Experimental investigation and modelling of the layered concrete with different proportions of steel fibers

This study examines the effect of steel fibers (SF) in concrete with different dosages ranging from 0 to 1.5%. Hooked end steel fibers of length 35mm and diameter 0.55mm with an aspect ratio of 63.64 were used. A total of 90 specimens were cast to evaluate the mechanical properties such as compression, split and flexural strength at 7 and 28 days. At steel fiber dosage of 1.5% layered concrete specimens were cast. Layered concrete is one of the best breakthroughs because of its strength and crack resistance. The Specimens were divided into three equal portions of depth d/3 each, such as bottom layer, middle layer and top layer respectively, wherein steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) was cast in the bottom layer followed by middle layer consisting of conventional concrete and above it top layer comprising of SFRC. Experimental results indicate that compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths of layered concrete compared to conventional concrete were increased by 19.14%, 100.90% and 127.25% respectively. Results obtained experimentally and analytically using ANSYS software were validated and both values have strongly correlated.