Transporting fibres as reinforcement in self-compacting concrete

S. Grünewald, J.C. Walraven
Department of Design and Construction, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

The development of self-compacting concrete (SCC) was an important step towards efficiency at building sites, rationally producing prefabricated concrete elements, better working conditions and improved quality and appearance of concrete structures. By adding fibres to SCC bar reinforcement can be replaced and the performance of concrete structures enhanced. Self-compacting fibre reinforced concrete (SCFRC) combines the benefits of SCC in the fresh state and an enhanced performance of fibre reinforced concrete in the hardened state. With the special characteristics of SCFRC new fields of application can be explored. This paper describes results of a PhD-study [Grünewald, 2004], which was carried out at the Delft University of Technology. The effect of steel fibres on the characteristics of SCC in the fresh and the hardened state are discussed. Tools are provided to optimise SCFRC and full-scale case-studies demonstrate the potential of SCFRC.

Key words: Self-compacting concrete, steel fibres, workability, bending behaviour, orientation