Engineered Steel Fibers with Optimal Properties for Reinforcement of Cement Composites

Abstract

Although steel fibers have been used in cement and concrete composites for more than four decades, most of the steel fibers on the market today have been introduced prior to 1980. This is in sharp contract to the continuous progress and development in the cement matrix itself. Following a brief summary of the main properties and limitations of steel fibers used in cement based composites, this paper describes the rationale and technical background behind the development and design of a new generation of steel fibers for use in cement, ceramic and polymeric matrices. These fibers are engineered to achieve optimal properties in terms of shape, size, and mechanical properties, as well as compatibility with a given matrix. They are identified as Torex fibers. Typical tests results are provided and illustrate without any doubt the superior performance (2 to 3 times) of Torex fibers in comparison to other steel fibers on the market. The new fibers will advance the broader use of high performance fiber reinforced cement composites in structural applications such as in blast and seismic resistant structures, as well as in stand-alone applications such as in thin cement sheet products.

Experimental Investigation on the Blast Resistance of Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composite Panels Subjected to Contact Explosions

“…The elastic modulus of the FRCCs were less than those of plain specimens, following almost similar proportions as the compressive strength. Generally, the blended fibers did not improve the elastic modulus of the FRCCs because the cementitious matrix was made without coarse aggregate (Atiş and Karahan 2009;Naaman 2003). In addition, these results can be explained by the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the cementitious matrix and the blended fiber, as the ITZ was made in a relatively weak layer and large pores due to the blended fibers exist in the cementitious composites matrix (Li and Stang 1997).…”

Durability against Steel Corrosion of HPFRCC with Bending Cracks

“…High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCC) were developed and applied in order to overcome this weakness (Li and Kanda 1998;Li 2003;Naaman 2003;Kunieda and Rokugo 2006;Rokugo et al 2009). Much research work to evaluate the structural behavior of this material has been conducted (JCI 2002;RILEM 2006;JSCE 2008).…”

Use of Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete in Reinforced Concrete Corner Connections Subjected to Opening Moments

“…Due to its high volume of fibers, SIFCON offers superior properties in terms of tension, compression, shear, bond with reinforcing bars, and impact. As illustrated by Naaman (2003) in Fig. 1, for a member under tension, the higher volume of fibers ( Fig.…”

“…Later, in 1984, Lankard and Newell showed the concept of SIF-CON use in the construction of pavement overlays. Later in the 1980s and 1990s, Naaman and his group extensively studied the basic behavior of SIFCON (Homrich and Naaman 1987;Naaman and Homrich 1989;Kosa et al 1991;Hamza and Naaman 1996;Naaman et al 1992;Naaman and Baccouche 1995;Hota and Naaman 1997;Naaman 2003). The practical range of fiber volume fractions in SIFCON is 4 to 12%.…”