Master's thesis of Engineering: Study on effects of flowability on steel fiber distribution patterns and mechanical properties of SFRC

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is a multiple-composite material developed during the early 1970s. In SFRC, short steel fibers are randomly distributed in concrete. Steel fibers can prevent the development of micro-cracks inside the concrete and reduce the expansion and development of the macro-cracks, thus enhance mechanical performance of SFRC. However, there is lack of studies on the influence of flowability of fresh SFRC on the steel fiber distribution patterns and mechanical properties of hardened SFRC. In this research, steel fibers made by the thin-plate shearing method are used. Standard specimens are cast in which steel fibers are added to the concrete mix. The slumps ranging from 80 mm to 200 mm are employed as the parameter to reflect the flowability of SFRC.