EFFECTS OF MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES ON THE FLEXURAL BEHAVIOR OF STEELFIBER-REINFORCED CONCRETE

This paper presents experimental research investigating the effects of manufacturing techniques on the mechanical properties of steel fiber- reinforced concrete. Both the effects of curing environments and that of testing direction relative to casting direction on the mechanical p roperties of fiber-reinforced concrete are reported. Specimens were cu red in three different environmental conditions: steam, moisture, and air. Results show that steam curing, as compared to moisture curing, d oes not enhance the flexural strength of steel fibrous concrete but do es reduce flexural toughness. As expected, air curing shows detrimenta l effects on all aspects of the test results, as compared to steam and moisture curing. The flexural behavior of steel fiber-reinforced conc rete is strongly affected by testing direction. When testing direction is perpendicular to casting direction, specimens exhibit reductions i n both flexural strength and toughness compared to the case when testi ng and casting directions are parallel. The effect of testing directio n relative to casting direction on flexural strength and toughness inc reases with increasing the flowability (workability) of the fibrous mi xture, which encourages fiber settlement during placement. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd.