechanical properties of steel-fiber concrete have a linear relationship with the matrix strength and the volume ratio of steel fiber. The best mechanical properties are obtained for a steel-fiber volume ratio of less than 1%. We have also established calculation models for the mechanical performance index of vibration, mixing steel-fiber concrete based on the test results. Microscopic studies show that vibration stirring optimizes the microstructure of the transition zone between the concrete interface and the slurry, and improves the homogeneity of the steel-fiber-reinforced concrete, and enhances the adhesion between the mixture components.