Analysis of slurry infiltrated fibrous concrete slabs using finite element

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of Concrete Technology, High Performance Concrete (HPC) is being more widely used in reinforced concrete structures. High Performance Concrete is defined as concrete that meets special performance and uniformity requirements that cannot always be achieved routinely by using conventional materials and normal mixing, placing and curing practices. HPC newlineincludes two major properties, high compressive strength and low permeability. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of high-performance fiberreinforced concrete (HPFRC) for concrete structural elements. This is because most of the rheological, mechanical and durability properties of these materials are better than those of conventional FRC. Fiber Reinforced Concretes (FRC) have mostly been used in non-structural applications such as slabs-on-grade, floors and architectural concrete and typically less than 1% by volume of fibers are used. It is often prohibitive for reasons of cost as well as in order to ensure acceptable contents of fibers, but it has been tried with success in a few cases, and in these cases other properties besides ductility can be improved as well. The high fiber contents have even been used in connection with considerable main reinforcement - as for Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON). Among the HPFRCs, which have been successfully used in structural rehabilitation, are slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) and slurry infiltrated mat concrete (SIMCON). SIFCON is relatively a new HPFRC in which formwork moulds are filled to capacity with fibers and the resulting fiber network is infiltrated by cement-sand based slurry (grout). ii The review of literature reveals that SIFCON has a great potential as a high performance material with potential applications in blast, impact and seismic resistant structures. At present, the utility of this material is restricted to only a few developed countries.