Steel fiber reinforced high-performance concrete: a study on the mechanical properties and resistance against impact

Steel fiber reinforced high-performance concrete (SFRHPC) was prepared by fluidized mortar and steel fibers; the manufacturing process was a combination of mortar infiltrating and vibration. With increase in fiber volume fraction (V_f), mechanical properties of SFRHPC were significantly improved. The peak compressive and flexural strength of SFRHPC reached 140 MPa and 80MPa respectively, increasing by 61% and 774% compared with those of the hardened mortar without fiber reinforcement. The peak flexural-to-compressive strength ratio was 0.6. Failure pattern of SFRHPC was in a pseudo plastic manner with multiple cracking. In simulation test, targets made of SFRHPC were subjected to high velocity impact by projectiles and compared with those targets made of reinforced high strength concrete (RHSC). Test results showed that RHSC targets were smashed up while SFRHPC targets kept intact with several radial cracks in the front faces and some minor cracks in the side faces. The projectiles were either embedded in or rebounded from SFRHPC targets. Relationship between the impact resistance and characteristics of SFRHPC targets was discussed.