Tensile properties of fibre-reinforced very high strength DSP mortar

This paper reports on the tensile behaviour of fibre-reinforced densified s mall particle (FR-DSP) cement containing high volume fractions of steel fib res (more than 2%) and main reinforcement (1-3%) in direct tension. Approxi mately 30 tensile plate specimens were made. Parameters investigated includ e a very high strength cement-based matrix with a compressive strength of m ore than 150 MPa, fibre volume fraction within the matrix, and main reinfor cement ratio. It is shown that incorporating large volume fractions of stee l fibres (more than 2% by volume) in DSP composite results in a dramatic in crease in matrix tensile strength (up to 100%). Adding a minimum of 1% main reinforcement (by volume) near the specimens' edges retards the initiation of cracks induced by, edge effects and thus results in a further increase in ductility and tensile strength. It is shown that DSP composites can exhi bit tensile strengths up to 25 MPa at peak strains ranging from 0.2% to 0.4 %.